Go for the gold with a nutritious diet

LONDON –– The 2012 London Olympic games are in full swing and athletes from around the world are doing their best to bring home the gold for their respective countries.

One thing that fans and athletes can both relate to is achieving a well-rounded diet to help achieve potential.

“Nutrition, a balanced diet and a healthy breakfast: These are keys to success, regardless of your aspirations,” said United States Olympic Committee Senior Sports Dietitian Nanna Meyer. “Breakfast provides many benefits, giving you physical energy to take on whatever challenges your day may bring.”

Studies have shown that individuals who eat healthier choices like cereal for breakfast have significantly lower body mass indexes and are less likely to be overweight than those who skip breakfast or eat meat and eggs in the morning.

Cereal and milk are leading sources of 10 vitamins and nutrients. In addition, foods with whole grains and fiber also provide health benefits.

Summer Sanders, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist in swimming, said, “Eating a healthy breakfast every morning helped me get to the podium and now, as a mom, my top priority is making sure that my family eats a nutritious breakfast to get them fueled to start the day.”

U.S. Olympic Committee sports dietitians’ tips for a healthy lifestyle include:

– Begin with good hydration. The human body is more than 70 percent water and muscles depend on water to function properly.

– Prepare a nutritious, filling snack ahead of time to keep fueled throughout the day and prevent unhealthy choices.

– Incorporate whole grains including fiber and nutrients as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle. Energy from carbohydrates is stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen and provides the boost everyone needs to perform, both on the job and while playing sports.

– Include some protein and healthy fats in every meal. Eating protein throughout the day will help manage appetite and maintain metabolism and muscle mass.

For more on the power of breakfast and to view a video on nutrition, visit Kelloggs.com/teamusa.