Garrett Weber-Gale’s Top 10 Healthy Treats

Courtesy of AthleticFoodieTM, a sports performance company that helps athletes unlock their potential

Written by Garrett Weber-Gale

It’s only human to want a treat or two here and there. Yes there have been times in the course of my swimming career when I have gone completely without any sweets, and I’ve seen great results in my performance while doing so. However, your diet doesn’t have to be black and white, there can be some room for sweets and treats, from time to time.

For those of you who are looking to get junk out of your diet there are two main schools of thought:

1. Cut out junk, sweets, treats, salty snacks, sodas, cakes, cookies, candy, and other sweetened beverages completely. This is the best strategy for some people, and the worst for others. I have gone for three to four month periods where I didn’t have a single treat, or sweet thing to eat. Interestingly, during this time I found that once I stopped having sweet foods in my diet, I stopped craving sweets. After a few weeks I didn’t even think about having treats.

2. Have a bite or two of something sweet, or a treat you’re craving, immediately when the craving arises. The principle idea behind this practice is to quickly satisfy the craving with a little something sweet, and go on about your business. Five time Olympian, Dara Torres, told me this is the only way she can get by, noting that if she takes treats out of her diet completely, she will have the craving build up to the point where when she does splurge she’ll end up having ten cookies, instead of one.

There isn’t a single right or wrong answer about how you approach eating treats, as everyone is different. Test out both schools of thought and see what works best for you. There isn’t anything wrong with a treat here or there, even if you do decide to go mainly the road without.

My top ten healthy treats:

1. Frozen grapes
2. Frozen berries
3. Smoothies that I put in Popsicle holders and freeze overnight for a sweet and healthy treat the next day.
4. Kettle corn
5. Frozen yogurt
6. Oatmeal raisin cookies with milled flax seeds.
7. Dark chocolate
8. Coconut butter on toast or a bagel.
9. Mango or Nectarines
10. Watermelon

AthleticFoodieTM is a sports performance company, founded by Olympic Gold Medalist Garrett Weber-Gale, which makes snacks that are specifically designed to help athletes perform. Please visit www.athleticfoodie.com for more information about ordering AthleticFoodie snacks, and getting fuel that will help you swim fast.

About Garrett Weber-Gale, Founder of AthleticFoodieTM

In 2005, Garrett was diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure, and was almost forced to give up his Olympic dream. Luckily, a small dose of medication, and a total revamp in his diet saved his dream and put the Olympics back in sight. Garrett began to see the direct connection between what he put into his body, and what he could get out of it.

After his diagnosis with high blood pressure, Garrett made it his mission to learn how to make healthy food taste great. He’s traveled the world working in famous restaurant kitchens in Italy, France, Copenhagen, Spain, and New York City. Garrett has taken his knowledge and experience from all over the world, and shared it with others through speeches at the White House, to schools, sports teams, TEDx, universities, TV and radio appearance, cooking classes, authored articles and AthleticFoodie Events.