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Eat like an athlete - Lisa Dobriskey

Posted at 11:02AM, 06 August 2012 by Roxanne Fisher - Writer/Sub-editor, bbcgoodfood.com

Middle distance athlete Lisa Dobriskey came away with a silver medal during her Olympic debut in 2008 and will be going for gold this year in the London Olympics. Here Lisa shares a love of chocolate, the benefits of ostrich steak and her tips for staying on top.

What is your typical daily diet when training for a big event?

Breakfast:
8am - a bowl of porridge with some nuts and seeds with a cup of tea or coffee. (After a morning run)

Lunch:
1pm - Tuna salad with oatcakes and a yoghurt
4pm - Snack: some nuts or cereal.

Dinner:
8pm - (After training session) Sweet potato with grilled salmon and salad.

Total calorie intake:
It depends on the amount of training I've done and what I have to do the next day. I tend to keep my calories balanced with my workload.

How do you keep your diet varied and do you ever get bored with eating for your sport?

I am lucky to travel a lot with my sport and always try to eat local produce. We spend a lot of time in South Africa and I have become a big fan of ostrich steak (which is very rich in iron and extremely lean). I enjoy cooking so I often try new recipes and try and eat seasonal produce to keep things varied.

What super food/juice/meal helps you get out of bed and motivated on those particularly dreary mornings?

Breakfast after a long morning run always tastes amazing - especially if it's cold and dark outside. My weekly treat is a handful of dark Mexican chocolate mixed into my porridge. It's high in antioxidants and is a great recovery treat.

What's your trusted snack for an energy boost?

40g of cashew nuts (not salted or roasted though)

How do you stay hydrated when training?

I always have a bottle of water with me to sip throughout the day.

When competition season is over what are your favourite food indulgences?

Anything with chocolate. My husband and I are partners in a local chocolate shop so I get to go and enjoy the produce rather than just look at it. Overall though I enjoy healthy food and so my diet is never a chore - I rarely crave junk food.

What would be your top diet and exercise tip for the amateur athlete?

When you're training hard you demand a lot more from your body. Iron deficiency is very common amongst athletes and so trying to eat iron rich foods can give you that extra little boost.

A little treat now and again does you good and doesn't have to be unhealthy - dark chocolate is full of antioxidants for example. It's important to enjoy exercise and diet and not let it feel like a chore.

Aside from your speciality, what is your favourite sport/exercise?

I love watching the winter Olympics especially border cross.

Your favourite recipe from www.bbcgoodfood.com

Bobotie is a favourite. We've had this dish many times in South Africa and so we love cooking it when we're back home.

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