Life in the Fast Lane

When it comes to staying healthy, it doesn't get any tougher than being in a fastpitch tournament. When you eat is determined by a tournament director and the performance of you and your teammates, what you eat is restricted to what's at hand or nearby. Just because your choices are limited, doesn't mean they have to be poor ones. Here's a few tips on how to handle potential all day affairs under the sun...

Eating out can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be detrimental to performance. If you've got time to sit down at a restaurant you've got a unique opportunity to not only beat the heat with a relaxing rest in the A/C, but most restaurants will have a nice variety of foods to choose from. Stick to non-fried fish or chicken, club sandwiches on wheat bread. Stay away from red meat, fried foods, and sweets. Of course, drink water or unsweetened tea. If you've only got time for fast food, fear not...there are still options that won't bring you down when you retake the field. Take a look at, yes, another set of lists:

Chick-Fil-A

Chargrilled Chicken Club

Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap

Chicken Ceasar Cool Wrap

Spicy Chicken Cool Wrap

Fruit cup

KFC

Kentucky Grilled Chicken

Subway
Pretty much anything here is a decent choice. Just get the multi-grain or wheat bread and stay away from the red meat, chips, and sodas.

Whataburger

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Whatacatch (Ask for it on a wheat bun)

Garden Salad

Boston Market
Again, lots of fantastic choices. Salads, skinless chicken, sandwiches on wheat, etc. are all options. Stay away from stuff on the "bad" list.

McDonalds
Let's be honest, there's nothing less synonymous with being healthy than McDonald's food. If you absolutely must go to this pit, get a salad and/or a premium grilled chicken sandwich.

Wendy's

Ultimate Chicken Grill

Mandarin Chicken Salad with Grilled Fillet

Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Fillet

Southwest Taco Salad

Taco Bell
Like McDonald's there's really not much worthwhile here. They do have a fresco menu that is somewhat appealing but they're all served on white, flour, tortillas. I suppose you could bring your own multi-grain tortillas, or just eat what's inside theirs, but it seems like more trouble than it's worth.

Burger King

Tendergrill Garden Salad

Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich

Triple Whopper with Extra Cheese (I wish...just kidding!)

Now let's not confuse this post with great options for your daily dietary intake. These are all simply "smarter" choices that won't cause fatigue while playing. Eating fast food is probably always a bad idea, but it's tough to deny the convenience-especially when you're miles away from home with nothing but a cooler full of bottled water. You've got a lot of options while out at a tournament. You've probably gotten the idea from the aforementioned lists. They may not be the healthiest choices in the world, but they should keep you away from falling asleep in the dugout. Just remember to respectfully decline when the kid with the paper hat asks "Do you want frys with that?"