Cheat days break the consistency athletes need and foster a toxic relationship with food. Instead, integrate modest treats like a cookie after a game into normal eating. Elite performance and enjoying food aren't mutually exclusive if you skip the all-or-nothing mentality.
Will a cheat day hurt you? Absolutely, 100% yes. Do not be taking cheat days, athletes, and here is why. A cheat day is a day where you take a break from your diet so you can eat anything and everything you want. Cookies, pizza, hamburgers, fries, soda. You go crazy. And the other 6 days, you are dialed in on your athlete nutrition. You have the cleanest eater possible. You are dialed and perfectionistic as it comes. And then on day 7, you let loose. You have a cheat day. You should absolutely not be doing this. Athletes live and breathe off of consistency and You're also teenagers who need some flexibility. For you athletes, there's no such thing as a cheat day. And actually, I'm gonna be happy if you go get yourself a crumble cookie after a game, and— 'Cause it's gonna refill some energy tanks. Food is not an enemy. Food is fuel. Food can be fun. You can have treats. You can be dialed in on your athlete nutrition and fuel before games, after games, before practices. We want you getting enough food. And then guess what? Go get some ice cream with your friends. Eat a slice of pizza at the party. You can be an elite athlete with elite athlete nutrition and be able to have treats all at the same time. When you lean into the dieting and the cheat day culture, you are leaning into something that is toxic and that's not going to allow you to have a good relationship with food, 'cause food is your friend and food is fuel. So go eat a cookie.
