Four Athletes, Four Sports, Four Breakfasts: What Do You Eat For Breakfast?
I’ve always had an interest about how athletes choose to kick start their morning. Whether it’s best to eat before training or after? Should I go for high protein or high carb?
Important questions that deserve important answers.
So, I reached out to four of my training friends who also conveniently form part of the few elite athletes in their chosen sports and asked them the simple question, what do you typically eat for breakfast?
Declan Carruthers. Commonwealth Games Representative, Australian Pole Vaulter.
His social media has probably tricked you into thinking that this 22-year old Adelaide born athletes diet involves vast amounts of cinnamon scrolls from our favourite bakery, North Street Store.
It’s okay, we’ve all fallen victim to his Instagram hacks.
Beginning little athletics at 12 years old before making the decision to specialise in pole vault, he gained selection and represented Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Training twice a day for athletics is tiring. Well looking at him entering the gym twice a day makes me feel pretty tired. But I asked him and he confirmed that it most definitely is.
Declan’s breakfast changes depending on the time of year and the stage of his season. During winter he prefers porridge with banana and honey whilst in summer his favourite is a bbq fry up with three or four eggs on top of wholemeal toast lathered in vegemite. True Aussie kid.
He’ll also add some natural fats with a healthy serving of avocado and bacon on the side.
This is food that’s all consumed before he even lifts off the ground. If he doesn’t eat before training he feels lethargic and can’t complete his session to his full potential.
Following training, Declan refuels on a high protein smoothie containing protein powder, frozen berries and hi-lo milk.
He likes to strictly treat himself to breakfast twice a week, with a personal rule that if he’s going out to pay to eat he orders a meal he wouldn’t cook himself at home. A current favourite is waffles with fried chicken and maple syrup featured above from Good Things in Mosman Park.
You can find out more about Declan and his training here @declancarruthers.
Kalindi Commerford, FIH Pro League Silver Medallist, Australian Hockeyroo.
‘But how do you get enough protein if you’re vegetarian?’
One of the questions the plant-powered Hockeyroo is frequently asked. Kalindi says her parents were very influenced by Indian culture and adopted the vegetarian diet before she was born, meaning all six siblings have steered clear of animal products since birth. She’s extremely grateful to not have grown up eating a lot of fast food as a large majority is meat based.
The Australian midfielder and recently qualified lawyer also enjoys eating out for breakfast and dinner, choosing to snack on a banana and a soy/oat milk piccollo prior to morning training.
Given that the Hockeyroos usually train early, having a larger meal after training ensures her depleted energy stores are replenished and finds this meal vital for setting up the rest of her day.
“At times, being vegetarian is hard. Especially when I go away on tour and try to eat the same way I do at home. But I love my diet and find my meals are always creative and colourful.
A lot of people when they turn vegetarian rely on pasta, rice and pizza. I find though if you’re open to soy products and consuming lots of vegetables, you can have a really balanced, fun diet that provides all the energy you need for life and high performance.”
Her favourites post-training meals include porridge topped with berries, yoghurt and chia seeds or a refreshing smoothie made from mango, coconut water, spinach, honey, yoghurt and protein powder. If it’s a heavier session, she’ll opt for avocado, tomato, spinach and haloumi on toast.
Instagram: @kalindi_quammerford
Kaylia Stanton, Australian Netballer, West Coast Fever Player.
25-year old local Perth girl and West Coast Fever player Kaylia is one of the most talked about up and coming netballers. The Nutrition and Health Promotion university student is well accustomed to the elite sporting lifestyle, with her mother just casually being a former three-time Olympic high jumper!
Kaylia chooses to always have breakfast before training, usually having a big bowl of porridge topped with frozen berries and honey or a light sprinkle of brown sugar. She finds that oats being low GI helps sustain her for longer during training.
If she’s not in the mood for porridge, she’ll blitz up either a mango banana or strawberry banana smoothie.
She’s conservative when it comes to eating out for breakfast as she loves to cook. On the rare occasion she does dine out, often on the morning of game day, she’ll order scrambled eggs and avocado on toast or a refreshing summer acai bowl. With coffee of course!
Kaylia’s go too cafe for an acai bowl in Perth is La Buda, located in North Beach.
“Did you hear about the angry pancake? He just flipped.”
Check out Kaylia ( @kayliastanton_) on Instagram for more of her pancake jokes.
Brianna Throssell, Olympian and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Australian Swimmer.
I’m not sure what I find more impressive about Bri. Her achievements in or outside of the pool. The Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Olympic swimmer, World Record Holder and 2019 WAIS Athlete of the Year also balances studying physiotherapy and a degree in business management, notably launching her own small business, West Coast Dress Hire.
Training more than 30 hours per week coupled with copious amounts of travel and study commitments means that Bri’s first meal is crucial in determining her daily energy levels and productivity.
She hits the water each morning at 6am, consuming a yo-pro yoghurt before training. Being a Yo-Pro athlete also means incorporating the delicious and convenient high protein snack after training, regularly topping her yoghurt with granola, frozen blueberries, a splash of milk and a spoonful of mayvers crunchy 100% peanut butter.
She often rewards her hard work by brunching out with friends, with an iced latte and fluffy stack of freshly made pancakes satisfying her sweet tooth. Bri recommends checking out the adorable Someday Coffee Co. in Wembley featured below and ordering the ruby, raspberry and rosewater pancakes topped with chocolate ganache and fairy floss!
Instagram: @BriannaThrossell
