cess to shops, cooking and storage facilities will help determine if self-catering is an option. Self-catering does involve a lot of organization, planning and workload. Ath- letes should consider self- catering when they have a long-term stay, a low budget, suitable facilities and spe- cial dietary requirements. When self-catering, plan meals that are quick, easy, foolproof, appetizing, have limited number of ingredi- ents and can be partially prepared in advance. For athletes staying in ho-
tels, inquire if there is an op- tion for meals to be provided by the hotel’s restaurant. If not, then local restaurants should be investigated be- fore leaving home. Informa- tion on the menu options, opening hours and ability to cater for special dietary re- quirements needs to be ob- tained. When travelling with a large group, book the res- taurant and plan the menu with the restaurant ahead of time. Buffet-style eating al- lows athletes a range of food choices but it can be easy to over-indulge. Snacks are an important
component of fuelling for athletes. Quality snacks can be difficult to find when trav- elling. It is recommended that all athletes take a sup- ply of non-perishable snacks with them or send spon- sored products ahead of
time to their destination. For teams, a communal snack room should be set up at the accommodation site.
Devise a Plan B Unfortunately even the best laid plans sometimes come unstuck, so it is always worth having a back-up plan or Plan B. What will athletes do if the dining hall is not open or they don’t like the food? What if their accom- modation does not have the equipment or facilities they expected? Before athletes leave home, they should know their Plan B.
Plan Flight Meals Optimal fuelling and hy-
dration has become increas- ingly challenging for athletes who fly regularly. When travelling within the United States, there are no free meal services available to passengers and airport se- curity organisations do not allow over 3oz/100ml of liq- uids to be taken through se- curity checkpoints. For more than 100 ml of essential toi- letries, liquids and gels, ath- letes will need to pack these in their checked luggage, therefore it is important to bring food for the flight from home or from the airport. At least one week prior to
leaving for an international flight, athletes should con- sider contacting the airline to arrange special in-flight
meals. Most airlines offer meal requests
to accom-
modate medical, religious or other dietary specifications. Meal options include: veg- etarian (lacto-ovo, vegan, or Asian-vegetarian), low-fat/ low-calorie, high fiber, low cholesterol, low sodium, gluten-free, low-sodium, and traveller’s lighter choice meals (chilled fruit plates). At this time, they can also in- quire about the timing of the meals during their flight. On arrival at many inter- national destinations, all baggage will be inspected for food brought with an athlete. They must declare all items carried in checked baggage and/or carry-on luggage. Failure to declare food products can result in confiscation of the items and a significant fine.
Purchase Travel Supplies While packing their bags,
athletes will need to include any food
and equipment
they plan to take with them. The week before departure is a good time to go shop- ping and stock up on all the essentials that they need. The following should be con- sidered for purchase: favor- ite foods, products not avail- able at that location, Plan B food items and sports prod- ucts.
Optimize Hydration Due to the low humidity of
the airplane cabin environ- ment, there is a risk of be- coming dehydrated. Athletes are unable to rely on the cab- in service for sufficient fluid. The serve sizes of drinks are small and the frequency of distribution is limited. In- flight dehydration can cause excess thirst, scratchy and bloodshot eyes, dry skin, headaches, constipation and bloody noses. To help prevent dehydration, ath- letes should be prepared by optimising hydration in the day leading up to the flight. They should also bring your own empty water bottle and fill it after passing through security prior to boarding. The next edition of USA
Shooting News will discuss the travel nutrition guide- lines during the trip.
July 2014 | USA Shooting News
63
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