Healthy Eating Secrets and Motivation Tips from Olympic Athletes

Grow Your Own Greens

Swimmer and 11-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin credits getting through a heavy routine to a hearty bed of veggies. "I really lean toward a plant-based diet. I have seven vegetable beds, one is all kale since that's one of the best foods for you." Before she hits a wall, Coughlin says she reaches for a smoothie of coconut water, kale, spinach, and romaine, with some add-ons like apples, celery, or pineapple. "It's harder when I travel and I don't have a green drink handy. When I'm on the road, I just try to eat as many salads as possible."

Motivation Mantra
"Leading a healthy, active lifestyle is all about momentum. If I'm in the middle of training it's easy for me to keep that up. It gets tough when I'm on a break. I just try to start my day with a good breakfast and a quick walk, something simple that gets the day off on the right foot. The more I do that, the more I make healthy choices that reflect the good choices made earlier."