Sport Nutrition

Lenny Krayzelburg's Love of California Avocados

Here is a Q&A with four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, Lenny Krayzelburg, where he discusses his affinity for fresh California Avocados.

  1. You grew up in Southern California, did you always like California Avocados?

    Absolutely, as a California guy, I grew up on avocados! I think local California Avocados are especially creamy and delicious. I would add them to my sandwiches, top off salads and, of course, munch on chips and guacamole.


  2. Your father was a chef while you were growing up; how did he incorporate Avocados into your meals?

    My dad was always great in the kitchen and had a real passion for cooking. He would come up with the most wonderful meals, all the while keeping in mind my nutritional needs for my training. California Avocados figured in prominently in his dishes. As a snack he would actually just slice an avocado and a tomato and drizzle them with a bit of olive oil and top it all off with fresh black pepper. For dinner, he would create these great salsas with avocados to finish off chicken and fish dishes. The avocado always added a creamy texture to the meal that made you feel like you were eating something really decadent.


  3. How important is an athlete's diet while training for a competition?

    Extremely important! For an athlete, the food you eat is your fuel to perform. In swimming, what you eat can mean the difference between even one hundredth of a second. While that's less than a blink of an eye, the science of sports nutrition can separate the medalists from the hopefuls!


  4. As a world-class athlete, what did your training diet consist of?

    When I was competing I consumed a diet rich in lean protein, carbohydrates and fats. The carbohydrates helped fuel my muscles and the lean protein helped repair and rebuild muscle that had been broken down during training. For fats, I loved to eat California Avocados because of their poly and monounsaturated fat content and because they contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, which helped give me energy and feel satisfied at meal time. Not to mention that avocados taste delicious!


  5. Do you still eat California Avocados now that you are retired?

    Even though I don't swim competitively anymore, I continue to eat healthily and incorporate California Avocados into my diet because of the unsaturated fat they contain and because I love the taste! I'll eat them as part of a salsa on grilled fish, incorporate them into a salad or even top off an omelet with a couple of slices.