Speaking with the Chicago Tribune back in 1996, Tim Grover (Michael’s personal trainer of eight years) shared all the details of his day on a plate. His goal? Five to six frequent but small meals made up of 70 per cent carbs, 20 per cent fats and 10 per cent proteins.
“Michael is not a big eater,” Grover told the publication. “He eats only when he’s hungry and only until he feels comfortable rather than full.”
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This nutrition plan was designed to keep his blood sugar levels stable and boost his metabolism, while avoiding weight gain.
“If he were to eat a big breakfast and then not have any food again until after practice, say around 3 p.m., then his insulin and energy levels would raise up in the morning for a while but crash in the afternoon. It could affect his mood along with his activity level,” Grover explained.
Instead, Michael would load up at brekkie – his biggest meal of the day -followed by a mid-morning protein shake, then lunch and a second protein shake, followed by a light dinner. Game nights were a whole different story: Michael would eat a larger dinner instead of the mid-afternoon snack, then chowed down on something light once the siren went off.
Broken down further, MJ’s standard food fare looked a little like this:
Breakfast: “A large bowl of oatmeal with strawberries, blueberries and raisins; scrambled egg whites; glass of orange juice.”
Lunch: Lean proteins like chicken breast or hamburger with a healthy carb (e.g. whole-grain pasta or a baked potato) and a green salad.
Snacks: a shake made with “a combination of Gatorade, protein powders and fresh fruit.”
Dinner: “Whatever he wants,” Grover said.
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