But, of course, that simple advice can become fairly complicated when you try to translate it into real life practice. If you look at popular nutrition literature, you will find there is a seemingly endless number of choices for the "best" foods to eat; the "best" way to prepare foods; the "best" diets for weight loss, improving health, increasing performance, and on and on.
The law enforcement lifestyle complicates this even further. As officers we tend to eat during hours when other people are sleeping, eat on the fly between calls, eat the sugary foods that give a quick burst of energy, eat what is available where we are working, and eat what does not break the bank.
But as WebMD explains in its slide show "Brain Foods That Help You Concentrate," poor eating habits create problems that go well beyond the physical issues involving weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. "If your diet lacks essential nutrients, it can hurt your ability to concentrate. Eating too much or too little can also interfere with your focus," WebMD says.
Since concentration and focus are critical in the law enforcement profession, we really do need to think about our nutrition as a key element of our performance.
What to Eat
Coach Greg Glassman, the founder and CEO of CrossFit (www.crossfit.com), personally taught a CrossFit Level 1 seminar to my SWAT team. Speaking about eating for optimal health and performance, Glassman said, "Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar."
Broadly stated, Glassman was telling us how to get our protein, nutrients, essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. In just 14 words, he outlined a great starting point for developing a nutritional plan for improving health and wellness and enhancing performance.
Glassman further explained that a simple plan exists for shopping for this nutritional approach. He told us to buy only the foods in the perimeter of the grocery store. After taking a moment to visualize where I shop for food, I immediately knew he was right. All of the processed foods are in the center aisles, and the fresh foods are along the perimeter. I have even read that over 60% of the food offered in grocery stores is processed.
When to Eat
When I talk to or read the works of sports scientists and high performance nutritionists, the advice to eat 4 to 6 small meals per day pops up over and over again. This means having something to eat approximately every three hours. Proponents of eating this way say that it increases metabolism, improves energy, assists with concentration, bolsters mood, and helps to keep your blood glucose and insulin levels steady.
How to Eat at Work
As you know, eating on the job has its challenges, especially when you are assigned to late night or morning watch shifts. Preplanning and preparing your meals before your shift and bringing the food to work in a cooler is the ideal way to go. On whatever day precedes your work week, set aside time to prepare a variety of fresh, nutritious foods and pack them into containers that will fit into your work cooler. Some companies sell cooler bags with containers and compartments designed specifically for this purpose.
Greg Amundson, a law enforcement officer and the author of the newly released book "Firebreather Fitness," told me that he packs his cooler with individual containers using a "40% protein, 30% carbohydrate, 30% healthy fat" approach. Amundson said that this simple plan has done wonders for his energy levels, strength, and overall performance.
Discipline yourself to bring your cooler to work every shift and you'll have your food at the ready, which will allow you to eat consistently and healthfully. There will be no need for you to hit the drive-through.
Nobody is Perfect
That said, life happens. Even former Navy SEAL commander and owner of SEALFIT (www.sealfit.com), Mark Divine, recognizes that there is a difference between ideal eating and real eating. He utilizes an "80/20 Rule" by eating a Paleo diet 80% of the time and allowing himself to cheat 20% of the time. (Note: The Paleo diet is based on the idea that the human body performs best when we eat the kind of hunter/gatherer diet that fueled our ancestors.)
Photo via Getty Images.
Every Body is Different
Not only does real life get in the way of ideal eating, but your individual likes, dislikes, allergies, and tolerances also will dictate what a "Real Food" diet looks like in your work cooler. Maybe you cannot have nuts. Maybe you are like me and you cannot eat some tree fruits. Maybe you are like some of the incredible athletes I have met or read about who are vegetarians or vegans. Maybe eating in the way recommended in this article would require a drastic lifestyle change and you need to transition your diet. No matter what, it is imperative that you understand that nutrition is very personal. A specific diet or way of eating that's optimal for one person may not be ideal for another.
To this end, you should consult with a knowledgeable doctor or professional nutritionist regarding the kinds of foods, the quantities of foods, and the frequency of eating that works best for you. Also, pay attention to how you feel after you eat. Do you feel sluggish or energized? Do you feel uncomfortable or content?
Above all, though, when it comes to eating for performance, it is most helpful to remember the words of Leonardo Da Vinci, who wrote, "Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication."
George Ryan is a sergeant with a major Southern California agency. He spent 17 years in SWAT, and he created his department's Peak Performance and Recovery Training program.
