Eating Like a Champion

While it is quite hard to sail like a champion, there are other parts of a champion’s lifestyle that are much more within reach. Like eating.

For Helena Scutt, the American crew in the Women’s Olympic Skiff event (49erFX), she shared with ESPNW that a good way to kick-start her adrenaline-filled day is with a power blueberry smoothie.

“The oats and almonds keep you full for longer,” she said. “The cinnamon and turmeric help fight inflammation. And I’m always trying to eat more ‘green,’ so I love that it gives me a serving of spinach and matcha [a Japanese green-tea powder]. Normal matcha tea is still a little too hard-core for me, taste-wise (it reminds me of seaweed), so I like to bury it in the smoothie.”

How does it taste? “It’s not the sweetest smoothie ever, which I like,” Scutt continued. “But you can always add a banana, use frozen berries or other berries. The best thing about smoothies is that it’s super easy to experiment!”

While health concerns about water quality has gotten a lot of attention, illnesses due to local foods have been under-reported. Scutt keeps her diet safe and smart with her special blend, which she finds to be more filling than most smoothies.

What’s also good about smoothies is they come out of a blender, and blenders are a kitchen appliance that sailors know something about. But while most blenders are heard after sailing, perhaps with a Rum mix, Scutt’s blender use is in the morning when she’s on the go.

Here’s her ingredients, which were inspired by Nikki Sharp with whom Scutt has twice done her detox:
• 1 cup raw spinach (I prefer baby spinach)
• 1-1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen (frozen berries enhance the sweetness and blue/purple color)
• 1/2 cup matcha tea (made by mixing 1 teaspoon matcha powder with 1/2 cup warm water)
• 12 almonds
• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• A few fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup cold water with ice (optional)

Blend everything together until smooth, drink, and go (try to) sail like a champion.