The Rookies Get a Lesson on Nutrition
By Cassidy Cleveland

Good nutrition is as important as daily exercise which is why the Rams Rookies attended the second annual Rookie Nutrition Summit at Schnucks in Chesterfield. Team nutritionist and president of the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association and nutrition director for Washington University in St. Louis, Connie Diekman gave the rookies a tour of Schnucks and taught them the basics of good nutrition. The players were also able to sample food while they toured the grocery store.

The rookies started in the produce section and sampled a variety of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals and fibers that can help you feel full longer. They may also help protect you from harmful diseases in the future. Diekman recommends getting at least five servings of fruits and veggies a day.

The next stop was the meat and poultry station. The players sampled salmon, tuna and steak. Diekman taught the players how to choose the best cuts of meat and pick out the freshest fish. She said that if fish smells too fishy, it’s not fresh.

The rookies then made their way over to the whole grain aisle where they learned how to read labels when buying bread and breakfast food such as cereal. It’s important to minimize sugar and maximize whole grains. Diekman recommends getting at least three servings of whole grains daily.

As the rookies concluded the tour, they made one final stop in the dairy section. Dairy products provide good sources of protein, calcium, vitamin D and other essential nutrients. The rookies sampled yogurt with granola and learned to eat at least three servings of dairy a day to build strong bones and a healthy body.

Diekman finally thanked the rookies for attending and reminded the players to eat everything in moderation. The players should make choices to eat healthier to boost their energy and decrease the risk of injury.