Top Triathlete and HJ Guest Blogger Bill Scanlan’s second article on the Triathlete Recessionista.

Eating for three?

Last week I wrote about ways to save money and become a better swimmer, biker and runner. This week I will venture into triathlon’s fourth discipline – eating; and share a few tips on how to eat better, save money and ultimately race faster.

Triathlete’s are prolific eaters. You need only ask my ever-patient wife for proof of this. To this day she still looks on in horror as yet another meal – fit for six – is rapidly demolished by none other than myself in the space of a few terrifying and gory minutes.

Here are a few ideas that Claire and I have come up with to stop the bank manager from repossessing the house while also keeping my ever-demanding stomach full at the same time.

Hop into whole foods

Delicious, fresh and whole foods are great for you, taste fantastic and don’t cost the earth. Steer clear of over-priced packaged foods and instead go for anything natural and fresh. If possible, you can buy local produce direct from farmers who sell at local markets. Your body will thank you for it. The more fresh and whole foods you eat, the better you will feel and the better you will perform as an athlete. These days Claire and I eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables to make Popeye envious and we both feel great because of it.

Bake your own bars

There are a heap of great sports nutrition bars on the market these days but unfortunately often they can be quite expensive. If you are into long-course racing and you regularly need to eat a lot on your long rides then relying on pre-packaged bars can cause some serious damage to your weekly budget. Since we have been together Claire has become an expert in preparing beautiful home-made energy bars and biscuits that have kept me going through many a long training session. She uses ingredients like oats, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, quinoa flour, honey, fruit juice, cinnamon and soya protein powder.

Be flexible, you don’t have to prepare the exact same product each time. As long as you have a good combination of natural ingredients and some good carbohydrates, protein and fats then you will be ready to roll. Home-made bars are all natural, fresh, and relatively cheap. And they taste great. Claire’s biscuits have become legendary among my local ride buddies and nowadays I have to pack enough in my jersey pockets to satisfy not just my hunger but also that of all my friends!

Get into gels

If you want to be even more adventurous you can even get into the business of making your own energy gels. It is not that difficult, all you need are some good natural sweeteners such as fresh honey, brown rice syrup, molasses (great for potassium), agave nectar and the like. You can add some good quality sea salt for sodium if it is going to be hot and some natural flavors like vanilla extract if you like the taste. Mix combinations of these ingredients together and pour them into a gel flask and you will have a great source of simple sugars and complex carbohydrates that will keep you powering along on your next bike or run session. The combination of natural ingredients with no artificial additives is not only good for you but also a lot cheaper than buying pre-made energy gels. As an added bonus you will be helping the environment at the same time by cutting down on waste packets.

Happy training and healthy eating.

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Bill Scanlan is an elite triathlete with over ten years of racing and training experience. Bill has raced extensively in Australia, Asia and Europe and has twice completed the Ironman World Triathlon Championships held in Hawaii. Through his travels and interactions with other athletes and coaches, Bill has gained a great deal of insight into what it takes to compete at an elite level while at the same time managing work, life and family commitments. Bill has recently turned professional and is now aiming to compete at the highest level within the sport. You can contact Bill at bill (at) breakyourlimits.com or follow his journey at www.breakyourlimits.com.