As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles at this year’s Superbowl, Travis Kelce will be tucking into to a very specific diet in the hopes of securing victory
With the 59th Super Bowl due to get underway on Sunday evening, perhaps the most recognisable face in the NFL right now, Travis Kelce has his sights firmly set on victory with the Kansas City Chiefs for a second consecutive year. Ahead of the all important game, Travis, like many of his teammates will have undergone a rigorous training schedule – and of course, paying attention to his diet is also a crucial part of his success.
Scott Krones, General Manager of Props.com commented: “One of the biggest stars in the NFL is Travis Kelce, not just for his success on the field but also for his headline breaking relationship with Taylor Swift. With the Kansas City Chiefs now reaching the Super Bowl once again and if they happen to go on to win, many will be invested in how the tight end maintains his fitness and diet with these insights offering a glimpse into what really makes a winning diet.”
So what exactly do Super Bowl champions eat?
According to Kelce’s mother, Donna, Travis and his siblings have always had a big appetite and that the fridge was often filled with food, especially meat. Speaking in February 2023, she cited that they’d eat “whole chickens, they would eat lots of pork, ribs.”
A high-protein meal such as steak is crucial for fuelling an NFL player like Kelce, so his cardio and strength performance are at their best during a game. Protein in meats is essential in building muscle outside of game season as well, which is why it is crucial for athletes to consistently have strong sources of protein in their diet, no matter the season.
In a 2020 interview with Men’s Journal, Kelce mentioned that French toast gets his “blood sugar going”.
“On game day, you want to carb up, so I have the energy I need for the game. If I can, I’ll have a breakfast-type meal, since most of our games are in the afternoon,” he said.
Whilst it may not seem like the typical meal to indulge in before a game, the dish includes more vitamins than you might think. In French toast, there are Vitamins B6 and B12, as well as high levels of iron, calcium, and magnesium.
The carbohydrates from the bread help prevent breakdown in muscles and work hand in hand with proteins to help them concentrate on building and maintaining muscle which is essential for feeling alert on the field.
French toast isn’t the only sweet treat to have captured his attention either, as the athlete also revealed during a press conference last year that his girlfriend Taylor Swift ’s pastries were of particular importance to him.
Kelce told fans that she made amazing pop tarts and cinnamon rolls last June – but even despite the sweet appeal, they still aren’t a patch on his mum Donna Kelce’s cookies, which she religiously makes every year.
In fact, according to People, Travis has never played a single Super Bowl without them!
One area where Travis does tend to hold back however, is his intake of vegetables – a food he is far from fond of. According to Travis’s personal chef, Kumar Ferguson, Travis isn’t a fan of vegetables and greens, but one green that will always remain a staple in his diet is spinach.
Spinach is vital for those who want to train hard and fast as the anti-inflammatory properties in the veg allow your body to recover quickly after muscle work. This leafy green vegetable is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients, which is perfect for a balanced diet.
Spinach has high potassium levels, which helps lower blood pressure and is a fantastic way to keep energy up, reach high energy levels, and support healthy bones.
Ferguson has also revealed that he makes Kelce oatmeal with fresh fruit each morning as part of his ‘three meals a day’ regime. Oats as well as porridge have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, through apps such as TikTok and more due to their health benefits.
Oats are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals and reduce high levels of blood sugar and release energy over a longer period of time. This allows Kelce to maintain his energy throughout a game day as opposed to hitting a high and then inevitably crashing.
Therefore, Kelce can exercise and train far better, as he is able to understand just how far he is able to push himself without hitting an unexpected sugar and energy crash.
Another food that has earned a place in the football player’s heart is seafood alfredo. Despite the dish involving dairy, the dish is a perfect way to get healthy amounts of fish and seafood into your diet.
Fish and shellfish are excellent sources of vitamins, Omega 3’s, nutrients and can help with brain development, help to maintain a healthy heart and immune system. The fatty acids in fish are perfect for any athlete and can provide a wealth of zinc, iron, potassium and magnesium into the body.