The Olympic Athlete Diet

Photo by: Corbis

1. Eat Smart, Eat Frequently to Maximize Performance

For the Athlete: Sports dietitian, Tavis Piattoly, MS, RD, works with Olympic sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste, from Trinidad and Tobago, to ensure she's fueling her body properly to maximize performance. Pre-training foods Piattoly recommends consist of lean protein and complex carbs, such as whole-grain bread, oatmeal, fresh fruit, eggs, Greek yogurt, and whey protein. "We

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Photo by: Corbis

1. Eat Smart, Eat Frequently to Maximize Performance

For the Athlete: Sports dietitian, Tavis Piattoly, MS, RD, works with Olympic sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste, from Trinidad and Tobago, to ensure she's fueling her body properly to maximize performance. Pre-training foods Piattoly recommends consist of lean protein and complex carbs, such as whole-grain bread, oatmeal, fresh fruit, eggs, Greek yogurt, and whey protein. "We also focus on healthy fats like natural peanut butter, whole eggs, fish oil supplements, and nuts to help with satiety," he adds.

For You: Piattoly says, "The principles of sports nutrition never change regardless if you're a weekend warrior, average exerciser, or elite athlete; the only aspect that changes is the total caloric intake. Whether I'm working with a mom who plays tennis five days a week or an Olympian, we still focus on the same eating principles such as eating every 3 to 4 hours, eating after training to e

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