Phillips 66 Nationals Food Blog- Irvine, California by Jordan Kelly

Phillips Nationals Irvine CA 7/26-7/30 (William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center) Blog

By Jordan Kelly

As championship meets are getting closer and closer, I will be sharing some tips and options for where you might eat and how to manage your nutrition at the Phillips Nationals in Irvine California.

Make sure to do some shopping for food before the meet starts. Whether it’s before you leave home or after you’ve check into your hotel, it is important to be prepared with a stockpile of nutruis options. Make sure you have plenty of snacks, vitamins, hydration, and stretching equipment (including rollers, massage guns, bands, and tennis balls) that are accessible to you at the pool and hotel.

While you are at the meet, make sure you are constantly refueling your body with nutrients. It is important to have a great balance of food and water accessible. Managing proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while also not eating too much food close to your race so you don’t disrupt your stomach. Also, remember because the meet is outside to stay under the shade as much as possible. Put some sunblock in your check-in bag underneath the plane and remember to reapply. It wouldn’t hurt to wear some nice sunglasses either. Hydration is particularly important if you are not from the same climate as Southern California. Be sure you are not hydrating just when you are thirsty, hydrate consistently throughout the day!

In terms of meals I have listed a few restaurants that have good meal options on their menus. But I am warning you that not all of the meals on the menus are good options to get. I recommend trying to avoid heavy sauces (especially white creamy sauces), beans, corn, anything with a lot of oil, processed foods, things with a lot of added sugar, and soft drinks. Normally anything green is great, but make sure not to eat too much: Arugula, Kale, and Broccoli while at a rested meet because they have large amounts of fiber that could lead to bloating.

White bread, white pasta, and white rice are fine but not the best option. It is better to get whole wheat, marinara, and brown rice options. Personally, some of my favorite things I eat at a meet are avocados, chicken, pineapple, turkey, salmon, fish tacos (not breaded), berries, carrots, asparagus, and simple PB&J sandwiches (with no hydrogenated oils).

I recommend when getting meals it is best to order for pickup instead of ordering at the restaurant. This means once you finish your last swim of the session, call the restaurant right away, get your warmdown in, then pickup your food. This is more convenient because you’re not wasting time waiting for food. This allows for more sleep or rest time at the hotel so that you’re powered better for your next race.

Restaurants close to the pool…

(make sure they’re close to your hotel)

-Yard house

Open 11am-12am

620 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618

(949)753-9373

Yes dine-in and carryout

No delivery

https://www.yardhouse.com/locations/ca/irvine/irvine-irvine-spectrum-center/8303?cmpid=br:yh_ag:ie_ch:loc_ca:YHGMB_sn:gmb_gt:irvine-ca-8303_pl:locurl_rd:1003

-Chipotle Mexican Grill

Open 10:30am-10pm

731 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618