Ask the Expert: What Would Brian Boitano Eat at the Rink?

Note from Ice Mom: This week’s Ask the Expert is the 1988 US Mens Olympic Figure Skating Champion, Brian Boitano. As most of you know, Boitano has a show on Food Network: What Would Brian Boitano Make? I thought it would be interesting to find out what Brian Boitano would eat at the rink.

I asked readers to send in questions in advance for Boitano; many of you did. What follows are his responses. He won’t have time to answer new questions in the comments, but you can certainly leave your appreciation there.

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PREFACE FROM BRIAN:

I am not a nutritionist, so I would like to leave that to the experts, and  I certainly was not a model for good eating when I came up the ranks. I wish I had known a nutritionist when I was younger who understood every aspect of the demands of skating. However, I do pay attention to it now, and I highly  recommend Michel Pollan’s book, “Food Rules” as a place to start. It is a quick read and his three main rules are: Eat food, Mostly plants, and Not too much.

Packing Food for a Whole Day

Reader Kristen D: How the heck do I pack enough food for an entire day (5:30am ice, Metro commute to work, 8 hour work day, Metro commute home, cardio/strength training in gym, then home) and not run out of ideas, break the bank, or have tons and tons of prep time that I have to squeeze into my already full and crazy day?

Brian Boitano: Try finding an easy drink supplement to go along with the food. If you get bored with one flavor, try another. My nutritionist recommends Endurox, which is a replacement drink for after workouts. It is light enough to drink between sessions.

Energy-Rich Rink Food

Reader Karen D.: Rink food? I make pasta & have wide necked flask, other ideas for energy rich food please – no low-fat though, please! It’s hard to keep weight on kids who skate a lot!

Brian Boitano: You could use the flask for soups and rice dishes with some protein and vegetables added to them (for example diced chicken and veggies with the rice). Here is a chicken and rice recipe that may work. If it is too seasoned for your kids, you can always just use salt and pepper and just leave the plantain part out. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/brian-boitano/arroz-con-pollo-bites-recipe/index.html

Eating before Practice

Reader Penny K: I would like to know what you suggest a skater eat prior to a practice and how much before . What do you recommend for snacks to replenish skaters’ bodies after skating. I think it would also be great to know if he has any suggestions for the best balanced packed lunch (maybe even a menu) including snacks you should pack for a day at a seminar or camp.

Brian Boitano: In my opinion nothing replenishes a skater’s body like healthy eating. I think eating before skating is the way to go. After that, eat small amounts during the day.

Digestive Restrictions

Reader Jenny E: Did you ever have to eat certain food types for digestive reasons (for example, not mixing proteins with carbs, etc) and does that give the skater better performance.

Brian Boitano: If a skater does not have digestive problems, I suggest eating a little of everything for balance and avoiding too many high-sugar drinks.

Coaching and Eating

From Ice Coach: From a coach’s perspective, how do you feel about coaches who dictate what their students can and can’t eat.

Brian Boitano: Dictating diets is usually not successful. Working together would be optimum. My coach always suggested taking supplemental vitamins (especially B complex for energy and stress and iron). This was always with the caveat that all supplements were to be taken only in consultation with my parents and my doctor.

From Ice Coach: How much should a coach be involved in a skater’s diet: really active or only when necessary?

Brian Boitano: Diet is important, and this question seems like it should be answered according to the situation and using common sense.

Eating and Competing

Ice Coach: What should skaters eat before competition. A good breakfast consisting of…and lunch? snacks?

Brian Boitano: I suggest keeping on the same dietary regimen as on practice days and not trying anything new. Also I suggest eating what you know makes you feel the best.

Picky Eater

From Ice Mom: What food can I pack for a picky eater besides peanut butter and jelly? She mistrusts anything “healthy.”

Brian Boitano: Pick something she likes, or she may not eat anything at all. My Dad used to pack peanuts in my bag when I was younger, hoping I would snack on them. Often times I was preoccupied with my skating and when I remembered to eat them, they were gone. That is because my skating friends knew they were there, and they loved to take them out of my bag and eat them.

Easy Food

From Ice Mom: Is there something easy that I can make in the morning or the night before to pop in the cooler? Better: is there something easy my skater can make?

Brian Boitano: Nuts and dried fruits are great snacks. You and your skater can make your own trail mix.

Breakfast and Carbs?

Reader Josette: We have some early morning practices, and sometimes a big breakfast can really make for a groggy a.m. practice session. However, skipping breakfast also doesn’t seem like a good idea. What are your ideas and experience for dealing with this? Does is help to eat more carbs at night before early AM training (as some runners do?)

Brian Boitano: For me it is best to eat lightly all through the day, starting off with a good combination of of protein and carbs.  Many athletes choose from yoghurt, toast, and eggs before a workout. Oatmeal or granola with fruit is another popular choice.  I always  keep the portions small.

Thank you, Brian, for sharing your rink food recommendations with us. Readers, you can leave comments below (no new questions, please).

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Do you have a question for Ice Mom or the Advisory Board? Do you have an idea for a post you’d like to see? Are you dying to write a guest post? Awesome! Are you a figure skating expert who would like to teach me how to tell if a jump is cheated or not? Really? I try, try, try to figure it out, but I can’t tell from where I sit. Send me an e-mail! icemom.diane@gmail.com

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Photo credits:
All photos of Brian Boitano are courtesy of Food Network and What Would Brian Boitano Make?