‘Eating healthy is not about having just lettuce and chicken breast’
UD Almería set up a large dining room to improve the nutrition and performance of footballers through nourishing food
Food is part of the daily training of any professional footballer and UD Almería truly believe that the secret of a successful pre-season lies in their attention to detail ahead of the upcoming season in the top flight. ‘The new coaching staff attach great importance to practical nutritional recovery strategies for elite footballers. Last campaign, we had breakfast and we’ve extended the initiative to meals this season. We want to prepare the footballer in everything that influences his performance,’ explained Club's nutritionist José González. The Rojiblancos arrive before 8am and both breakfast and lunch are compulsory: ‘It’s a buffet and the player is given the freedom to expand his food range; the important thing is that the player relearns how to eat more healthily and forget that just lettuce and chicken breast are healthy. We supervise the consumption portions and everything depends on the specific player. We advise each and every player individually,’ comments the dietician.
The Club has set up a large dining room near the changing room and from 7,30am everything is perfectly ready for the arrival of the footballers, who eat the most nourishing food for the training session that usually takes place at 9am. The players not only start their football practice in this way -because food is part of it- but this initiative allows them to interact more, get to know each other better and strengthen their bond ahead of the season. This is obviously another of the objectives promoted with this fresh initiative set up at the service of the squad: ‘It’s especially vital for signings and players who are new to the city. The objective is to offer adequate services so that the footballer feels at home. For newcomers, it’s essential because their context is difficult: they don't have a flat at the beginning, they’re staying in a hotel and they don't know the city yet. Instead of ordering takeaways, this is a really useful tool that definitely benefits us all.’