Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash has been drug tested more times than he can remember, mainly
because of his participation in international hockey competitions.
Nash said he would have no problem with year-round drug testing of NHL players. He also said he
has never used steroids or any other banned substance.
Nash, like most professional athletes, is constantly feeding his body to achieve his highest
performance level. To illustrate, he agreed to chart everything he typically consumes in a day,
taking notes for about a week during the Jackets' playoff run. It included a handwritten note the
day the Blue Jackets clinched a playoff spot:
"12:30 a.m. - 1 beer for making the playoffs."
He said he did his best to chart food, liquid and supplement intake. Typically, he consumes
about 3,500 calories a day and drinks 2.5 liters of liquids. Here is a two-day sampling of Nash's
intake, not including water:
Monday, March 30
Typical non-game day for Nash
7 a.m. -- Before breakfast: plain yogurt with Immunocal protein supplement
7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast: hard-boiled eggs, slices of whole-wheat toast with
butter, orange, milk
10 a.m. -- Before practice: dried dates and peaches
11:30 a.m. -- Shortly after practice: bottle of grape juice and water, protein
shake with banana
12:30 p.m. -- Lunch: homemade stir-fry consisting of broccoli, peppers, snow
peas, chicken, oil and salt; rice, apple
3:30 p.m. -- Tuna salad
6:30 p.m. -- Roasted citrus chicken, cooked carrots mixed with butter and fine
bread crumbs; romaine lettuce salad with walnuts, whole-wheat rolls, plain yogurt mixed with
strawberries and peaches for dessert
9:30 p.m. -- Plain yogurt with Immunocal protein supplement
Tuesday, March 31
Typical game day for Nash
(Jackets played Nashville at home)
7 a.m. -- Before breakfast: plain yogurt with Immunocal protein supplement
7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast: whole-grain dark rye bread, hard-boiled eggs, butter,
low-fat cottage cheese, plain yogurt with strawberries and blueberries
9 a.m. -- Hydration drink (consumed over an hour)
10:15 a.m. -- Before pre-game skate: dried dates and peach halves
11 a.m. -- Shortly after pre-game skate: grape juice and water, protein shake
with banana
12:30 p.m. -- Lunch: chicken and lentil stew, whole-wheat rolls, romaine lettuce
and egg salad with oil and vinegar; apple, berries, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and kiwi for
dessert
2:30 p.m. -- Poached eggs and tilapia
4:30 p.m. -- Pre-game meal: whole-wheat spaghetti with meat sauce; fruit salad
for dessert
10 p.m. -- Shortly after game: grape juice and water, protein shake with
banana
10:30 p.m. -- Post-game meal: Sole with lemon and brown rice, vegetables; salad
with oil and vinegar and spice; frozen orange yogurt for dessert
11:30 p.m. -- Plain yogurt with Immunocal protein supplement
-- Compiled by Mike Wagner
