For Apolo Ohno and Julia Mancuso \u2014 who share 12 Olympic medals between them \u2014 the medals, spandex and tiaras may be in the past, but the nutritional foundation<\/a> behind their record-breaking careers remains a non-negotiable part of daily life.<\/p>\n Long before meal-prep services were a household staple, Mancuso, an alpine skier who competed in the Olympics between 2002 and 2014, took extreme measures to stay fueled.\u00a0<\/p>\n PRIVATE CHEFS REVEAL THE 5 ‘HEALTHY’ FOODS THEIR WEALTHY CLIENTS USUALLY AVOID<\/a><\/p>\n She navigated the World Cup circuit in Europe in a motor home \u2014 once traveling in a tour bus that belonged to Dolly Parton \u2014 to avoid unhealthy hotel food.<\/a><\/p>\n If she didn’t have access to that, she’d bring her trusty toaster oven to make sure she had more nutritious options.<\/p>\n Julia Mancuso, competing above in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in 2017, said nutrition is just as important now as it was when she was competing. (Alexis Boichard\/Agence Zoom\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n “I didn’t feel good at the end of a season if I wasn’t in control of my diet,” Mancuso told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n Today, as a mother of three<\/a> living between Fiji and Hawaii, she said those habits are more vital than ever.\u00a0<\/p>\n “If I skip a meal or don’t get the right macros, I feel it in my mind,” said Mancuso, 41.<\/p>\n PEOPLE LOST WEIGHT WHILE EATING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FOOD \u2014 HERE’S THE SECRET<\/a><\/p>\n Ohno, 43, who competed in three Winter Olympics between 2002 and 2010, said nutrition became increasingly critical as his speed skating career progressed.<\/p>\n “Early on, I could get away with a little bit more, because I was younger,” he told Fox News Digital. “As I progressed throughout my career, nutrition became<\/a> an ever more important priority. In my final Olympic Games, it was the foundation. It was a game changer.”<\/p>\n Apolo Ohno, shown skating in the 2002 Winter Olympics, said nutrition became the “foundation” of his performance over the course of his career. (Adam Pretty\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n For a sport as precise as speed skating, he said fueling properly wasn’t just about energy \u2014 it was about body composition, recovery and mental sharpness.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “When your body and your brain are fueled appropriately, it’s incredible how easy it is to get into a flow,” he said. “How much better your decision-making process is, your sleep<\/a>, everything just starts to compound \u2014 your mood, emotions, your energy.”<\/p>\n “When your body and your brain are fueled appropriately, it’s incredible how easy it is to get into a flow.”<\/p>\n Though they’re no longer training for Olympic podiums, the athletes’ schedules remain packed with business ventures, travel and<\/a> family life.\u00a0<\/p>\n As a bestselling author, Ohno now advises major companies and invests in performance-focused businesses, while Mancuso balances motherhood with speaking engagements and work in the outdoor industry.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Ohno said prioritizing protein helps keep him on track today. (Factor)<\/p>\n Their packed schedules still demand the same practical approach to fueling they relied on in competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n As part of that, the pair have teamed up with ready-to-eat meal service Factor on a limited-time “Gold Collection,” launching Feb. 12, featuring meals inspired by their training diets.<\/a><\/p>\n Mancuso’s selections emphasize endurance, with meals<\/a> centered on lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and vegetables to support sustained energy.\u00a0<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n Ohno’s picks focus on strength and recovery, highlighting high-protein options with whole grains, legumes and healthy fats.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I prioritize protein in the way that I eat today,” he said. “That seems to be the easiest way for me to stay on track.”<\/p>\n Mancuso said she would travel in a mobile home to ensure she could cook healthy meals. (Factor)<\/p>\n Both athletes emphasized that one of the biggest myths about elite competitors is that their nutrition must be extreme or flawless.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n “It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Mancuso said. “It’s more about consistency.”<\/p>\n Read More About The 2026 Winter Olympics<\/p>\n Ohno echoed that theme, especially for those inspired by the Olympics to reset their own habits.<\/p>\n![\"Julia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/julia-mancuso-2017-ski-world-cup.jpg\")
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