Fall Harvest

​October brought us a lot of things… peak foliage, election stress, unseasonably cold weather, unseasonably warm weather, lots of hard ski intervals and a hard transition from summer to fall. Now we're well into November and we've had plenty of training days of 35 degrees and rain, but there were also days of 75 and blue skies! My teammates, Ben S., Bill and I are up in Craftsbury, VT hoping to get on snow any day now.

Really had to bundle up for this one but with good company, a 2.5 hour workout flies by (even in nasty weather). PC: Julia Kern

No such thing as bad weather... just poor clothing choices? Not with this jacket! (PC: Bill Harmeyer)

And then we're back to summer? Enjoyed a Covid-safe mini training camp with Craftsbury in October. (PC: Pepa)

​As the temperatures drop though, skiers (all athletes) need to be even more prepared to face the day with the appropriate amount of calories and nutrients. People burn more calories when they're cold; metabolism picks up its pace to keep your internal temperature on track. Also, when you add hard training sessions on top of that you suddenly need extra fuel to stay healthy, energetic and recover faster. Once the backyard garden is ripped up and the farmers markets have closed for the season, it can be tricky to find the fresh, local produce that every athlete should strive for. In addition, my teammates and I are trying to create our own quarantine bubble and limit our trips to the grocery store, which means we might need to stock up on what we can! These obstacles could lead toward a plate full of bland, colorless food. However, I’ve collected a few ideas on how to keep fueling in a delicious and nutritious way all winter long!

Let's stay excited about fueling for workouts! (PC: Bill Harmeyer)

Figure out what produce is in season! Your tomatoes may have frozen over,  but apples are still crushing! (Disclaimer- Sonnesyn family members will typically eat a garden fresh tomato like we're biting into an apple, not sure if that's weird)? I find it so helpful to understand what produce is being harvested at what time of year. Here is a link to a seasonal food guide that can help you navigate the supermarket during the chilly months: www.seasonalfoodguide.org. 

That's right people! We are heading straight into avocado toast season!

When I'm in need of inspiration, I figure out something I could make that's in season. Maybe that means something easy like a cabbage slaw tonight. Or, if I have more time over the weekend then I'll crank up the music, throw myself a party and spend the extra time to use sweet potatoes and make homemade gnocchi.

(Click on the images to find the recipe)

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage (plus a few shrimpies)

Another season favorite of mine- Butternut Squash Risotto with Saffron!

A few weeks ago, Jessie and Wade packed up their belongings and drove off. Jessie went back home to MN for a few weeks before traveling to Europe for Period 1 of the World Cup and Wade went back to their apartment in Boston to work. Before they left though, we made sure to have one last pizza party featuring some seasonal inspiration, but also some of Wade's Polish heritage with a Pierogi pizza!!

Spicy Pierogi Pizza (this was friggen goooood)

Roasted Mushroom Kale Pizza

Butternut Squash Prosciutto Pizza

Herby Pizza with Carrots (I added more prosciutto)

Aside from trying to find inspiration in seasonal produce, I also get a little bit lax with always using fresh fruits and veggies in the winter. Sometimes it is just not realistic! So I'll buy some frozen vegetables and incorporate more legumes into meals with soups, stews and curries that are the perfect way to warm up after an afternoon ski or run in the frigid air.

Lentil Soup w/ a grilled cheese sandwich

Red Chicken Curry w/ Naan. I used frozen peas and broccoli in this one!

This is my version of "throw everything into a bowl:" quinoa, kale, roasted sweet potatoes/chickpeas and (frozen) broccoli, w/ harissa sauce

When in doubt, add more garlic and ginger. If your winter cooking is getting a little bland and you're not sure how to make it more exciting without constant access to fresh produce, throw in some garlic/ginger! Garlic and ginger are both root vegetables that are relatively inexpensive and contribute LOADS of flavor. They also keep for a really long time without going bad so if you're trying to limit grocery store runs, you can stock up on them.

When I make curry, I'm sure to add LOTS of ginger and garlic (PC: Bill Harmeyer)

As the season ramps up, intervals get harder and racing becomes more prevalent (fingers crossed), it is extremely important for us endurance athletes to remember that the ratio on our plate should look a little different. For example, during an easy week of training with few hours or intensity sessions, it's important to prioritize the colors and protein at each meal. However, as we start demanding more from our bodies, we need those simple carbohydrates!

Pasta for dinner and oatmeal for breakfast before hard time trials efforts (PC: Bill Harmeyer)

I never realized how valuable that key point was until I did my first ski tour last season. The world cup circuit completed a Scandinavian tour with six races in nine days. By the fourth race I was starting to have stomach issues and was hitting a major energy wall. No longer did I have that fight in me to chase down every second I could in each race, instead I was just trying to make it to the finish line. I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with a nutritionist from the US Ski Team and she pointed out to me that my body didn't have the time or energy to digest leafy greens when we had back-to-back race days for over a week. Something so simple was eye-opening to me as I realized it might actually be more beneficial for me to turn down the salad bar and head straight toward the bread and butter.

2020 Ski Tour got me feelin some type of way! (PC: Unknown)

Aside from fueling properly, I typically view cooking and eating as a time to bring people together, converse and get a belly ache from laughing too hard (or maybe fueling too hard). Especially during this time of year, family and friends want to come together to celebrate the holidays, but are probably finding it challenging while following Covid regulations. However, I think we can still get the best of both worlds by taking advantage of the warmer/sunny days we still have and venturing outside for meals.

Visiting with friends, staying warm, eating well and staying safe! (PC: Kim Rizio)

Or by bundling up and embracing the cold weather while enjoying treats outside with friends and family.

Grabbing some post-race snacks outside after a ski race in Oberweisenthal, Germany (in 2019)

Celebrating the birthday of my teammate, Katherine, after a team time trial. The parking lot never felt so glorious!

It may not always be the most glamorous way to celebrate birthdays & holidays, but it's what 2020 has given us and we're making it work! When it comes to cooking and dining, whether you're fueling for a long ski the next day or making a fancy dinner with your household, my advice is to keep it balanced. That doesn't mean you need to have a salad for every meal, but try to maintain as colorful a diet as possible. And don't forget to treat yourself to the seasonal treats too! ;)

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Went crazy and made my own cider donuts!

Now that I'm fueled properly and feeling energetic, I'm ready to bring all of this hard work I've done roller skiing onto the snow and get this party started! Any day now snow gods, we're ready for you...

PC: Bill Harmeyer