By: Lisa Weagle, OLY
Without a doubt, one of the highlights of my curling career was standing on top of the podium and singing O Canada after winning the 2017 World Women’s Curling Championships. Representing Canada on the world stage has been the biggest honour of my life. Over the last decade, I’ve been on an amazing curling journey and fills me with great pride every time I have the opportunity to wear the maple leaf.
That world championship was played in China, and I remember I found it challenging at mealtimes to find the types of food I normally eat in competition. I love travelling around the world and trying new cuisines, but the middle of a competition isn’t always the best time to experiment with eating something new! I always find travel makes me appreciate that much more the quality and variety of food we have available right here at home in Canada.
Nutrition is a key part of being an athlete. I work with a nutritionist to identify the foods that will help me feel and perform my best. I choose the foods that fuel me for peak performance and to me that means fresh and healthy foods produced in Canada.
My meal plan includes lots of fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, protein from sources like chicken and beef, and healthy grains to keep me fuelled through long games. I am a huge fan of breakfast; eggs and oats or yogurt and fruit are two of my favourite options.
Just like I’m working on and off the ice to be world-class in my sport, Canadian farmers and producers are hard at work making world-class food.
Did you know, for instance, that all Canadian milk is rigorously tested to ensure that it is safe and high-quality for you and your family?
Did you know that Canada is one of the largest producers of pulses and is the global leader in exports of pulses like like peas, lentils, and beans?
Did you know that Canadians love their fruits and veggies, consuming more than 50 billion servings of fresh produce annually?
Did you know that unlike in many other countries, 90% of Canada’s poultry farms are family -owned and -operated?
And did you know that Canadian beef is internationally recognized as having genetics that are among the best in the world?
The Olympic Trials are just a few weeks away and I’m currently in the middle of the busiest time of the whole quadrennial. These will be my third Olympic Trials and once again it is an honour to have the opportunity to compete to represent Canada on the world stage. So much planning and preparation goes into this one event! Meal planning for the Trials is one of the details on my mind these days, and I’m confident in knowing I’ll be fueled by quality, world-class Canadian foods.
Lisa Weagle is an Olympian and World Champion in curling. A lifelong Ottawa resident, she is a three-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion and won gold, silver, and bronze at the World Women’s Curling Championships. She competed for Canada in the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. She is a multiple all-star award winner, Scotties MVP, and a certified coach. Away from the rink, Lisa works as a communications specialist.