You Are What You Eat (2024)

A Guide To Living Right, Eating Right and Playing The Right Way

You Are What You Eat (1)

It’s true that what we eat has an impact on who we are, how we feel and our overall health, wellness and day-to-day life. It’s also true that who we are, how we feel and our day-to-day life have a significant impact on what we choose to eat.

With that said, what should today’s hockey player be eating? Here are some easy answers to a complicated question.

Breakfast of Champions: Get Your Day Off On The Right Skate

Breakfast Ideas

• Natural peanut butter on whole wheat toast with banana slices (no sugar added jelly optional), and a glass of 1% milk

• Whole grain frozen waffle sandwich (add natural almond or peanut butter and banana slices), and a glass of soy milk

• Whole wheat bagel with a slice of cheese (slice of tomato optional) and a glass of milk.

• Scrambled eggs with cheese, two links turkey or vegetarian sausage, 1 cantaloupe wedge and a glass of milk or water.

• Yogurt (try Stoneyfield organic or any brand Greek Yogurt), with blueberries and sunflower seeds or granola mixed in.

We’re all told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true for young athletes. Eating the right foods, first thing, will give you energy for hockey practice, school and a fun, full and busy day.

For many people, breakfast is hard to fit in. Why?
• Not enough time
• Not hungry
• Not sure what to eat

Here are some simple tips for how to eat right, right away.
Pick one food from each of these categories:
Fruit: Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries), bananas, apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, peaches/plums, kiwi, mangoes, melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
Protein: Yogurt, eggs, cheese, natural peanut or almond butter, turkey or vegetarian sausage or bacon
Whole grain: Whole grain frozen waffle, oatmeal or any cold cereal with at least three grams of fiber, like Kashi Heart to Heart, Raisin Bran or Annie’s Bunnies (honey, cinnamon or original), whole grain English muffin or toast, whole wheat bagel
Fluid: Water, skim or 1% milk, vitamin-enriched soy milk

• Fun tip: Try combining foods from each group.
Make a smoothie for a cool, quick breakfast. (See breakfast ideas

You Are What You Eat (2)

Pre-game Meals: What, When And Why To Eat Before A Game Or Practice

WHAT

Pre-game meals are key for improved athletic performance both physically and mentally. Here are some easy options and ideas for how to schedule this important meal for maximum effectiveness.

Six Great Web Resources for Meal Ideas

Allrecipes.com
DanaFarber.org/nutrition
(recipe archive)
Epicurious.com
Aicr.org (recipe corner)
Cookinglight.com
Eatingwell.com

The pre-game meal should consist of a protein-rich food, whole grains or fruit and fluids (water). Examples include: ½ cup trail mix and a piece of fruit or yogurt (6-8 oz). Whole grain bagel or English muffin and top with tomato sauce and cheese), pasta (half whole grain) with tomato sauce (or olive oil/butter) and either cheese, frozen shrimp, chicken, 95 percent lean meat (organic when possible), beans, or Morning Star Farms frozen Meal-Starters vegetarian protein crumbles. Chopped fruit cup topped with yogurt (add granola or sunflower seeds for crunch and more nutrients).

WHEN

Eat your pre-game meal one to two hours before the game – two hours for a more hearty meal choice, one hour for more of a snack or mini-meal sized portion. Be careful not to eat too much; aim for half of the amount you would usually eat at dinner. “Practice” your pre-game meal before a longer hockey practice so you can figure out how your body digests certain foods and feels during exercise, before you really need to know for the big game.

You Are What You Eat (3)WHY

Research has shown that having a pre-game meal or snack with protein and whole grains helps promote:
• Clear thinking during competition, or being “on your mental game”
• Faster body reaction times
• Improved athleticism
• Better coordination

Protein and whole grains are the best choices because they are digested more slowly, allowing the energy from the food to last longer. High-sugar foods, including juice or white flour breads, burn off quickly making them poor choices for a pre-game meal. You’ll get an energy burst that will then crash when you need it most – during your game.

Between Period Nutrition

Choose small amounts of foods that are primarily easy-to-digest carbohydrates. You want quick energy here that will get into your system with little work.
• Bananas, apples, pears or orange slices
• 4-8 oz. Gatorade or other sports drink without caffeine
• Graham crackers, pretzels or animal crackers

Post-game Meals: Eating Your Way To Recovery

Choose a high carbohydrate, easy-to-digest food or fluid right after your game or intense practice. (See Between Period Nutrition ideas.) Drink 8-16 ounces of a sports drink without caffeine to help replace fluids, carbohydrates and electrolytes burnt in muscle during exercise.

Within one to two hours of your game, eat a healthy, hearty meal. Be sure to include foods from all the key categories you learned about for breakfast (carbohydrates – like pasta, baked white or sweet potato, brown or wild rice, protein – like fish, white meat chicken or turkey, lean red meat, tofu, edamame, beans, fruits and vegetables; and fluids).

Foods that are less processed are best because they are naturally anti-inflammatory. After a game or practice you want to help decrease the inflammation, swelling and overall resistance in your body that naturally occurs from intense physical exertion. In general, natural foods that are minimally processed are best and are considered anti-inflammatory.

Specifically, all fruits, vegetables, nuts, nut butters, whole grains, seeds and beans (hummus, etc.) are anti-inflammatory.

Within this group, things like avocado, pineapple, papaya, pomegranate, melon (cantaloupe, watermelon), ginger, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, ground flax seeds and fish (wild salmon or canned salmon instead of tuna) are the most potent anti-inflammatory foods.

Fried foods, processed meats (hot dogs, bologna), packaged snack foods (chips, etc), red meat, vegetable/soybean oil and corn oil are all pro-inflammatory or more likely to add inflammation in the body. Drinking lots of water is important to help reduce inflammation.

You Are What You Eat (4)Fast food, eaten on a regular basis, can be very detrimental to young athletes and negatively impact hockey performance.

Meals On Wheels: What To Eat On The Road

American culture is full of quick, easy convenience foods. Unfortunately most of these lack the essential nutrients young athletes need, and provide an overabundance of calories and saturated fats causing weight gain, health problems and low energy levels.

It’s important to note that it’s body fat that a child or teen will gain from eating high calorie, nutrient-devoid foods, not the muscle they want.

Remember, most of the items you order also include condiments and those pesky side items, like French fries. To find out how your favorite fast food stacks up,
go to dietfacts.com/fastfood.

Fast food, eaten on a regular basis, can be very detrimental to young athletes and negatively impact hockey performance. Fast food contains many ingredients, such as trans-fat and saturated fats and high fructose corn syrup, which promote inflammation in the body. This can lead to more muscle soreness, pain, slower recovery between practices or games, decreased immunity and weight gain (as body fat).

Decreased immunity makes young athletes more susceptible to colds, flu and other infections and ultimately leads to more missed practices and games.
Of course, having a fast food meal every once in a while is not a problem. Everything in moderation is still a good way of thinking.

Planning ahead may be the best way to guarantee a healthy meal for an athlete. Putting together a cooler with healthy foods that are ready to go when you pick up your child or teen from practice or a game is very important. In the long run, it’s worth the extra effort and time.

These days many parents struggle with finding time to cook, let alone pack a lunch/dinner for their kids. Once you get a system down of what to buy at the store, and what you want to pack, it gets easier and more efficient over time.
Purchasing a new cooler, cool pack lunch box or backpack may also help you organize this task.

If you are traveling for games and are away from home for an extended period of time, look for a local grocery store to stock up on meals and snacks for your athlete.

For those times you may choose to get fast food or find it’s your only option, here are some tips for making the best of it:
• Choose water or milk
• Get smaller portions
• Order grilled vs. “crispy” chicken or fish
• Look for fruits or vegetables offered on the menu
• Get salad dressing on the side and use about half of the amount provided
• Egg and cheese without meat is a healthier choice
• Bagels or English muffin vs. croissant or biscuit

Making healthy meals, on a budget that are quick and easy can be challenging. Over time including healthy food in your everyday diet gets easier and becomes a wonderful habit. You or your athlete may benefit from meeting with a registered dietitian who specializes in nutrition for young athletes to help make an individualized eating plan. Making small, healthful changes gradually is truly the recipe for success.

You Are What You Eat (2024)

FAQs

What does the phrase you are what you eat mean? ›

The phrase 'You Are What You Eat' means that it is important to eat good food in order to be healthy and fit. Example of Use: “I'm feeling more energetic now that I've started eating more salad.” Answer: “You are what you eat!”

Who originally said you are what you eat? ›

It was in the context of the stress and turmoil of the German revolution in 1848 that the German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach used his famous phrase, “We are what we eat” (14).

Is it true that you are what you eat? ›

In a literal sense, we all can agree that it's true that 'you are what you eat'. Nutrients from the foods we eat provide the foundation of the structure, function, and wholeness of every little cell in our body, from the skin and hair to the muscles, bones, digestive and immune systems.

Is you are what you eat a metaphor? ›

This parable from Jesus is one rich metaphor about consuming the Bread of Life.

Where did the expression you are what you eat come from? ›

It originally appeared in 1826 when Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer, politician, and famous gastronome, wrote ''Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es'', which translates to 'Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are' [1,2].

What you eat is what you are philosophy? ›

In contemporary parlance, “you are what you eat” refers to the idea that one's eating habits determine and also are a manifestation of the health of the person in question.

What you eat is what you are Bible verse? ›

Proverbs 23:7 is the biblical version of you are what you eat. It says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” What we read and view has a determining effect on us, and what our children are taking into their minds will determine what they become.

Did Hippocrates say you are what you eat? ›

In the 4th Century BCE, the Greek physician Hippocrates authored the famous oath, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” We now know that foods like berries, green tea, and mushrooms are more than just a delicious source of energy; the nutrients inside can indeed be powerful medicine to help prevent and ...

What you eat you become quote? ›

You are what you Eat, You are what you Think, You are what you Believe. — Michael Ryan Whitson | Quotes, Believe, What you think.

What you eat says about your personality? ›

Per Reader's Digest, if you tend to eat slow, you like to be in control of situations and know how to appreciate life. On the other hand, people who like to eat fast tend to be ambitious and impatient. People who are adventurous and love to try new foods are likely to exhibit anxiety and neuroticism.

Does your personality affect how you eat? ›

A recent study published in journal Appetite and conducted at ETH Zurich matches specific personality traits with eating habits. Using a reasonably large sample, the researchers have showed that how we eat correlates with our personalities. Perhaps this is the old saw “you are what you eat” reversed and adapted.

How you eat determines your personality? ›

New research shows distinct bacteria and metabolomes in the gut are associated with personality traits. What you eat determines the bacteria and the microbiome in your gut — which researchers have now linked to personality and mood.

Is you are what you eat a cliche? ›

"You are what you eat" is one of the most common clichés in dieting and health, entering wide use with the publication of Victor Lindlahr's book in 1942. The phrase narrowly posits that our health is solely determined by dieting, something that advocates of fad diets also want us to believe.

What you eat is a reflection? ›

“You are what you eat” is a reflection of our system, and a critic to the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food to the point of extravagance and waste. The film start with Monsieur Glouton, a man who transforms himself into a pig-like creature.

What does it means by you are what you eat and so is your brain? ›

This means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That “fuel” comes from the foods you eat — and what's in that fuel makes all the difference. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood,” says Harvard Health.

Do you know the famous phrase we are what we eat? ›

'Der Mensch ist, was er iβt' (you are what you eat) is a famous quotation from the German philosopher Feuerbach, suggesting that the food one eats has a bearing on one's state of mind. Can food function as cognitive enhancer?

What does you are what you eat mean in biology? ›

You Are What You Eat is the idea that organisms that consume food via phagocytosis, particularly single-celled organisms that engulf other organisms, that are able to obtain genetic information from that food.

Who said Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are? ›

In 1825, the French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin published this now celebrated quote in his masterpiece book Physiology of Taste: “Dis-moi ce que tu manges, je te dirai ce que tu es” which translates to "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are." The French still take their food seriously and ...

What does Confucius say about eating? ›

Confucius recommends:

Eat only at meal times. Don't eat food that smells bad. Don't consume food that is not well cooked. Eat fresh and local; do not eat food out of season.

What did Plato say about food? ›

Among other philosophical concepts, Plato's works are imbued with the fundamental principle of moderation. This spirit is characteristically evident in his references to human diet. According to the philosopher, a moderate and thus a healthy diet, consists of cereals, legumes, fruits, milk, honey and fish.

What are the 4 influences of what you eat? ›

Biological determinants such as hunger, appetite, and taste. Economic determinants such as cost, income, availability. Physical determinants such as access, education, skills (e.g. cooking) and time. Social determinants such as culture, family, peers and meal patterns.

What does Leviticus 11 say? ›

Bible Gateway Leviticus 11 :: NIV. You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. "`There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you.

How does God want us to eat? ›

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food." In the second chapter of Genesis (2:16-17) vegetarianism is re-affirmed as people's spiritually proper diet.

Do not be judged by what you eat? ›

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." The Apostle Paul, writing these words by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, makes his point.

What Socrates said about food? ›

Worthless people live only to eat and drink; people of worth eat and drink only to live.

What did Einstein say about food? ›

Albert Einstein has many famous quotes. One of them states: "Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”

What is the Hippocratic oath? ›

The Hippocratic Oath (Ορκος) is perhaps the most widely known of Greek medical texts. It requires a new physician to swear upon a number of healing gods that he will uphold a number of professional ethical standards.

What are the top 10 food quotes? ›

Top 10 Food Quotes
  • So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being. ...
  • Instead of going out to dinner, buy good food. ...
  • If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. ...
  • You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six. ...
  • Eating is so intimate.

What is the important quote about food? ›

"People who love to eat are always the best people." "To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art." "We all eat, an it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly." "If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him...the people who give you their food give you their heart."

What food can describe a person? ›

Food Slang 101: How to Describe Humans Using Food
  • APPLE BOTTOM. [ap-uh l] [bot-uh m], noun. ...
  • BEEFCAKE / BEEFY. [beef-keyk] / [bee-fee], noun / adjective. ...
  • BEER BELLY. [beer] [bel-ee], noun. ...
  • BUTTERFACE. [buht-er] [feys], noun. ...
  • BUTTERFINGERS. [buht-er] [fing-ger], noun. ...
  • CARROT TOP. [kar-uh t] [top], noun. ...
  • CUTIE PIE. ...
  • EYE CANDY.
6 Sept 2014

What does a healthy personality look like? ›

While there are some differences in their conceptualizations, there was a general consensus that the healthy personality consists of: More positive than negative emotions in daily life. Openness and flexibility of emotional expression. Trust in one's own experience.

Which personality trait is most commonly associated with eating disorders? ›

Personality traits commonly associated with eating disorder (ED) are high perfectionism, impulsivity, harm avoidance, reward dependence, sensation seeking, neuroticism, and obsessive-compulsiveness in combination with low self-directedness, assertiveness, and cooperativeness [8-11].

What the way you stand says about you? ›

Good body posture indicates that you are confident, have self-respect and respect your audience. Straight posture also “says” you are interested in what the other person is saying, and you value the conversation.

What eating fast says about you? ›

The fast eaters, on the other hand, tend to be ambitious and impatient. Fast eaters are usually great multi-taskers too. They also make great partners because of their giving nature. "The speed at which you eat reveals the speed at which you take on and enjoy life," Boghossian said.

What are the 5 food idioms? ›

10 Food idioms
  • 'The test was a piece of cake. '
  • A lemon. A lemon is something that you buy which turns out to have problems - it is defective / it doesn't work well. ...
  • A piece of cake. When something is a piece of cake it is very easy to do. ...
  • Bread and butter. ...
  • Bring home the bacon. ...
  • Cheap as chips. ...
  • Cry over spilt milk. ...
  • Cup of tea.
1 Jul 2009

What is a cliché idiom? ›

Definitions: Clichés are overused expressions. They have been used so many times that they no longer convey the meaning or emotion they once did. Examples of clichés include: “Love is forever.”

What are cliché phrases? ›

A cliché is an overused phrase or reference that has lost its impact after having been used commonly. Once meaningful – even impressive – the overuse makes these phrases irritating for the readers. You could say clichés are like stale bread that's caught mold.

What does being mindful of what you eat mean? ›

Being mindful of the foods you eat encourages you to pay attention to the aromas, textures, flavours and taste of food. Pay attention to your likes and dislikes using these senses. This may help connect you to your eating experience and be more conscious of the food you are eating.

How do you eat with your mind? ›

Eat in silence. Focus on how the food makes you feel. Stop eating when you're full. Ask yourself why you're eating, whether you're truly hungry, and whether the food you chose is healthy.

How do you eat when emotional? ›

To help stop emotional eating, try these tips:
  1. Keep a food diary. Write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you're feeling when you eat and how hungry you are. ...
  2. Tame your stress. ...
  3. Have a hunger reality check. ...
  4. Get support. ...
  5. Fight boredom. ...
  6. Take away temptation. ...
  7. Don't deprive yourself. ...
  8. Snack healthy.

Who first said you are what you eat? ›

It was in the context of the stress and turmoil of the German revolution in 1848 that the German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach used his famous phrase, “We are what we eat” (14).

Why is my mind always on food? ›

When your body needs energy, it releases certain hormones, letting your brain know that you're hungry. The result of these signals from the body may manifest as thoughts about food. Two of the hormones your body releases to the brain in response to its current levels of energy are leptin and ghrelin.

Why do I constantly think about what I eat? ›

Thinking about food constantly is often an indicator that you aren't eating enough of it! Ask yourself if you've been eating consistently and adequately throughout the day—as in, three meals each day and maybe a snack or two between meals, depending on your hunger cues.

What you feed your mind becomes a mindset? ›

What you feed your mind becomes your reality… The ideas and thoughts you allow to enter your mind is what makes you the person you are! If your mind is filled with belief, hope, and happiness, you'll start seeing that around you and in everything you do.

What is the biological connection when someone says they are eating their feelings? ›

There's a biological connection between emotional eating and stress — namely that your body starts producing a hormone called cortisol when you start feeling alarmed or upset. “Cortisol makes us crave sugary, fatty or salty foods,” says Dr. Albers.

What does the Bible say about what you eat or drink? ›

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Have you ever considered why you eat the foods that you do? ›

Taste Rules

The main reason we choose a particular food is because we like the way it tastes. We don''t eat blueberries because they''re an excellent source of antioxidants -- we eat them because they taste good. Taste preferences are present when we''re born, with even babies showing a fondness for sweetness and fats.

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