The Art of Feeding Tri Campers
Posted: 1st April, 2012
I joined Tri Camp this year as their chef and having worked in villas and ski chalets for the last few years, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from triathletes - I mean how different would it be to hungry skiers right? Wrong! I am astounded at how much food triathletes get through on a training camp and any idea I had that they would all be super healthy went out the window on well...day two?! I stocked up the cupboards with grains and salad and pulses and fish and instead have never made so many cakes and puddings!
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of healthy options and we don’t exactly force the cake on the Tri Campers but boy if it's there - you'd better get in quickly before it vanishes! So, out of idle interest I thought it would be fun to tally up what a typical week of 10 people get through, are you ready.....
- 6kg of rice
- 140 eggs
- 9 loaves of bread
- 45 chicken breasts
- 12kg sugar (mainly baking)
- 2 large pots of honey
- 130 bananas
- 80 apples
- 70 oranges
- 5kg tomatos
- 7kg onions
- 12 cucumbers
- 350lt water
- 25lt coffee
wine and beer - well that would be telling!
I have honestly never come across athletes that are so appreciative of their food and although I've had to almost double a 'normal' portion to make sure everyone is full – it’s a fantastic feeling at the end of the day when they still want seconds! Of course I cater for any dietary requirements too and actually enjoy the challenge of finding new recipes that will give them the energy and nutrition they need whilst cutting out dairy or gluten or whatever it may be.
My favourite (but most exhausting) night is curry night. The curries simmer away all day to really instil the flavours and then it’s a mad rush at the end to make homemade onion bajis, naan breads and popadoms but all of the rushing around is worth it when the table looks like a feast and the smell is fantastic! Well I'd better head back to the kitchen to make my famous 'daddy' flapjack (think of a normal flapjack then supersize it!) and get another carrot cake in the oven.........
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"Crazy fabulous week. Improvements made here and fitness gained would have taken months at home."
Lynn aka Queen of the Mountains!
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