Everyone goes there with one goal: to win, to get a gold medal, to break records, but for all this you need energy, and to have energy, you need to eat. Thanks to CNN, we can see places where only the most outstanding athletes have access – the canteen of the Olympic Village.
In the building that was once a power plant, an ecological restaurant was organized for the Olympic participants. This is one of many canteens intended to feed future sports champions. Meals will be served 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The kitchen will serve 45,000 dishes a day.
– We will feed 15,000 athletes of 200 nationalities. Among them, for example, a judoka and a gymnast. They do not eat the same – points out Nathalie Bellon-Szabo, general director of Sodexo Live!
Nutrition is key. The chefs prepared 500 different dishes. Every third one is based solely on plant products. The Olympic kitchen serves both so-called plant-based meat and lamb moussaka. There are also French classics. There is everything except wine. There are no fries, because the Olympic kitchen does not serve deep-fat food for safety reasons.
Breaking will debut at the Summer Olympics in FranceJoanna Stempień/Fakty o Świecie TVN24 BiS
What else does the Olympic canteen offer?
When we talk about athletes and healthy eating, we don't necessarily think about cheesecake, tiramisu or chocolate muffins. Should athletes eat it?
– Cookies are here for a reason. When you expend a lot of energy, you want to add something to your meal to cover your calorie needs, says Hélène Defrance, dietitian and Olympic bronze medalist.
The canteen offers Asian, Afro-Caribbean, French, Middle Eastern and Halal cuisine. Kosher dishes are also served upon request. – The food is great – admits Tony Estanguet, president of the Organizing Committee of the Games in Paris.
The organizers promised the most ecological Olympics in history. That's why we won't find any plastic there. The cutlery and porcelain tableware are made in France. They gave up plastic bottles in favor of reusable cups and soda dispensers. When athletes finish eating, they will go to a special container for leftovers.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/Teresa Suarez