If Michael Phelps can win 8 Olympic Gold medals by eating 12,000 calories a day (and still having a six-pack), shouldn’t young hockey players aspiring to reach the same levels of success do the same?

If you ate the sandwich pictured here, you might just be able to achieve that 12,000 calorie goal all in one sitting.

Here’s what Phelps eats typically eats in one day:

–> 1 entire pizza
–> 1 bowl of grits
–> 1 5 egg omelet
–> 2 cups of coffee

Now, if we stopped right there, we’d be looking at the amount that the average North American eats in one day – approximately 2000 calories.

But Phelps is no average American.

Add to that…

–> 2 pounds of pasta
–> 2 large ham and cheese sandwiches
–> 3 fried egg sandwiches (with all the fixins’)
–> 3 slices of french toast
–> 3 chocolate chip pancakes

If you are like me, just reading that makes you feel a little sick to your stomach.

Oh and I almost forgot the 1,000 calorie energy drinks. Throw in 3 or 4 of those just to top of the tank.

UNBELIEVABLE!

Just looking at this menu must give nutritionists heart palpitations.

And I can’t help but think how much better Phelps might have been able to perform if his diet was stuffed full of saturated fat and completely void of any fruits or vegetables.

Don’t get me wrong, his “nutrition plan” (and I am using that term very loosely) got him the results he wanted.

And I am not sure that it is possible to perform much better than Phelps did.

But it does send a confusing message to young hockey players everywhere when you look at all the crappy food he put IN to his body and the amazing performances he is able to get OUT from his body.

Can players eat whatever they want, as long as they take in the calories they need to get through all of their workouts and training, and still be able to compete with the best in the world?

There are always going to be some elite hockey players who can eat whatever they want, whenever they want, and still be able to play at a high level every night.

But those players are few and far between – just like there are probably aren’t many elite swimmers who sit down to a 5,000 calorie dinner every night.

The truth is that while there will be the odd athlete who can compete at the highest levels of their sport by filling their tank with low-grade fuel, filling the tank with premium fuel is always a better choice.

In order for players to perform their best day in and day out, they need to make sure that they are taking in the best fuel possible.

Bottom line:

Hockey nutrition shouldn’t look like a Michael Phelps’ style buffet.  Check out a nutrition program specifically created for girls hockey players at www.gamewinningnutrition.com.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

Your friend and coach,

Kim