Eat like an Olympian?

Did you know anyone can eat like an olympian? Nothing says “Olympic athletes competing at the top of their game” like a Big Mac, large fries and a Coke. I was shocked and frustrated when I saw McDonald’s has been running ads featuring young athletes celebrating a hard fought game with a hearty meal of factory processed food and high fructose corn syrup-based beverages. Their tag-line "you don't have to be an Olympic athlete to eat like one", is a negative and misleading message being sent to thousands of children looking to get fit and eat healthy so they too can be an Olympian.

There is something wrong about telling children with dreams of competing in the Olympics that the athletes they look up to, and aspire to be, typically eat a dose of fried foods and sugar water after grueling physical activity. There may be a few athletes that like to indulge themselves with the occasional fast food burger, but for the most part, these highly disciplined athletes maintain a strict diet; one that helps them reach the top, not get dragged down by their own mass to the bottom.

There is no possible way that Apolo Anton Ono became one of the fastest skaters in the world by scarfing a double cheeseburger and downing a bucket of cola after every race. Canadian McDonald’s ads feature various athletes talking about their favorite items on the McDonald’s menu. In one of these commercials, Canadian snowboarder Brad Martin talks about how he gives into temptation and eats McDonald’s french fries every chance he gets. McDonald’s goes beyond simple implication to directly telling the viewers that athletes in peak physical condition can stay that way while eating McDonald’s.

The United States Olympic Curling team is possibly the only grouping of “athletes” that could feasibly eat at McDonald’s on a regular basis and still be competitive in sweeping ice and sliding rocks. Imagine the typical McDonald’s consumer sliding down the luge track with their bulging guts obstructing their view. These ads are misleading and ridiculous. Maybe one day, there will be a Paleo spot during the Olympics to teach the viewers what is really necessary to be an Olympic athlete!

Okay, I will get off my soap box and leave you with something cute!

Future potential Olympian Maeve Lloyd taking the Colorado snow hill by storm in her purple sled!