Conference Highlights: 2020 International Congress of Dietetics
Virtual, Sept 1-3, 2021
Around the World in 120 Minutes
An important part of the mission of PINES is to support athletes around the world by sharing sports nutrition knowledge. With that in mind, at the International Congress of Dietetics virtual conference, ten PINES members addressed nutrition issues relevant to athletes traveling to International events. Here are some highlights from the four-hour session.
Food service considerations at competitions
Fiona Pelly PhD, FDAA, Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
At major international sports events, catering challenges include:
- food needs to be available 24 hours of the day,
- cultural needs are varied,
- special diets are needed for vegans and athletes with food allergies and intolerances;
- the menu needs to offer enough variety to prevent flavor fatigue,
- the food must please the athletes while staying within budget.
Toss in issues regarding COVID, sustainability, food safety, food waste, production of food, labeling food in different languages, lack of standardized recipes and food labels, and customer feedback, and you’re trying to keep a lot of people happy!
Considerations for dietitians travelling with teams
Jacque Scaramella MS, RD, CSSD and Rachael Mack MS, RD, CSSD, US Olympic and Paralympic Committee
An important goal for sports dietitians traveling with athletes is to help the athlete maximize performance when on the road; as well as minimize risk of (food-borne) illness, and enhance healing of injuries. Starting prior to travel, the sports dietitian can optimize the chances of reaching those goals by:
- Organizing an athlete prep meeting that includes putting together travel snack bags.
- Looking at hotel and event menus and adjusting for allergies, dietary restrictions, and time zones; identifying the best times to fuel for training and events; and finding out in advance what foods, such as peanut butter, might be available locally. Pre-travel is a good time to start to foster new relations with the hotel staff; these relationships can be helpful later if you have special requests.
- Teaching athletes about water and food safety, cultures and eating times, spicy-ness of food.
Some athletes travel with probiotics to prepare their guts. Team dietitians commonly bring ginger tea, salted crackers, plain rice, and applesauce in case of gastrointestinal issues. Others travel with hand-blenders to make smoothies, and a hot water kettle (if one will not be available in the hotel room). Some sports dietitians pack a few suitcases of food and then set up a nutrition room that offers familiar foods (peanut butter, sandwiches, fruit, smoothies, oatmeal cups, energy bars, electrolytes, fresh bread, tart cherry juice etc). Most importantly, the sports dietitian needs to be adaptable. The best of plans often need to be adjusted upon arrival at the destination.
Helpful nutrition tips when traveling to countries around the globe
Tips for athletes traveling to Australia and New Zealand
Joanne Mirtschin, APD, AccSD, GICD
Australian Institute of Sport
Australia and New Zealand are largely multicultural societies, so it’s easy to find culturally relevant foods.
- Most people shop in supermarkets; farmers markets are available in larger cities.
- Food and water are safe; and food is traceable.
- The legal drinking age is 18; it is strictly enforced.
- Some flavors of sports drinks and foods might not be available, so check ahead.
- Customs regulations are very strict; if carrying any food, declare it and let the customs officer give you permission to carry it into the country. Wash dirt off all sporting equipment and shoes.
Tips for athletes traveling to South Africa
Shelly Meltzer MSc, Private Practice in Cape Town, South Africa
- Many supermarkets have deli and café options and bigger stores in cities usually have longer opening hours. Garage shops at petrol/gas stations may be open 24/7.
- Online food shopping is available, as well as meal delivery and cook-in boxes.
- Eating out – the sky is the limit! A service charge is generally not included, so add 10-15%. With a big team, be sure to book in advance.
- Find out if tap water is safe to drink in rural and drought-stricken areas. Water might have a chlorine taste.
- The legal drinking age is 18. Wine is inexpensive in South Africa.
- Sports supplements are available in supermarkets, pharmacies, health stores, sports shops, gyms and some cafes.
- Within airports, Shelley has set up specific meals and rooms for a traveling team with a long layover.
Tips for athletes traveling to Europe
Sharon Madigan PhD, MSc, RD, Sport Ireland Institute
Europe offers lots of choices and variety, though it might be hard to get what athletes like in remote areas.
- While there are large supermarkets, Europeans tend to buy food in smaller independent butcher shops, bakeries, etc. Farmers markets are very popular.
- Most markets are open from 7 am to 10 pm. Some countries take siesta time, so stores close in the afternoon (but stay open later in the evening). Most market chains do not close.
- The coffee culture is massive, and Europeans enjoy coffee not just at breakfast but also socially into the evening. Some evening coffees include alcohol.
- Street food is an extension of the local eateries and has grown popular since COVID. Colder countries now have shelters for eating and drinking outside.
- Water is safe to drink in most European countries, but not in Albania, Belarus, Cyprus, and some Greek Islands. Do not fill up water bottles at any public decorative fountains!
- In the EU, food is required to have labels – but not all countries are in the EU.
- Sports supplements are abundant. Not all companies test their products, so athlete`s need to make sure their supplements are safe. Better to bring your own supplements when you are traveling.
Tips for athletes traveling to India
Kinita Patel, MSc, Dip. Sports Nutrition, private practice in India
- India is often visited for training camps because it has hot, humid temperatures.
- India has many states, and each state has its own rules and culture.
- Big supermarkets are available, even in rural areas. Markets are usually open 8 am to 10 pm. Local markets and vendors are readily available with good quality foods.
- All major chain stores have apps, so you can order ahead and get groceries delivered to your hotel or lodging at a specified time.
- When eating out, you want to order food from 4-star restaurants. Street food is risky; stay away from it!
- All major airports have food courts. Most Indian foods are made with a lot of spices (but they are not necessarily spicey-hot).
- Do not drink tap water. Visitors should always drink bottled water. Tap water is safe for showering and brushing your teeth.
- Alcohol is available to foreigners, but some states might require a drinking permit. The drinking age starts at 18-25 years, depending on the state you are visiting.
- Rice is commonly consumed, so a gluten-free athlete can easily find acceptable food to eat.
- India is predominantly a vegetarian country. Beef is not allowed to be served anywhere.
- Many sports foods are made in India; international brands are also available. Some sports foods are sold in the Duty-free area of airports in major Indian airports. Amazon.com can deliver sports supplements.
- Customs has no food-specific regulations, so long as the food is for personal use.
Tips for athletes traveling to North America
Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD, private practice, Boston MA
Given USA’s diverse population, athletes can easily find multi-cultural food options both in restaurants and in grocery stores.
- Supermarkets tend to have delis and prepared hot foods. Organic foods are available in larger supermarkets, with Whole Foods and Trader Joes stores known for having mostly organic foods. BJs and Costco offer food in bulk quantities.
- Many grocery stores and restaurants deliver food/meals within a certain radius. If you will be arriving late, you can get food delivered to the hotel.
- When eating out, the tip is not included – unless you are in a large group, when 15-20% gratuity gets added. Check the bill!
- Popular fast food chains with healthy options include Chipotle, Panera, Sweet Greens and Subway.
- Street food and food trucks are safe and growing in popularity. Water is safe everywhere.
- The drinking age is 21; people of all ages might need to show their IDs. Not all restaurants sell alcoholic beverages.
- Sports supplements are abundant; be sure to choose safe ones with NSF, Informed Choice, or BSCG on the label.
- Be sure to declare all food at customs, and let the customs officer decide which ones you can bring into the country. Fresh fruits, vegetables and meats are generally excluded. Check www.DontPackaPest.com
Tips for athletes traveling to Central America
Catalina Fernandez, MA, sports dietitian (former), Costa Rica Olympic Committee
Costa Rica has a tropical hot and humid climate, with no seasons other than the rainy or dry season. A variety of fruits and vegetables grow well in Costa Rica’s rich soil.
- Food is readily available, be it from supermarkets, on the go markets, and smaller neighborhood mini-markets.
- Small local businesses often have a delivery boy; delivery apps are available.
- On weekends throughout the country, empty parking lots, parks and other locations are converted into farmers’ markets, including organic markets.
- Restaurant food is generally safe, though safety depends on the establishment. Be sure the vender has posted a sanitary permission certificate on the wall.
- Costa Rican’s commonly consume “casados” for lunch and dinner. They include rice and black beans, plantains, fish/beef/pork, “picadillos” (chopped cooked veggies), and salad. A hungry travelers can enjoy this as a plato-del-dia (plate of the day) and get a full meal for only $5-$7.
- Tipping: a service tax is always included in the bill. Tourists sometimes leave a tip but they don’t have to.
- International food chains are a safe option, but please note: local coffee is tastier than Starbucks!
- Water is safe and potable in urban areas. In rural areas, you might have issues. So always ask about the water.
- The legal drinking age is 18. If you look younger, you’ll be asked to show your ID card. Alcohol is easily available in supermarkets and restaurants. Beer is the most popular drink.
Liquor: A popular drink is Guaro (a hard liquor made from sugar cane).
- Food labels can be poorly translated from English into Spanish, which can be confusing.
- Given the native cuisine relies on rice, beans and starchy vegetables, the diet tends to be naturally gluten-free. Gluten-free foods are available.
- Costa Rica doesn’t have a large variety of sports food brands, apart from the most common ones. You can buy them at sports and supplements stores (GNC)
- Customs: no fresh foods or cured meats are allowed into the country.
Written by Nancy Clark, MS RD CSSD, sports dietitian in the Boston-area and author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook. For more information: www.NancyClarkRD.com
