- NFL nutritionist Leslie Bonci cooks meals for the Kansas City Chiefs.
- She has some hacks for sneaking nutrition into players’ favorite dishes.
- Bonci is busy, so she uses many of the same tricks to make easy, healthy meals at home.
whether it is or not NFL players Feeding picky eaters is notoriously difficult.
And getting the right nutrients is important for both talented athletes and growing children.
Leslie Bonci I have been a nutritionist for the NFL for 34 years and have worked as a nutritionist for the NFL. kansas city chiefs This year’s team is particularly young and particularly particular, she told Business Insider.
Through the meals she creates, Bonci aims to sneak nutrients into dishes that look familiar enough that players will want to try them, and taste delicious enough that they’ll actually finish them.
And the busy girl uses the same tricks to support herself and her family.
Bonci shared six cooking hacks below to get nutrients into your meals.
1. Add blended beans to the sauce
Beans are an excellent source of protein; fiber, But not everyone is a fan of its texture. To combat this, Bonci likes to blend them into sauces for pasta and dishes such as cioppino, a fish stew that originated in San Francisco.
She regularly blends canned white beans into macaroni and cheese sauce. While a bowl full of beans may not be popular among soccer players, some of the macaroni and cheese is always appealing because it’s familiar, she said.
“The bottom line is that it has to taste familiar, otherwise you won’t be able to eat it,” Bonci says. “I use a lot of beans at home because it’s so easy. I use canned beans. I don’t make beans from dry and I don’t have the time. But it’s so beautiful and easy to get.” Tableware. ”
2. Bulk up meatballs with lentils and vegetables
If you’re making your own meatballs, Bonci says you can easily add more nutrients and fiber by mixing in lentils or shredded vegetables.
“You’re putting something in it that makes it nutritious,” Bonci says. “If you halve the lentils and beef, you’ll get even more fiber, but you’re not tasting the lentils, you’re tasting the meat. It’s a win-win for me. I’m for you. We made it better, but you’re eating it because you like it.”
3. Combine foods, don’t substitute them.
Bonci advises athletes to change their food ratios rather than completely overhauling them.
I know it’s unrealistic to replace chicken wings with a salad, but maybe you can eat less chicken wings and add some things like chicken wings. Mushroom strips with peanuts Instead.
“We all know that vegetables are good for our health,” Bonci says. “It’s not surprising, but when you just want something to eat, what do you go with it? Usually you’ll choose something you know and like.”
4. Add roasted chickpeas to popcorn
Next time you make popcorn, Bonci suggested adding roasted chickpeas for an extra boost of protein and fiber while still retaining the salty crunch.
Bonci also recommended adding them to salads or your own trail mix.
Roasting your own chickpeas also allows you to choose your seasonings and spices.
5. Mix the pumpkin puree into the oatmeal.
Bonci forgets about Thanksgiving and cooks with canned pumpkin all year long. I especially love mixing pumpkin into oatmeal with pumpkin pie spice.
“It’s available all year round and is affordable compared to other vegetables,” Bonci says. “Rich nutritional value, minimal calories, and no preparation required. So boom, boom, boom.”
Bonci sometimes freezes canned pumpkin in ice cube trays so he can use as much as he needs for each meal.
She also uses squash and squash in smoothies and sauces, she said, either canned, frozen or pre-chopped.
6. Create balanced meals by combining pre-prepared ingredients
Like most people, Bonci doesn’t have the time to cook as much as she would like, so she focuses on creating healthy meals using convenient ingredients.
One of her favorite combinations is to mix a simple packaged soup with canned beans and plain full-fat Greek yogurt to increase protein and fiber and keep you feeling full.
“It’s creamy and delicious,” Bonci says. “Then you can brush a little oil on top or add a few sunflower seeds to make it look pretty, but you can get all this nutritional value without spending hours in the kitchen. I can do that. I love that kind of thing.”
