Where to Eat at Eastern Zone Sectionals at Brown University
Going to Sectionals in Providence?
Don’t stress; we have your eating needs planned for both the location and menu choices while you’re refueling at the meet.
PRO TIP: Place your food order before leaving the pool, and conveniently pick it up on your way back to the hotel to maximize your rest time! Skip the wait at a restaurant and use that time for rest and recovery instead.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe (open 7AM to 9PM)
Menu Link: https://www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com/menu/
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Address
4.6 Miles Away from the Pool
1565 Mineral Spring Ave
North Providence, RI 02904
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers a meal for any time of day. They have a location near the aquatic center. Here’s a few of our favorite selections to keep you fueled during the meet.
NEW! Smoothie Bowls
Smoothie bowls are a great way to get carbs, protein, and some healthy fats. These feature great ingredients like chia seeds, yogurt, fruit, granola, coconut milk, and more. You’ll fueled up for prelims or finals with a smoothie bowl!
Wraps
The menu offers many different variations of wraps that all are excellent options. The portions aren’t very large so make sure you also pair the wrap with a salad and side like the maple-kissed sweet potatoes.
Flatbreads
With three offerings to select, there are great options for almost anyone’s taste. Same as the wraps, make sure to pair a flatbread with a salad and a side to get enough food to fuel and refuel you for the meet.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Chips (lots of seed oils and heavy fats – not swim fast food)
Cookies (meets are not the time for sweets – save it for after the meet)
Added Supplements (you have no idea what these supplements are or the forms they come in so keep these out of your smoothies & bowls and stick with your own supplements)
Chipotle (open 10:45AM to 11PM)
Menu Link: https://www.chipotle.com/#menu
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 10:45AM to 11PM
Address
0.3 Miles Away from the Pool
235 Thayer St.
Providence, RI
or
1.4 Miles Away from the Pool
66 Branch Ave
Providence, RI
Chipotle is a staple on the road for quick fuel. They have a few locations really close to Brown University. Here’s a few of our favorite selections to keep you fueled during the meet.
Burrito Bowl
Easy to get carbs, protein, and fat in one stop. Load up your bowl with brown rice (a good source of Vitamin B6) + a protein (stick with leaner options, even the plant-based protein: sofritas offer a lot of protein content) + small amount of beans (good source of Folate – easy on the beans, too many create LOTS of gas) + greens + guac (great source of healthy fats) + any veggie toppings (salsa, corn, etc.)
Tacos
If you’re not up for a bowl, go with a hand-held option in the tacos. Load up your tacos with a protein (stick with leaner options, even the plant-based protein: sofritas offer a lot of protein content) + small amount of beans (good source of Folate – easy on the beans, too many create LOTS of gas) + greens + guac (great source of healthy fats) + any veggie toppings (salsa, corn, etc.)
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Chips (Chipotle uses sunflower oil to make the chips – keep seed oils reduced)
Queso (heavy in the stomach – a little can be ok on a bowl but too much is disruptive to the digestive system – save the queso for an after the meet treat)
Sodas & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)
Hometown Cafe and Poke Bar (open 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
Menu Link: https://hometown-cafe-poke-bar.square.site/?location=11eb94be3042d9bbb276ac1f6bbba828
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Address
1.1 Miles Away from the Pool
185 Camp St.
Providence, RI
Hometown Cafe and Poke Bar is a local place with many options for your fueling needs. The menu offers many different types of bowls with a variety of meat and vegetarian options. With any of your options make sure to get carbs, protein, greens, and some healthy fats within the meal. Their menu is highly customizable to meet your needs.
Chicken Works
This bowl contains some really great animal and plant proteins with plenty of veggies. Since we are planning on fuel for a meet, do not be afraid to add extra sides. Adding in a side of rice, avocado, or more protein is the best way to maximize recovery in between sessions. This is exactly the time to make the meal large!
Build Your Own
This option leaves a lot of variety to the consumer. It is important to know that at a big swim meet you should not be changing your diet too far outside the norm. If you are not used to having tuna, kale or wasabi you should probably not be trying during your big meet! Make sure that you are getting enough calories in to fuel your day.
Acai Bowl
This is an amazing pre swim meal. With plenty of fruit and complex carbohydrates this is something that will be light on the stomach while maximizing those carbs for energy. Order this meal ahead to skip waits and not have to eat at the restaurant.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Snacks and Sweets (save it for after the meet!)
Soda’s & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)
Panera Bread (open 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
Menu Link: https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/cafe/locations/ri/providence/43-providence-place?utm_medium=local&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=dpm-dist&utm_term=203900&utm_content=main
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Address
1.3 Miles Away from the Pool
43 Providence PI
Providence, RI
Swimmers often rely on Panera for its diverse and healthy menu. The chain’s efficient online ordering system allows you to maximize rest time between sessions, making it an excellent lunch spot with numerous options.
Power Bowls
These bowls usually contain a good balance of protein, grains, and vegetables. Choose ones that include whole grains like quinoa or brown rice, lean proteins, and lots of veggies.
Modern Greek Salad with Quinoa:
A mix of romaine, quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onions, and feta cheese with Greek dressing. This is a great option but consider adding extra carbohydrates within this meal.
Breakfast
Keep it simple with steel-cut oatmeal with toppings like nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit. This will sit well for you nervous eaters. Avoid sugary pastries and breakfast sandwiches with bacon and sausage.
You-Pick-Two with healthy combos:
Select a combination of half a salad and half a sandwich, or half a salad and a cup of soup. Make sure you are getting enough food and don’t be afraid of your complex carbohydrates. This way, you can customize your meal with healthier options.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Pastries, cookies, and brownies (these are not good meet fuels)
Soda’s & Drinks (stick with water or your approved hydration drink for electrolytes
Pizza (although I love pizza, it contains a lot of dairy, which is heavy on the stomach during the meet and typically contains a lot of processed meats like pepperoni – not the best for swim fast food)
Sodas contain caffeine and lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners – all things that aren’t needed when you’re trying to swim fast!)
Wayland Fresh (open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Menu Link: https://waylandfresh.com/
Online Ordering: YES!
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Address
0.8 Miles Away from the Pool
229 Waterman St.
Providence, RI
Wayland Fresh, a local eatery, offers a variety of healthy options, from wraps to salads, making it an excellent choice for meet meals. Take advantage of their user-friendly online menu for convenient ordering and time savings during the event.
BYO Salad
This option allows you to build your own salad with up to 6 toppings. Stay away from toppings with too much bad fats. Namely bacon and bad dressings. Opt for olive oil/balsamic vinaigrette and some avocado for healthier fat options.
Honey Mustard Chicken Wrap
This option is a great lunch meal. Although we need to be careful of getting enough carbohydrates. Asking for an extra side of fruit or salad can be a great way to get the proper fuel you need.
Acai Bowl
An excellent choice for a pre-swim meal, this bowl is packed with fruits and complex carbohydrates. It provides energy without weighing you down. Make sure to pic toppings that you are used to and will provide the most energy. This means you should probably skip the chocolate chips!
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Snacks and Sweets (save it for after the meet!)
Sour cream and cheese heavy meals (we do not need the extra fat contained in many of these meals)
Shopping and Grocery
Keep in mind you can always grab extra snacks and even meals at grocery stores. You can find a wide variety of supplements, food, and hydration supplies at a store. Don’t forget about them!
- Whole Foods Market, 261 Waterman St., Providence RI
- Urban Greens Co-op Market, 93 Cranston St., Providence RI
