Diet and Nutrition
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Training and competition place a lot of demands on your body. The right diet can improve your performance and help you recover quickly for the next workout. That's especially important for me because I train all year round. I make sure I get enough calories and consume the right kind to fuel my workouts, which can last for hours.
When it comes to eating right, I'm pretty easy to please. I stick to lean meats and seafood, lots of fruits and vegetables and no junk food. My typical breakfast is an egg-white omelet with vegetables. Lunch and dinner is usually grilled chicken or fish with salad and vegetables. Protein ranks high in my diet because it helps build muscle tissue. I also take daily supplements for bone protection and nutritional support.
Every athlete needs some form of complex carbs because they give you a boost for intense training and help fuel your performance for long periods of time. There are lots of theories about how many carbs you need and what types are best. Heavy carb-loading doesn't work for me; instead, I drink Gatorade during competition and long workouts. It gives me the right mix of carbohydrate energy and electrolytes to keep me going.
I've used Gatorade for a long time, and now I have my own line of drinks, Gatorade Tiger. The formula was made especially for my fitness requirements. I get the extra edge I need to last 18 holes on a Sunday at Augusta National or two hours in the weight room. Besides it keeping me hydrated and helping boost my energy, I also love the flavors. I drink Quiet Storm for extra focus in the gym. During hot days on the course, Cool Fusion keeps me steady. On tournament Sundays, Red Drive pairs up perfectly with my traditional red and black. Of course, I like to mix it up, too, because when it comes to working out, change is good.
For me, a healthy diet isn't just about getting from workout to workout or from competition to competition. It's a lifestyle choice. I'm pretty passionate about building good eating habits for the long-term. I think it needs to start when you're young. That's why I emphasize the importance of fitness and proper nutrition at the Tiger Woods Learning Center for kids. It's the most basic thing we can control when it comes to improving our overall health.