Few meals taste better than ones that come after a competition — particularly if you've won. For many recreational athletes, a post-game beer and burger or slice and soda is as mandatory as the match-up itself. But, along with their finely tuned training regimens and nutritional plans, the pros take the post-play menu to another level. This is how some of the top athletes reward themselves after a day at the office. [via mensfitness]
 | Billy Demong, Olympic skier "After a big race I yearn for a great steak! It's hard to come by in Europe but if I get my way [I'll have] some medium rare flank steak grilled to perfection with some roasted root vegetables to replace the carbs burned. Maybe all accompanied by some fresh greens for health's sake." |
 | Jermaine O'Neal, Miami Heat basketball player "My favorite post game dish is chicken fettucini because of the carbs and I love chicken." |
 | Apolo Ohno: Olympic speed-skater "I have many post-race meals but one of them is Coconut Chicken Curry with Washington fingerling potatoes. It's the perfect match for a long day of training or racing where I need to fuel my body with the right proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables to boot. I make it in a slow cooker. One of my good friends, Sov, initially showed me his version of the recipe." |
 | Dean Karnazes, ultramarathonner "My favorite post-race meal has to include wild salmon. It's a great source of high-quality protein and is loaded with Omega-3's. Fresh organic vegetables are the perfect complement. There's a local market near my house, called Woodlands, and they always have the freshest salmon available. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area has its advantages!" |
 | Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees' third baseman According to People.com, A-Rod and his friends (including former gal pal Kate Hudson) frequently hit Mustang Grill, a Mexican restaurant in Manhattan, after games. Previously, he was spotted at another Manhattan Mexican joint, Dos Caminos, with another date, Madonna. |
 | Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres (and 2010 Team USA) hockey goalie "I try to hydrate and have a recovery shake that get some calories back into my body immediately following a game. Lately [my post-game meal] has been a sushi appetizer and chicken with some rice or potatoes at a friend's restaurant." |
 | Tony Benshoof, Olympic luger After a long day on the icy track, this athlete warms up with a loaded pizza with anchovies and hot peppers. |
 | Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta Hawks basketball player "It's all about getting protein, so I usually go for steak and vegetables, and lots of water, at my [Mediterranean] restaurant, Eno by Zaza [in Atlanta]." |
 | Ted Ligety, Olympic skier "That's an easy one. My favorite post race meal has got to be a nice juicy steak with potatoes and asparagus, but I [almost] never get it because steak and potatoes aren't a part of the European diet. Except at the Tetterhof where we stay in Schladming [Austria]. They always make the team an incredible steak dinner after the night slalom there." |
 | Cleveland Cavaliers basketball players Anthony Parker chows on steak or pasta, and occasionally, seafood. Shaq goes the lighter route with a grilled chicken caesar salad. LeBron James replenishes his carbs with a pasta dish along with some sort of fish. |
 | Curt Tomasevicz, Olympic bob-sledder "My favorite quick post-competition meal would probably be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The peanut butter has to be super crunchy and it must be grape jelly. Yes, it's a good quick supply of protein, but mostly because it is my favorite food and it reminds me of home." |
 | Tiger Woods, golfer After Tiger won his first Masters back in '98, he chose chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, french fries and milkshakes for the post-tourney menu. And we're guessing he wishes he could turn back the clock to the time when his greatest worry was winning and making his mind up about a meal. |
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