In triathlon, it’s often said that fueling is the fourth discipline and I couldn’t agree more. As an athlete I want to feel good because of how and what I’m fueling with.
For those of you unfamiliar with the sport triathlon it is made up of swim, bike, and run (in that order.) The distance of each element varies depending on if you’re racing short or long-course triathlon, but fueling is important regardless of the distance.
I came to the sport of triathlon through the support of friends and family, however I’ve stayed happy and healthy in the sport due to insight and science from professionals like, registered dietitians, physical therapists, and more. As an athlete I consult many professionals just like a dairy farmer does to care for their cows (aka veterinarian, cow nutritionist, etc.) When it comes to fueling my body for triathlon, dairy is a great choice for me because it’s nutritious, sustainable, affordable and accessible product.
Nutritious – dairy products are packed with nutrients our bodies need every day to both fuel for and recover from workouts. Chocolate milk is my go-to recovery beverage after my workouts. However, don’t take my word for it, there is research and registered dietitians that support utilizing dairy as a great way to fuel for and recover from workouts. As an athlete I know it’s important to trust experts and science when it comes to fueling and training.
Sustainable – as someone who grew up working on a dairy farm into my early 20s and now works with dairy farmers across 5 northeast states, I feel confident in choosing dairy from an environmental and economical sustainability standpoint. Dairy farmers continue to find practices and technologies founded in science to improve the way they care for the cows and the land they use to produce milk. The dairy industry in New York State is our largest agricultural sector, making up half of our state’s agricultural receipts, creating important impacts on our state’s economy.
Affordable and Accessible – Dairy is produced locally 365 days a year in New York State. It is a nutritious product that is affordable and readily available from grocery stores to convenience stores. When you look at the nutrient profile of milk and the cost per glass it can’t be beat. It makes it all the easier to choose dairy!
I think it’s important that everyone has the ability to choose nutritious and affordable foods to fuel their bodies daily. I feel good about including dairy in my diet as fuel my athletic goals.
TL; DR: you can feel good about choosing dairy as fuel for your athletic journey (or any journey) from a nutrition, environment, and economic standpoint.
Tips for Runners from a Sports Dietitian and Ironman – Stevie Lyn Smith, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN
Additional nutrition resources for athletes and coaches: https://www.americandairy.com/programs-resources/for-coaches/
Follow my racing journey on Instagram or farm fun at EL-VI Farms on Instagram and Facebook.
Guest Blogger: Emma Andrews Swarthout
