Article by guest contributor Sarah Harris

In any sport it is important to keep track of both diet and exercise in order to deliver a peak performance every time.  And yet, many athletes neglect the former, choosing instead to eat a lot of foods that may not be considered very nutritious, such as pre-packaged items (high in chemical preservatives and additives like sugar and sodium), meals high in fats and carbs (good for long-term energy, but not so great for the heart), and even items they might think are healthy (like power bars, which pack a lot of protein, but also come with a huge dose of processed sugar).  Just look at hockey legend Ray Ferraro, who earned the nickname "Chicken Parm” from his penchant for chowing on this classic Italian dish (laden with unhealthy fat), as well as an incident in which he spilled the attendant marinara sauce down the front of his dress shirt just before going on air for NHL 2Night.