Countdown to the Summer Games: Get Ready in the Kitchen
Endurance athletes often carbo-load the night before a big event.
They’ll eat a pasta dinner and fuel their bodies with energy that can be stored in the muscles. With the Summer Games starting in two days, it’s important, as a spectator, to also make nutritional preparations. While you may not need to follow a professional athlete’s diet, it’s a good idea to have some meals and snacks planned ahead that you can grab during the games.
Here are some recipes to keep you going during your viewing marathons.
Summer Salsa
(Image by wlayton, used under creative commons)
Easy to prep, easy to eat. This goes great with chips, or served on tacos or enchiladas. The chili pepper gives it some kick– and you can add more if you like– so you’ll get fired up about the games.
Baked Mac and Cheese
The spectator’s version of pasta dinner pre-game. It’s delicious and comforting. Make a big batch of it, and then heat up leftovers throughout the week. You can even freeze individual servings to eat later.
Portobello and Broccoli Quiche
Image from tastebook.com
This is a seriously delicious recipe that I’ve been making for years. It’s a unique take on quiche with a savory teriyaki flavor. Serves 6-8, so it’s great for whipping up if you’ve got some friends or family over to watch the games.
Honey Whole Wheat Bread
(Image by Teuobk, used under Creative Commons)
Easiest bread recipe ever. Really, if you’re daunted by the idea of bread baking, try this out. This bread is super moist, dense, and delicious. It tastes best right out of the oven with some butter or peanut butter on top. Yum.
(Makes 1 loaf)
- 3 and 1/3 cups whole wheat flout
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 Tbs salt
- 2 Tbs oil
- ¾ cup lukewarm water
- ¾ cup lukewarm milk
In a large bowl mix yeast, salt, honey, oil, milk, and water. Then add in the flour and mix. Cover the bowl with a cloth napkin (or another non-airtight cover) and let dough rise 2-3 hours. Grease bread loaf pan and fill with dough. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Fill a second pan with 2 cups of water and place on bottom oven rack while baking.
Enjoy the Summer Games! You’ve trained hard this week, so sit back, relax, and let the fun begin.
