Headed to Indianapolis this year? Indianapolis hosts many big meets like NCAAs, Conference Championships, Sectionals, PRO Series, and even the 2024 Olympic Trials.
Traveling can be stressful when it comes to eating out, we got you covered on the where and what to eat when you’re fueling or re-fueling during the meet.
PRO TIP: Order food before you leave the pool and swing by for pickup on your way back to the hotel to get as much rest as possible! Avoid sitting in a restaurant, waiting for your food when you could be resting and recovering.
Cafe Patachou
Open 7AM to 3PM
8AM TO 3PM Friday & Saturday
Menu Link: https://www.cafepatachou.com/cafe-patachou-menu/
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
.7 Miles Away from the Pool
225 West Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46204
In my all-time top restaurant list of Indianapolis, this restaurant lives near the top of the list, a true downtown Indy staple! You won’t be disappointed.
Avocado Toast
Offers a gluten-free option and an extra protein option by adding an egg. You can’t go wrong fueling up your body for prelims with healthy fats, protein, and carbs. Also served with a side salad, those antioxidants will be helping you recover and withstand the physical stress of your races.
Waffle
With a little extra sweetness in the powdered sugar, you’ll have enough carbs for racing! Also served with berries and syrup. If you live a gluten-free life, this is another offering that has a gluten-free option. Get some extra protein on the side like an egg or chicken sausage links to complete your power breakfast.
Granola, Yogurt, and Berries
This offering even has a vegan option if you’re looking to avoid/limit dairy. Granola and yogurt for carbs + protein along with berries for extra carbs and antioxidant/immune support is a super breakfast. If it isn’t enough food, add an egg or some lean chicken sausage on the side.
Oatmeal
With the option to be made with milk or non-dairy milk, this can satisfy almost all food sensitivities. Take the add-ons in the sun butter and berries for the punch of healthy fats and extra carbs for a super breakfast for prelims.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Fries – although delicious, not the best swim fast food. Keep fried food away from your plate during meets.
Qdoba
Open 7AM to 9PM
7AM TO 11PM Friday & Saturday
Menu Link: https://www.qdoba.com/menu
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
.7 Miles Away from the Pool
907 Indiana Ave, Ste A
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Qdoba is a staple on the road for quick fuel. They have a few locations across Indianapolis. 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 like chicken or shrimp) + 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) + 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 (Qdoba uses soybean 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. If you’re sensitive to lactose or intolerant, this queso contains milk so definitely avoid!)
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!)
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Open 7AM to 9PM M-F
8AM to 9PM Saturday
10AM to 8PM Sunday
Menu Link: https://www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com/menu/
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
.9 Miles Away from the Pool
534 W 10th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers a meal for any time of day. Paradise is less than a mile away from the pool in Indy. 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 re-fuel 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)
First Watch Daytime Cafe
Open 7AM to 2:30PM
Menu Link: https://www.firstwatch.com/menu/
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
1 Mile Away from the Pool
143 N Illinois Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
First Watch is one of my absolute favorites to look for on the road. You can always find a good power bowl, omelette, or avocado toast item on the menu.
Chicken Pesto Power Bowl
You can do this for breakfast or lunch with 31g of Protein and 52g of Carbs, this is a super way to start your day if you have a meet that starts late or for between prelims and finals. You may want to consider asking for the dressing on the side so you can add your own desired amount, which will also reduce the fat content for easier digestion.
Baja Turkey Burger
Who says you can’t have burgers at swim meets? This lean burger will provide you with 46g of Protein and 52g of Carbs, a great way to refuel after prelims. Ask for the mayo to be removed or on the side for easier digestion. Pair this with a side salad, a soup, or a bowl of fruit for a complete recovery and fueling meal!
AM Superfoods Bowl
Containing 21g of Protein and 104g of Carbs, you’ll be fueled up for a long prelims session. The bowl contains chia seed pudding with berries for extra antioxidant support to assist in recovery and keeping your immune system supported in that germ-infested pool.
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Heavy Sauce Items (such as Eggs Benedict, too heavy and not swim fast food).
Lots of heavy meats (such as bacon, a little is ok, but too much will weigh you down).
Sweetgreen
Open 10:30AM to 9PM
Menu Link: https://order.sweetgreen.com/downtown-indianapolis/menu
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
1.2 Miles Away from the Pool
157 E New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
A true homerun for anyone looking to eat well on the road!
Protein Plates
A great lunch or dinner item for a punch of carbs and protein. Just make sure to avoid anything spicy/hot and keep glazes and sauces on the side to add a small portion yourself. Typically sauces and glazes are very heavy and can disrupt the digestive system in large amounts. A little is ok, but too much may slow you down.
Bowls
Similar to the protein plates but a little larger in volume. Could be great for lunch or dinner. These are packed with LOTS of great ingredients like avocado for healthy fats, tomatoes for antioxidant support, and sweet potatoes for a fantastic carb. Same with the protein plates, get any dressings or sauces on the side and add a small amount yourself.
Siete Chips
For once it’s ok to do the chips with your meal! YAASS! Sweetgreen has Siete chips, which use avocado oil for cooking. No sunflower (Chipotle) or soybean (Qdoba) oils near this place. So feel free to add in a bag of chips on the side!
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Heavy Sauce & Glazes (get it on the side and add a little yourself).
Hot/Spicy Items (your digestive system will thank you later – hot may be good going down but it’s not great coming back up during a 200fly).
Ali’i Poke
Open 11AM to 9PM (M-TH & Sunday)
11AM to 10PM (Friday & Saturday)
Online Ordering: YES!
Address
.8 Miles Away from the Pool
910 W 10th Street, Ste 4
Indianapolis, IN 46202
The ultimate create-your-own bowl in Indianapolis!
Poke Bowl
Here you can add anything to your bowl you desire. Try the Maui Bowl for a truly tropical experience and a lot of antioxidants plus digestive support. Any of the bowls look great but just make sure to get any dressings/sauces on the side and add yourself. Many times restaurants over-sauce these items and they can be very heavy on your digestive system.
Side Items
Pick up a seaweed salad for extra antioxidant and recovery support or some coconut mango rice for some extra carbs!
What to Leave off Your Order from the Menu:
Hot/Spicy Items (your digestive system will thank you later – hot may be good going down but it’s not great coming back up during a 200fly).
