“You are what you eat,” the old adage goes. That holds true for golfers, too.
Having the right foods on or off the course will give you the energy and focus to play great hole-after-hole without the crashes you get from sugary and starchy snacks. It’ll also give you the fuel to perform at your best and score to your potential.
Protein shakes are a great way to get more protein into your diet and they are effective in curbing cravings. Protein shakes can be made with a variety of ingredients, including milk, juice, fruit, veggies, etc. When you are looking for protein powder, look for whey protein (unless you have a dairy allergy) and make sure there are no artificial flavors or colors. While you can purchase pre-made shakes, try making your own so you can include quality ingredients. The recipe listed below can be used as a snack or after a round of golf.

Mint Chocolate

¾ cup of chocolate milk (1% or skim)
½ cup low-fat vanilla ice cream (I prefer Edy’s Slow Churned Vanilla Bean)
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
1 frozen peppermint patty
1 tsp group flaxseed
ice cubes
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Berry and Oats

3/4 cup of instant oatmeal cooked in water
1/3 cup blueberries
2 TBSP Greek yogurt
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp of ground flaxseed
ice cubes
Blend all together in a blender until smooth.

Peanut Butter Mocha

1/2 cup chocolate milk
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 banana
1 TBSP peanut butter
1/2 tsp finely ground coffee
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
ice cubes
Put everything in a blender and blend until smooth.

So rather than grabbing that hot dog, bag of chips, and soda when you make the turn, try making one of these healthy shakes and bring it with you instead. Enjoy!