You often hear about NFL players eating an insane amount of food (and not exactly healthy food) to gain bulk and stay in the NFL. Usually, the story revolves around a big burly lineman like Nick Hardwick. You wouldn’t necessarily think of a small (by NFL standards), speedy wide receiver when you think of mass quantities of food. But Donald Driver shared his past eating habits to Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel, and they were insane:
Q. What are some of your healthy habits now? I remember the candy in the locker.
A. Yes, that’s right! It started when I was a kid. Growing up the way I grew up, food was scarce. So when you had an opportunity to eat, you ate. When I graduated from high school and went to college, I weighed 160 pounds. So, I knew I had to put on the weight. I ate everything from fried food to fried chicken wings. When I came to Green Bay, I did the same thing because I was 172 pounds. I had to put on the weight. I just ate terrible. I had candy in my locker. Before I went home, I would stop at Wendy’s, get two cheeseburgers or deluxe, the fries, the Dr. Pepper and a large frosty. And then I got home, and Tina would cook — and I still would eat.
The last five, six years, my life has completely changed. My kids know there’s no candy, no soda, until the weekend. Those are the days they get to indulge in their sweets. We’re big on organic food. I’m not a diet guy, I don’t believe in diets. I just believe in a great meal plan.
I guess it doesn’t matter what position you play. If you work out like a madman, then large amounts of food, fried or otherwise, will be a part of your life. But regulars like us who aren’t catching passes from Aaron Rodgers might do well to heed Donald Driver’s message. Driver is involved with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and they have teamed up for a campaign called “Driven to Better Health” which encourages families to change their eating habits as a group and is running a contest with the winning family to get a home visit from Driver. I’m guessing he’s not treating the winners to Wendy’s.
Photo of Driver by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
