I know what you’re thinking: Barilla Penne Pasta ($2) a must have for a professional athlete? Must be for carb loading. But for Shiffrin, who’s also a Barilla global partner, it’s more about comfort. When you’re constantly traveling to compete, you’re at the mercy of what’s available via restaurants and hotels, she says. If she’s already nervous about a competition, she generally will play it safe with her meals — and pasta is pure comfort food. “A well-moderated diet, that’s really kind of my go-to — and carbs are absolutely a staple,” she says. “I will have pasta probably six days a week.”
And there is a bit of a nutritional component, too: “Around races, I get a little nervous, and I don’t have a huge appetite, especially on really, really early mornings where I don’t feel like eating breakfast,” she says. “So it’s always really important that the night before races and the night after a race, I get really a good, well-balanced, and very replenishing meal.”
Pro Tip: Shiffrin loves a carbonara or spaghetti aglio e olio (spaghetti with olive oil and garlic), though she’ll often order her pasta with a side of veggies to make it a more well-balanced meal.