As I ended my 3 weeks of sporting insomnia while following closely, and then finally witnessing, Cadel Evans historic victory, I reflected on the enormity of the nutrition needs of the Tour de France participants over the 86 hours or so they spent on the road. I have seen it quoted that the average daily energy expenditure in this race is between 16,000 and 32,000 Kilojoules/day – that’s nearly 8,000 Kcals each day for those of the old school! Combine this with the fact that there are limited hours and opportunities in each race day in which to consume this, and you can see how important the role of nutrition, and of those who plan and prepare the food for the riders must be. This is the reason for their use of special sports drink formulas, sports gels, sports bars and various other items must be readily available to them in those feed station areas en route each day. Their fluid, energy, electrolyte, protein and other nutrient needs, along with their individual likes and dislikes, the weather and the terrain of the stage would all be taken into account in planning each rider’s daily intake. At Eat Smart Nutrition we are often called upon to help cyclists, both elite and social, with their nutrition needs, and find it a very interesting and often challenging area of sports nutrition. So congratulations Cadel on an incredible performance, and to the team behind you for helping you along the way.

Eat Smart has just opened another great location at Chandler (withing the Sleeman Sports Centre). Joseph will be there on Tuesday afternoons, and Jessica (who is the latest Sports Dietitian to join the Eat Smart Team) will hold 1 Saturday morning clinic each month.

We can help individuals with all their nutritional goals offering Medical Nutrition Advice for health concerns, weight loss plans, as well as our specialist sports nutrition advice for athletes looking to improve their performance.

To make an appointment please call the Results Team on:
Phone 07 3823 2400
For more information please go to the Eat Smart website:
http://www.eatsmartnutrition.com/locationchandler.html

Brisbane has become market mad! Saturday and Sunday mornings see families, couples, singles, kids and dogs flock to an open stretch of grass lined with stalls brimming with fruit, vegetables, meats, cheeses, fish, tea, coffee, cooked produce, preserves and sweets ready for the taste testing! Have you succumbed to the allure of an early morning coffee with friends, dog in tow and then a spot of fruit and vege shopping?

Beyond the social aspect, have we managed to create a trend that is health promoting while still being trendy? You will see all walks of life at local markets, from those who have a few years under their belt, to those who have only seen a few weeks to those who walk on four legs to those who carting a trolley to take home their wares.

What better way to start a weekend morning than to enjoy an early morning stroll, hot (skinny!) coffee in hand, selecting from a colourful array of in-season produce from a stall likely manned by the person who toiled the soil said produce was created from? While temptation is never far in the form of cupcakes, fudge, bratwurst or pancakes laden with cream surely the abundance of fresh produce is enough to inspire even the most hardened to purchase a ‘health’ food or two?

Go to www.ourbrisbane.com/whats-on/markets to join the trend – invite your friends, family, kids and four legged friends for some healthy entertainment – you might even get healthy while you’re at it!

 Last week in Sydney saw the nations best water polo players battle it out for the National League Titles. The finals series involved two mens and two womens teams from Brisbane – many of whom make up the QAS water polo squads whose nutrition is looked after by Holly (women) and Peta (men). 

Congratulations to the Barracudas women’s water polo team (pictured below)  who won narrowly in a penalty shootout and to the Barra’s men who won bronze. Both of the Breakers teams narrowly missed the semi-finals. 

Barracudas Womens Water Polo Champions 2011

A number of these players are now preparing for the World Championships in Shanghai in July 2011 as part of Australian teams and are involved in camps and competition leading up to this important event. 

As a prelude to the finals the girls played a staff vs players game in the QAS recovery pool – won narrowly by the staff (with a few ‘ring-ins’). This was followed by the annual ‘bake-off’, where the girls show off their culinary (but not necessarily nutrition-based) skills in the kitchen – judged by their Holly. The winning entry by Australian player Jane Moran was a choc mousse meringue cake which definitely did not tick too many ‘healthy nutrition’ boxes, but was a bit of a taste sensation!

 Our own Peta Carige has been helping the Brisbane Broncos attain their great position on the NRL ladder leading in to the State of Origin series. The team is full of young players who are more than pulling their weight alongside the more experienced campaigners. The club had a great representation in the test team against NZ with one being an excited debutant Jharal Yow Yeh. 

Peta has spent a great deal of time ensuring they reach and maintain their optimal weight and body fat levels as well as learning the finer points of looking after their nutrition needs and learning how to cook! They even have their own club cookbook with favourite recipe contributions from some players. The NYC (under 20) team is also doing well and is full of NRL players of the future and have had regular education and practical nutrition sessions over the first part of the season. Go the Broncos and the Maroons!

Jharal Yow Yeh scoring diving try for Broncos in 2011. Source: The Courier Mail