EAT LIKE AN ASTRO
Carlos Correa and José Altuve hit nutritional home runs
When writer Julie Loria visited the Astros spring training clubhouse for research on her new cookbook, she saw a box of doughnuts sitting untouched. She knew then that the subject of her book, a look at the healthy eating habits of top Major League Baseball players, was on point.
“When it comes to clubhouse cravings, baseball players these days reach for fruits and vegetables, not pastries and other highly processed foods,” Loria writes in “The Game of Eating Smart.” “In Major League Baseball, the transition to eating
Once I started eating better, I noticed a 100 percent change. Now I can play all season, and I still feel great after it’s over.” Jose Altuve
healthy food has become more than a movement, it’s a revolution. Players have learned that proper nutrition has a positive impact on athletic performance.”
Astros stars José Altuve and Carlos Correa are among the 21 MLB stars who were interviewed by Loria for a cookbook that focuses on how these elite athletes fuel their bodies and how their smart eating choices influence their performance. Other baseball luminaries include Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence.
Nearly all of the 30 MLB teams “have moved toward serving healthy food and emphasizing a nutritional eating plan,” Loria says. Clubhouses are equipped with fresh juice bars and smoothie stations and offer almond and coconut milks, protein powders, raw organic nuts and wheatgrass shots.
Loria teamed up with Allen Campbell, former personal chef for New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen, to devise recipes that reflected the healthy eating philosophies of the baseball players profiled in “The Game of Eating Smart.”
Here’s what Astros second baseman Altuve said about his diet:
“I’ve noticed a connection between my eating habits and performance because when I eat right, I not only go out there and play well, I also feel well,” he said. “I feel better on and off the field, and my recovery is much faster. Once I started eating better, I noticed a 100 percent change. Now I can play all season, and I still feel great after it’s over.
“My biggest meal is lunch, and it’s usually two pieces of grilled chicken breast, a half cup of brown rice and vegetables,” he says. “I also eat big salads with lettuce, tomatoes and all kinds of vegetables. And then for dinner, I usually have more protein and vegetables, but fewer carbohydrates than at breakfast or lunch. I find that eating this way works best for my body and helps my performance on the field. I feel strong and energized.”
Astros shortstop Correa says he started eating healthier to improve his performance on the field.
“In order to do that I had to sacrifice some of the foods I like,” he says. “Now I eat a lot of fresh vegetables, including broccoli and carrots, which I never used to like. I also wasn’t big into fish at first, but now I eat salmon and mahi-mahi all the time.
“I eat clean snacks like Greek yogurt with granola and fruit, which give me great energy,” Correa says. “I avoid fried foods, soda, beer, alcohol and processed sweets like candy, doughnuts, cookies and brownies. Lunch is usually rice and beans with some avocado.
“Also, I often eat one or two pieces of salmon. Then for dinner, I’ll have chicken and redskinned potatoes with broccoli on the side. I love eating rice. I could eat rice with every meal, and red beans.” greg.morago@chron.com