Sailing-Food for sport as British enlist performance chef

MARSEILLE, France : Britain has hired "performance chef" Bryony Johnson to fuel its sailors, serving up dishes such as honey chipotle salmon, rice and black beans and tahini coleslaw with mint and jalapenos.

Johnson said this was one of the most popular meals among the Olympic sailors so far.

"It's not just about fuelling somebody, but how it makes them feel," Johnson, 39, told Reuters from the team's base in Marseille, where she is catering for 47 people.

"There was such a big disconnect between the food that people felt they should be eating and what they wanted to eat," she says of her mission to encourage alternatives to chicken, broccoli and boiled rice.

"One thing that they absolutely love are the dark chocolate brownies, with almonds for extra protein," Johnson said.

Ingredients such as black beans, Johnson said, are rich in polyphenols, which are an antioxidant.

Among the big sporting names she has cooked for, Johnson lists Roger Federer, boxer Anthony Joshua and British sailor Ben Ainslie.

Johnson has to cater for a range of demands, with some athletes looking to gain weight and others want to shed kilogrammes.

"You give them control over how they want to eat," said Johnson, adding that she separates carbohydrates from vegetables so that they can pick and choose.

"Because they have worked with nutritionists, they know what works for them individually."

Johnson also offers snacks which include rice balls with Oreo biscuits, which has been "an absolute fave".

While empty plates are the norm, Johnson said, appetites can wane if an athlete suffers from pre-race nerves.