While an NFL player’s lunch might include foods such as:
- Chicken breast
- Quinoa
- Broccoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Avocado
- Pasta
- Lean meat
- Eggs
- Juice
For a snack, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are popular among NFL players. Beef jerky is also a favorite, while some players prefer almonds and fruit. Most football players get in four protein-packed snacks per day, to keep their energy up.
And for dinner? A typical NFL player’s dinner may include some of the following:
- Brown rice
- Salmon
- Broccoli
- Chicken breast
- Potatoes
- Pasta
- Green beans
- Salad
You can see the picture: a balanced meal with plenty of protein, carbs, and vegetables is what most NFL players swear by. But it’s not easy to eat healthy all the time. Pro football players, along with most other professional athletes, allow themselves a cheat day every once in a while. Rob Gronkowski, formerly of the New England Patriots, says his cheat food is pizza in an interview with Men’s Journal:
“A cheat meal for me would be a nice groomed pizza. I love buffalo chicken pizza with a little blue cheese on it. Or just a regular cheese and pepperoni pizza”
And other NFL players? Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles has a weakness for cheesesteaks, while Geoff Schwartz of the New York Giants prefers pizza, fried rice, and Krispy Kreme donuts. And Buffalo Bills players indulge in donuts and fried chicken every now and then.
If you want to eat like a football player, try cooking up meals with the foods listed above. Chicken, brown rice, and a salad is a good starting choice, with an optional smoothie on the side–but take it easy on those cheat meals.
