Football and Food
What do football players eat?
And what did they eat as children? Hmmm. It depends on the age of the player, in my opinion.
I am contending that younger players, Millennials, did not eat as healthy as children (now adults) that were born Gen X. I have no proof of this, but only by observation of the big name players that have played to an older age, as compared to one that left the pro world after only six years.
If I were writing a thesis or dissertation, I would certainly pursue this topic of Food and Football thoroughly. I’d research every carrot and bowl of cheerios that the Gen-Xer ate, as compared to the sugary Rice Crispy Treat and Go-Gurt that the Millennial ate. I’d also look at sleep, with the Gen-Xer going to bed after a hard day of playing outside as opposed to the indoor TV gamers and phone addicted teenagers of the 90’s and early 21st century players.
But back to food, Gen-Xers had parents who were Baby Boomers, raised with three square meals a day with veggies as green as AstroTurf at each.
The Players Under Discussion
Tom Brady, currently playing for the Buccaneers, spent 20 years with the Patriots and brought the team to franchise dominance, and is still playing at 44. SEVEN TIMES he led the Patriots to Superbowl champions, and was named the Superbowl MVP three times. All Pro and Pro Bowl teams made his resume numerous times, along with NFL MVP three times, Offensive Player of the Year 2X, and NFL Comeback Player in 2009. Well-decorated player.
Peyton Manning, who started with the Colts in 1998 and retired at 43 with the Broncos, is considered an all-time football great. As a two-time Superbowl Champion, once with the Colts in 2007, and once with the Broncos in 2015, he was named Superbowl MVP in 2007. Also to his credit is 5X the NFL MVP, 2021 Comeback Player of the Year, All Pro and Pro Bowl teams numerous times, and the leader in passing, touchdowns and completions in several years. Quite simply, a stud.
Now almost 52, with a birthday October 10, Green Bay Packers football great Brett Favre retired at 41. recognized for his great throwing arm at an early age, Favre holds a tie for the longest touchdown pass in NFL history at 99 yards. His one Superbowl win in 1997 was the Packers against the Patriots.
With 321 consecutive starts from 1992 until 2010, Favre rocked the football world with his record-breaking firsts of 70,000 yards, 10,000 passes and 6,000 completions, 500 touchdowns and 200 wins in the NFL. This is in addition to being named to All Pro and Pro Bowl teams, three times the NFL MVP, and NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1995. Can you tell that I love this guy?
Compare that to Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who played a mere six seasons. He shares my birthday on September 12, and like Brady, Manning and Favre, had a star-studded past as a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, and two-time PAC 12 Offensive Player of the Year for Stanford University. Joining the Colts in 2012, in 2014, he was the NFL passing touchdowns leader, and was selected for his first Pro Bowl (four times total). And after 2017’s year of being sidelined due to injuries, he received the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2018, only to retire after the season was over. His reason, injuries.
Why did injuries keep him on the sidelines? Maybe he did not drink enough milk to make his bones strong, or have enough broccoli or spinach to reduce inflammation, boost his heart health and provide valuable immunities.
I’m just a watcher
As more of a football watcher than an analyzer, evaluator and criticizer that knows nearly every high profile football player name, records, and where he went to school like my husband does, I’m looking at the bigger picture when I watch football.
My concerns are more about personal lives of the players, such as where they went to high school, college, or their family lives — Is he married? Does he have children? Does that wrap on his arm mean he’s in pain? Why doesn’t he cut his hair? — Than the stats of yards, penalties or completions for the game, season or career.
This is not to be an exhaustive article, and the research I did merely scratched the surface of the topic of food and football. I do believe that we, and our children, are what we eat, and the importance of food is not to be ignored!
