From Digestion to Performance: Eating Like an Athlete

Our inquiry in Korimako Hub has continued to grow as we build on our understanding of the digestive system and how food fuels our bodies. Over the past few weeks, we’ve shifted our focus to exploring the role of macronutrients—carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—and how they support us, especially when we’re active.

Using this knowledge, we’ve begun to look at what professional athletes eat to fuel their bodies on a busy training or competition day. We’ve been learning about inspiring New Zealand athletes such as Hayden Wilde, Sophie Pascoe, Dame Valerie Adams, David Liti, and Hamish Kerr. The tamariki have enjoyed discovering how different sports and training needs influence what these athletes eat.

We are now working towards building nutritional profiles for these athletes, using our understanding of food groups, energy needs, and the functions of each macronutrient. It has been amazing to see the tamariki apply their learning in such a meaningful way, asking thoughtful questions and thinking critically about how nutrition supports strength, endurance, and recovery.