For many of us, a packed lunch will likely consist of last night’s leftovers, or a sad sandwich and packet of crisps.
So it might surprise many to hear that Team GB’s sports stars have been tucking into a ‘packed lunch’ most nights for dinner at the Olympic Village in Paris.
According to Andy Anson, the British Olympic Association’s chief executive, the food at the Village has been ‘inadequate’ meaning that athletes have been getting their meals elsewhere.
Andy said a ‘dramatic improvement’ was needed when it came to food, as there hadn’t been enough protein to go around. He also claimed that raw meat had been served to athletes.
Instead of eating at the Village, British athletes have been heading to the Performance Lodge 20 minutes away in Clichy. This is a space for Team GB where they can train, rest, recover, and prepare for competition.
‘The athletes are not just going there to eat their lunch, they are packing meals for their dinner as they don’t want to go into the athlete restaurant to eat,’ Andy adds.
It’s not been revealed what exactly the team have been putting in their lunchboxes, but it’s likely they’ll have been stocking up on everything the village has been in short supply of, including chicken, eggs, and carbohydrates.
And some will be eating a hefty amount, as Olympic 200m freestyle champion Tom Dean recently told The Independent that he consumes 6,000 to 7,000 calories per day, with two big breakfasts, a big lunch, a snack, a large meal, and then another snack before bed.
His first breakfast typically includes oats with peanut butter, banana, fruits and honey, which gives him around 1,200 calories to begin the day. He then follows this up with scrambled eggs, a bagel and avocado.
Many of his fellow British athletes will also be starting their day with porridge, as Philipp Würz, head of food and beverages at the Games, revealed it was the most requested food by Team GB ahead of the Olympics.
This is likely because it’s considered a ‘superfood’ by many experts. Nigel Mitchell, a nutritionist who has worked with Team GB, previously told Metro that porridge was his ‘number one breakfast choice’.
‘It’s warming, comforting and provides ideal slow-release carbohydrates. This helps to maintain blood glucose levels which supports an even brain energy level to prevent drops in mood,’ he explained.
‘I love the versatility of it and it is easy to make it plant-based by swapping the milk for your choice of dairy free milk. I suggest soya because it provides more protein than other dairy free milk.’
When making it yourself, he recommends adding chia seeds for protein and also because they are high in fats which the body uses to make DHA fatty acids.
‘This is essential for the brain to function – impacting everything from cognition to mood,’ he adds.
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