By Mark Eckel, Player Engagement Insider
When Drew Stanton entered the NFL in 2007 as a second-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions from Michigan State University, sports science had not yet evolved to where it is now. While teams monitored nutrition and overall health and fitness the focus on has only increased as years have gone by.
Now 10 years later, Stanton and his Arizona Cardinals teammates don’t just have their own team nutritionist, the quarterback has become a bit of one on his own.
“The Lions did a great job back then,’’ Stanton said of his early NFL years. “They were one of the first teams to go all out in terms of feeding the players. It was great. But it was more of just providing a meal than being nutritious.
“Now, recovery is so important and getting you back out there. And that’s where all the sports science comes into play.’’
Stanton, like most players, says he is stricter with what he eats during the season than he is during the offseason. Still, he watches and eats healthy all year round.
“I might be a little more lax in the offseason. But I’m always careful what I put in my body,’’ the quarterback said.
He tries to stay away from as much carbs as possible, has been gluten free for the past six years and tries to eat as much natural foods as he can. Living in the Phoenix area makes that a little easier for him.
“We have so much fresh food year round,’’ he said. “But you still have to be careful just because something says organic, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better for you.’’
Stanton and his wife, have their own garden, with fruit trees, and go to the local farmer’s market on a regular basis.
"With everything we do and how we need our bodies to recover to go out and function each and every day and with the stress we put on our bodies we’re all looking to optimize our performance and nutrition is a way to do that,’’ Stanton said.
“The Cardinals hired a nutritionist for us. All of our food is fresh, cooked right in the kitchen. It’s phenomenal how far we’ve come in my 10 years in the league. To have ownership take it to that level and provide food for us that is nutritional that’s a great thing.’’
Stanton says the nutrition aspect of the sport increased even further about three years ago. At that time newer head coaches such as Chip Kelly, then with the Philadelphia Eagles and now with the San Francisco 49ers, took it to a new level.
“(Kelly) really got it going,’’ Stanton said. “Now, a lot of teams are following, monitoring everything. It’s at the next level. It’s all about how can you make an athlete better.’’
The quarterback, who will enter his 11th NFL season in 2016 and will turn 32 years old in May, knows it’s tougher to maintain a healthy body over the years and that’s also where a good diet is so important.
“When you’re younger you don’t care as much because you’ll just eat what they put in front of you,’’ Stanton said “But as you get older you realize you have to watch and be more careful.
“You try to create habits. Everyone wants to eat candy and sweets and things that taste good. You have to be smart, but make it fun, too. At home, we have Friday night pizza night.
“A lot of it is portion control, too. Eating until you’re full is not the way to go.’’
That’s just one bit of advice Stanton has for young athletes trying to make up it to the top.
“A younger kid who’s trying to get to get to college level and maybe the NFL, there’s a discipline you have to follow,’’ he said “As an athlete you should always try to find ways to get better as a player. And nutrition is one of those ways.’’