Interviewing Olympic Superstars!

A few weeks ago at NBC, I had the incredible opportunity to meet some of the inspiring, passionate athletes on Team USA and chat with them about their Olympic journeys. Of course, in addition to asking about their accomplishments and future plans, I wanted to know ALL about what they’ve been eating to fuel up for the London Games!

Fencer Tim Morehouse, who won the silver medal in men’s saber at the Beijing Olympics, told me about the complete overhaul he gave his diet after his 2008 victory. He realized then that even though he was an elite athlete, he wasn't very fit. At 220 pounds, he felt low energy and out of shape and decided to pay more attention to how he was fueling his body. Tim says he was a “typical New York guy” who didn’t have the time or desire to cook, so he often ordered pizza or takeout for a quick, easy meal…and fell prey to bad choices. To turn things around, he recruited Bistro MD, a meal delivery system that replenishes his fridge with ready-to-eat, convenient options every week. Tim eats three balanced meals a day, and then fills in with healthy snacks like Sabra hummus with veggies and Isopure chocolate protein shakes to ensure he’s getting enough calories and nutrients to fuel his five-hour-a-day training sessions. He now maintains a fit, lean weight of 205 pounds and feels on top of his game. I’ll be cheering hard for Tim when he goes for gold later this month!

I also had the pleasure of meeting Heather Mitts, two-time Olympic gold medalist and talented defender for the U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team. I was so impressed by Heather’s healthy eating habits. She loves to cook and prepares her own delicious, organic meals whenever she has access to a kitchen. (Her stellar diet is benefiting her body inside and out  – she’s drop-dead gorgeous!) Heather told me that lately she’s been obsessed with baked sweet potatoes, and even shared her personal recipe with me. Give these a try!

Heather Mitts’ “Gold Medal” Baked Sweet Potatoes

Dice up sweet potatoes into cubes. Soak them briefly in water. Foil a baking pan and apply a small amount of olive oil. Place cut sweet potatoes on sheet. Sprinkle salt, pepper, cinnamon and paprika or spice of choice. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 mins. Easy, healthy and delicious. 

I hope you’ll join me in wishing all of the outstanding Olympians strength, courage, and confidence as they head into this year’s Games!

And read on for more inside info on what Team USA athletes are eating to prepare for competition and perform at their peak!