How to stay healthy on your season. Don’t become a cliché.

Worried about becoming a greasy spotty hungover sweaty broke mess? Don’t fall I the trap! Whatever you put into your body you get out of it and skiing requires a huge amount of energy. In fact, "the average skier burns 300-600 calories per hour. Racers, or intermediate to advanced skiers tackling difficult terrain at a fast pace, can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour”(Kristen Gravani, MS, RD- Nutrition for Skiing). What's more, you'll probably also be spending hours on your feet in a bar or chalet rushing around after your guests every need or as an instructor, hiking and skating up the bunny hill to help our students is a massive thigh burner. You need to fill yourself with delicious, wholesome, nutritious food if you want to maximize your potential.

Ski resort supermarkets can be super expensive but don’t let that get in the way of your nutrition. Club together with some housemates and take a trip down the mountain to the out of resort supermarket, hut the local greengrocers, butchers, and bakers for those bulk and locals discounts. Set up come dine with me in your flat so that you don’t have to at the same thing every meal for 3 days straight, or better still if your less social (unlikely if you’re on a season) but there is always the option of putting it in the freezer in Tupperware.

Worried about what to eat to get the energy you need without buying the expensive ready-made cereal bars etc? Try out this meal plan:

Breakfast: Have a hand blender? Make smoothies! If not, don’t panic, a simple porridge with banana, peanut butter, frozen berries, nuts, or anything similar will keep you going all day without the sugar rush. Bircher muesli is great for those of you who have super early starts and no time to eat breaky in the morning. Want to change it up? Make an omelet for dinner the night before and save half for breakfast in the morning!

Mountain snack- replace those mars bars with clementines, mini apples, nuts, dried fruits, or homemade protein bars- they're cheaper and way better for you!

Dinner can be tough for seasonaires because you're usually serving everyone else dinner when you should be having your own. Depending on your guest's schedule, try eating earlier and have some cereal or fruit with yogurt and muesli ready for you for an after-work snack before you sleep. When it comes to what to eat for dinner, think one-pot meals and past /rice sauces, casseroles, lentil or chickpea dishes and that kind of thing, frozen veg are your friend too, they're cheap and full of goodness. If you’re a snowsports instructor like me or are lucky enough to be home for normal dinner time with your housemates...

--club together for Mexican night loaded with fajitas, nachos, and rice for those guys that seem to eat the whole fridge in one meal.

-- curry night

-- bbq- shove a load of chicken wings and sausages in the oven, roast some potatoes and put together a cheap cob salad, and have yourselves a USA party.

-- make your own burgers, veggie-friendly too!

Another option is to get a job or stay in accommodation where your meals are included. This may mean less control over what you et so ts not so great for those of you with dietary requirements, but it’s a great way to make sure you're getting in your 3 meals a day and all the essential nutrition.

Hydration is just as important as food. Studies show that drinking water throughout the day minimizes muscular damage, in comparison to not hydrating throughout the day. Remember to pick that reusable water bottle and you'll be sure to be able to fill it up up the hill for no cost (water is gold up the hill). If you're in Europe or Canada and planning a big ski day, a camelback hydration pack is a good idea for easy access to water whilst skiing and snowboarding. As tempting as a gondola tinny, or a strongola (in Japan) is, try to avoid the consumption of alcohol whilst exercising in the cold, as alcohol is a diuretic that tends to dehydrate the body- save it for moderation in après ski.

The Ski Nomad