Doritos Are Delicious: Winning Nutrition Strategy for Student Athletes

Mighty Oak Athletic Podcast S2:E23 - Doritos Are Delicious: Winning Nutrition Strategy for Student Athletes

The Journey of Your Food

Let’s start with the basics. Imagine you’re holding a Cool Ranch Dorito—delicious, right? But can you trace it back to a natural source? Unlike a fresh piece of fruit or a lean cut of meat, processed foods often come with a long list of ingredients that are far removed from nature. Pollan’s question urges us to think about whether the food we eat is truly nourishing our bodies or simply filling a gap.

For student athletes, food is fuel. It affects performance on the field, in the gym, and in everyday life. What you eat can either propel you toward your goals or hold you back. That’s why understanding the quality and source of your food is essential for both short-term performance and long-term health.

Is Meat Healthy?

The answer, like so much in nutrition, depends on quality. Lean cuts of meat from healthy, humanely raised animals can be part of a nutritious diet. These meats offer protein, essential vitamins, and minerals that help athletes recover and grow stronger. However, heavily marbled cuts from animals that have been force-fed grain, antibiotics, and growth hormones can have the opposite effect, potentially leading to inflammation and other health issues that can hinder performance and recovery.

For student athletes, choosing high-quality, lean cuts of meat—such as grass-fed beef or free-range chicken—can help build muscle, support recovery, and improve overall health. Meanwhile, avoiding heavily processed or low-quality meats will reduce exposure to unhealthy fats and additives that can negatively impact performance.

The Power of Organic Choices

When it comes to fruits and vegetables, quality matters just as much. Organic produce limits exposure to harmful pesticides, which can accumulate in the body over time and affect health. While organic foods may come at a slightly higher price, focusing on the most heavily sprayed crops, known as the Dirty Dozen (such as apples, strawberries, and spinach), ensures that you’re limiting your intake of toxic chemicals while still getting the nutrients you need.

For parents, this is particularly important. A student athlete’s growing body requires clean, nutrient-dense foods to perform and recover effectively. Eating organic fruits and vegetables can help reduce the body’s toxic load, making it easier to stay healthy, energized, and ready for the next game or practice.

Budget-Friendly Nutrition

You might think that eating high-quality food is expensive, but with smart planning, it can be done on a limited budget. Homemade meals are always less expensive than eating out, and they give you full control over the quality of ingredients. Focusing on grass-fed meat, eggs from free-range chickens, and dairy from grass-fed animals will give you the best return on investment when it comes to health and performance. In-season produce and bulk purchasing can also help stretch your grocery budget while maintaining quality.

Be a Discerning Eater

Student athletes and their families can benefit from becoming discerning connoisseurs of food. Take the time to learn about where your food comes from, how it’s grown, and how it’s processed. The journey that your food takes from the earth, to the store, and finally to your plate has a direct impact on your body’s ability to perform at its best.

By being mindful of your food choices, you’re not just eating to get through the day. You’re making deposits into a ‘Health Savings Account’—building a foundation that will support athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury, and contribute to long-term health.

Be a Healthy Human

For student athletes and their parents, health is not just about the food you eat, but about making consistent choices that fuel your performance and longevity. Just as you train regularly to improve your skills and fitness, you should also approach food as an investment in your health. By understanding where your food comes from and choosing high-quality, minimally processed options, you can optimize both your athletic success and your overall well-being.

Make the effort to understand the journey your food takes. Be mindful, be informed, and be healthy. The choices you make today will shape your performance on the field and your health for years to come.