How to eat like a Carolina Panther: Tips from the team’s nutritionist
Cam Newton and the other Carolina Panthers regularly hit the gym regularly to keep up those NFL physiques, but it’s also important that they pay attention to what goes in their bodies.
That’s where Jennifer Brunelli comes in.
Brunelli, a registered dietitian, is the Carolina Panthers consulting dietitian throughout the season. For three years, her job has been to transform how a NFL player eats.
I got to hang out with Brunelli at Panthers training camp in Spartanburg. My three takeaways from our conversation about Panthers nutrition:
(1) Anti-inflammatory foods
After the practices and big games are over, the Panther players stick with a diet that consists mainly of anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens and kale, along with tomatoes and berries. Salmon, which is loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids, is served at lunch three times a week. These foods help in reducing the swelling of sore muscles received on the field each week.
Brunelli likes the players to load up these anti-inflammatory foods during the Panthers bye week, which comes Oct. 24, as they have more time to rest their bodies and regain their health as they prepare for the rest of the regular season.
Other ways she gets the Panthers to eat these anti-inflammatory foods is to provide crushed walnuts and almonds to sprinkle on top of foods — even desserts. And I hear the tart cherry juice after workouts also assists in reducing inflammation.
(2) Timing is key with nutrition
Brunelli said timing of meals and snacks is important for a player’s overall health.
Snacks are planned out for the players throughout the day, and they are accessible in multiple spots of the facility. You might see peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other protein-rich foods in the gym for a player to eat immediately before and after workouts. And later you might see grilled chicken sandwiches, baked sweet potato fries and other healthy foods outside of the Panthers locker room. The purpose is that the players don’t have to search for food to supplement their workout — it’s available right at their fingertips.
But it’s not all what we would consider “health” food. For the big guys that really need to keep weight on, they serve hefty portions at meal time, add high calorie toppings like cheese, honey and guacamole, include “cheat” meals one day each week, and even offer Pigs In A Blanket on occasion.
(3) Smoothies … smoothies … smoothies.
When Brunelli first started working for the Panthers, there was only one lonely blender in the team’s facilities that players hardly even touched.
Now you can find a full array of smoothies in the cafeteria, surrounded by all types of fruits, veggies, greek yogurt, almond milk and toppings that’ll help in the player’s daily diet. And picky eaters can dump in kale, spinach, flaxseed, and any other other unappealing foods to a smoothie to get the nutrition they need.
Speaking of smoothies, here is a Panthers-inspired recipe to put in your daily routine, especially on game day.
Carolina Smoothie Recipe:
– 3/4 cup mango
– 1/4 cup pineapple
– 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
– 1/2 cup lowfat milk
– 1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt
– 1/2 cup ice cubes
Blend. (You can add 10-20 grams of high quality whey protein isolate if you’re working out.)
Photos: David T. Foster, III/Charlotte Observer; Courtesy of Jennifer Brunelli, via Instagram
This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 10:48 PM with the headline "How to eat like a Carolina Panther: Tips from the team’s nutritionist."