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4worldlovers: The University of Arizona's new sports nutrition initiative, Eat Like a CHAMP, focuses on addressing the dietary needs of student-athletes and other physically active students.


Christine Carlson, assistant director of nutrition for the Student Food Service, and UA senior executive chef Michael Omo have been instrumental in the development of the program.


The two have been working in conjunction with Bear Down Kitchen's manager and chef, Zack Baker, and his staff to ensure that food items align with the CHAMP message and are both nutrient-dense and tasty. CHAMP is an acronym for Carbohydrate, Hydration, Anti-Inflammatory, Mental Focus and Protein.


"At Bear Down Kitchen, we are using product identification cards for each menu item, indicating which of the CHAMP letters it contains to help athletes and physically active students identify which foods they should select to aid in their goals," said Carlson, a registered dietitian.


"While athletes require and should strive for all five letters, some may focus more on a few specific letters, depending on their needs that day or their training schedule," she said.

The program, which started earlier this semester, is open to the general public and available at Bear Down Kitchen, located in the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility on the fourth floor.

Bear Down Kitchen offers all-you-can-eat options for breakfast (7 to 10:30 a.m.) and lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) on weekdays, in addition to brunch on Sundays (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Omo oversees all aspects of the culinary experience at the UA. As a member of the senior leadership team at the University, he plays a key role in the development of the many dining offerings available on campus.

He has a flair for creating innovative menus and believes in "sophisticated dining that is accessible to everyone." His philosophy is that "simplicity is the art of perfection," he said.

"Our biggest priority is to ensure that food is delicious while still being nutrient-dense and fitting the message of Eat Like a CHAMP," Omo said. "We have been focusing on lower-fat methods of preparing items, such as more grilled and baked items instead of frying. A few recipes have also been developed to include ingredients representing all five letters, such as our CHAMP smoothie and CHAMP soup."

Improvements to the menu include whole-grain pizza crust, whole-grain pasta, brown rice and additional fruits — such as dried blueberries and walnuts — for the oatmeal bar. Fresh spinach and spring mixed greens round out a revamped salad bar. The kitchen also has begun to serve leaner meats.

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