Photo:Catherine Ivill/FIFA/FIFA/Getty Images
Catherine Ivill/FIFA/FIFA/Getty Images
Two-time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan is an iconic face of the United States women’s national soccer team. But off the field, the striker is a mom first, and she prioritizes her own healthy eating pattern and wellness routine as well as her family’s.
Right after her SheBelieves Cup win in April, I sat down with the soccer star to discuss her pre-game fiber-packed breakfast, her favorite form of “me time” and her recent partnership with Nature Made promoting the release of theirpickle-flavored multivitamin gummies. Read on for all of the details on Morgan in this exclusive interview.
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EatingWell:What’s your go-to meal before a game?
Morgan:When it comes to game day, it really depends on whether the game is earlier in the day or later. If it’s a game in the afternoon, I try to have oatmeal in the morning. I add in some nut butter, some cinnamon and some berries. Oatmeal is pretty filling, but after a couple of hours I like to have pancakes. We like to stick with breakfast foods on game day. I don’t know why, but pancakes are a really big hit with our team and I feel like I’ve just stuck with that over the last 10 years. My last meal before I play, which is 3 hours or 3.5 hours before, is always banana pancakes.
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EatingWell:Do you have any favorite forms of exercise off the field?
Morgan:I definitely like the off season, which is when I have a chance to do other cross training. I like doing spin classes. I feel like they’re pretty difficult and challenging for me and I’m very competitive, so I like the ones where you can see where you rank. That’s always a big motivator for me. Another sport that I enjoy doing on an off day is golf, and I’ll either go out to the range or I’ll play nine holes. That’s something that I enjoy doing with my husband a lot. It gets you out walking around and it’s really enjoyable for me.
EatingWell:Favorite snacks for you and your family that you always have on hand?
Morgan:Definitely berries like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. My daughter loves them. Hummus and carrots are also a big hit in our house. And GoGo squeeZ is a really easy and healthy grab-and-go snack.
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EatingWell:Being a mom and a professional athlete, how do you make time for yourself while balancing all of your responsibilities?
Morgan:A big “me time” activity is definitely going in the sauna. It’s like a two for one: it’s good for your body, and I always put on a guided meditation. After that I like to stretch or read a book. I feel like that’s a big me-time thing. Sometimes after dropping my daughter off at school, I just like to drive to training in silence or have the music on really low. It’s just really comforting to have some silence before the business starts.
EatingWell:What made you decide to partner with Nature Made?
Morgan:I’m so excited to partner with Nature Made because it really aligns with the healthy lifestyle that I strive for, not only as a professional athlete but as a mom. The anticipation around the pickle-flavored multivitamin gummy is exciting for me because I’m a big pickle lover. It’s something that I love to have as a snack along with something that is really healthy for me in a vitamin. It’s just a win-win all around.
Courtesy of Brand
EatingWell:Favorite types of pickles or ways to eat pickles?
Morgan:I really just love fresh, cold dill spears. But if I’m at a tavern or a gastropub, I do love fried pickles. They are delicious.
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EatingWell:What does “eating well” mean to you?
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