faculty Q & A
A Healthy Perspective Jane Jakubczak is a registered dietician and nutritionist at the University Health Center, providing counseling to individual students and reaching out to groups on campus for the past 11 years. She’s also in her fifth season as team nutritionist for the Washington Redskins. She talked to Terp about both roles, and offered some food for thought.
How have students’ eating habits changed over the years? » They’re busier juggling heavier course loads, internships, jobs and volunteering. Food is an afterthought; they’re at the mercy of whatever food falls in their path. I often say to students, “If you let food just happen, it’s a recipe for disaster.” What’s the most surprising part of your job at the university?
The interest, motivation and discipline students have for nutrition. Students are more aware about health than we were a generation ago. The dilemma is the pressures to be thin vs. the toxic, overabundant food environment they live in. What does your Redskins job look like? » It’s pretty much 10 months a year, with strength and conditioning starting in March. Spring is when I work most closely with the players, getting them in shape for training camp in August. We meet to assess their nutritional status, body comp goals, food likes/dislikes, eating patterns and cooking skills, and I create an individualized meal plan. I’ve had players text me from the grocery store to ask what to buy, or from a restaurant to see how a menu item meets their meal plan. How do NFL players’ diets differ from the general public’s?
They’re like any other population. Some are conscious about everything they put into their mouths. For others, it hasn’t been a real focal point. But as professional athletes, they take every aspect of their training seriously, and they tend to be motivated and disciplined—their livelihood depends on it. What’s a common mistake they make in maintaining good nutrition? » It’s what I call “backloading.” They don’t eat enough
during the day because they’re too busy with practice, meetings, strength and conditioning and travel. Then they go home and eat most of their calories at night. It’s like filling the tank after a long journey. How do you recommend they fuel up for a game? » A balanced meal rich in carbs, small amount of protein and low in fat three hours before kickoff. Their postgame recovery meal has more protein to repair muscles, lots of carbs to refuel muscle glycogen and healthy fats to reduce inflammation. I tell them that food is their fuel, and they wouldn’t put cheap gas in a sports car.–LB
Portrait by John T. Consoli
fall 2011 terp 17