Behind the scenes of every podium in Paris, was a carefully crafted nutrition plan spearheaded by our trusted partner, Skratch Labs. Chef Aaron Thebault gave us an inside look at what it was like to be on-site with the team.
"About a month before the games and the teams were set, we sent out a survey to all of the qualifiers. This was our effort to learn more about what the riders needed and wanted, more than what we wanted to cook," said Thebault.
Every day, we served breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. We always had rice, a secondary carb, fruit, assorted breads and pastries, salmon, and other proteins available. With that as our base, we’d send chefs shopping to grab hearty vegetables that were easy to digest. We also always had rice cakes available for staff and team members," continued Thebault.
Below is a recipe from Chef Aaron for Pad Thai, which happened to be a team favorite meal!
3 tablespoons gluten-free fish sauce
1 tablespoon tamari
5 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons tamarind paste
1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce (or more, to taste)
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
8 oz cooked flat rice noodles
1 lb cubed chicken, tofu, or whole shrimp
1 bell pepper, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped pineapple or unripe stone fruit
Salt, to taste
1. Combine the GF fish sauce, tamari, light brown sugar, tamarind paste, Sriracha hot sauce, and creamy peanut butter in a bowl. Whisk or blend until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and smooth. Set this sauce aside.
2. Cook your flat rice noodles according to package directions.
3. In a large pan or wok, cook your choice of cubed chicken, tofu, or whole shrimp until done.
4. Add the bell pepper, garlic, and mushroom to the pan and cook until softened.
5. Stir in the pineapple or unripe stone fruit and a pinch of salt.
6. Add the cooked flat rice noodles to the pan with the other ingredients.
7. Pour the prepared Pad Thai sauce over everything in the pan. Toss and stir well to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the sauce. Cook for a few more minutes until heated through and the sauce has slightly thickened.
8. Serve and ENJOY!
Make this USA Cycling favorite at home and show us your take. Snap a photo of your dish and tag @usacycling and @skratchlabs - we’d love to see your Olympic-inspired creations!
