Eat this and that

Food is always on my mind. Before, during, after a race. What to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and all those snacks in between. When it comes to deciding on food, SDAY will attest that I'm not the best at making a decision. Maybe it's because I like so many of the options? I'm pretty open when it comes to food, regardless of when it's time to eat.I've always been interested though when it comes to what people eat, mainly during heavy training loads and before races. Not because I'm looking to find a new edge or trying to find some magic water, but more out of curiosity. When it comes to professional cyclists and their diets, there are a number of idiosyncrasies that seem a bit over the edge. For most of us I don't think it needs to be a scientific experiment by counting calories, weighing things out or skipping tasty treats. But on the other hand, it shouldn't be something you just shrug off because you put in four hours on the bike. All things in moderation are good principals to follow.I had a discussion with Alex G while riding Muller and we both seemed to be on the same page. There are a lot of folks out there that put too much stress into what they consume. Eating healthy can be tough. There are simply too many delicious and not so healthy items out there that tempt our taste buds. Eating sensibly is more of what you should focus on. Portion size is huge. Pun intended. There are many times where my needs have been met but because there was still food on my plate, I continued to pound it down. Training yourself to recognize when you're full can take some time and that’s why so many experts recommend eating lots of small healthy or sensible meals throughout the day. Being able to graze throughout the day helps reduce the probability of getting too hungry and then fulfilling it all in one meal. We all know what that feels like.Remember that food is fuel. Think of it as that and it will help you manage your cravings or temptations that can lead to over eating, or stuffing yourself with useless calories. After all, you're a finely tuned machine. Just like an exotic sports car, you'd never put 7 Eleven gas in the tank before you head out to the races.Here's a recipe for an excellent source of fuel and a nice mid day snack. I found the original on one of my favorite sites, Eat Better America and modified it a bit. KDAY Racing Power Cookies. They're delicious and not bad when you're putting in a long day on the bike.  In a medium mixing bowl combine the following:1 Large Banana1/2 Cup Chunky Peanut Butter1/2 Cup Honey1 Teaspoon VanillaIn a seperate larger bowl mix the following:1/2 Cup Wheat Flour1 Cup Rolled Oats2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon1/4 Teaspoon Baking SodaPre-heat the oven to 350. Combine the two bowls and mix thoroughly.Place desired size cookie clumps on the baking sheet about 1" apart.Bake 14-16 min.