Coach Jeaneth Aro, the nutritionist of many top Filipino Olympians, knows that when it comes to winning, the devil is in the details.
In the world of elite sports, every calorie counts.
When The GAME sat down with Coach Jeaneth Aro, the Philippine Olympic nutritionist, we expected to hear about rare superfoods and complex meal plans. Instead, we discovered that the secret to fueling Olympic dreams is more about timing and quantity than fancy ingredients.
Coach Aro, a registered nutritionist-dietitian with a diploma in Sports Nutrition from the International Olympic Committee, has been at the forefront of sports nutrition in the Philippines for nearly two decades.
Her expertise has been instrumental in the success of numerous Filipino athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. With experience spanning 24 different sports and hundreds of athletes, Coach Aro’s approach combines scientific knowledge with practical, personalized strategies to optimize athletic performance.
The Olympian diet
“With regards to food selection, wala talagang difference. They are eating the same kind of food,” Coach Aro revealed to The GAME, dispelling the myth of a radically different diet for Olympians. The real distinction, it turns out, lies in the meticulous preparation of nutrients and timing.
Picture this: while you’re sipping your post-workout smoothie after a morning gym session, Olympic athletes are already gearing up for their second or third training of the day. “Compared sa mga fit individuals na nagg-gym, nage-exercise, usually mga once a day lang kadalasan yung mga ginagawa nilang workout. But with our Olympic level athletes, sila two to three times a day which means mas marami talaga yung kailangan nilang food or calories in a day,” Aro explained.
This relentless schedule demands a precisely calibrated approach to nutrition.
“We pay attention to the timing of their food intake. I have to make sure that they get to recover or replenish the energy that they’ve used up for the previous training session and will allow their bodies to prepare them for the next one.”
But it’s not just about piling on extra calories. Coach Aro emphasizes the importance of tailoring each athlete’s intake to their specific needs. “We pay careful attention to the timing of their food intake, yung amount ng food intake nila, tapos dapat enough ‘yun to provide the needs of the high-level activities that they do on a day-to-day basis.”
Perhaps the most striking difference between Olympians and everyday fitness enthusiasts lies in their approach to supplements. While many gym-goers freely experiment with the latest powders and pills, Olympic athletes must navigate a minefield of potential doping risks.
“Isa pang difference is sa supplementation,” Coach Aro noted. “I have to make sure that the supplements that our Olympic athletes are taking, especially when they ask me for recommendations, kailangan ma-minimize yung risk nila for doping.”
The little things
In the high-stakes world of Olympic sports, the difference between gold and silver can come down to the tiniest details. For Coach Aro, those details are measured in calories, grams, and perfectly timed meals. Her job is as much about precision as it is about passion.
“Sa training period, ang main focus is for them to be able to push themselves at the maximum level depending doon sa training session na gagawin,” she explained. “There are days na they have to max out their performance and then there are days na medyo nagt-taper down yung activity nila. Magkaiba yung amount and supplements needed during those phases.”
But as any seasoned coach knows, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to nutrition at this level. Coach Aro’s strategy is as diverse as the athletes she serves.
“I have to address it on an athlete per athlete and a sport per sport basis,” she said. “Meron tayong athlete kailangan magpagain ng muscle, may athlete na kailangan magbawas ng weight, may athlete na kailangan lang i-improve yung body composition but must retain the current weight.”
The conversation shifted to the stark contrast between training and competition diets. “Sa competition, ang main focus na ay either performance or weight cutting, plus recovery and performance,” Aro noted. She painted a vivid picture of the challenges faced by different athletes, from gymnasts to boxers.
“For example, with Carlos Yulo, we don’t have issues with weight. I just need to enhance his energy level maintenance during the whole competition period,” she said, referring to the Philippines’ world-class gymnast. But for weight-class athletes, the nutritional puzzle becomes even more complex.
“Sa weightlifting, meron lang two-hour recovery period. I have to think of ways to make sure that the weightlifters’ bodies will be able to recover given that two-hour duration waiting time or less,” she shared.
The challenge intensifies for boxers, who face repeated weigh-ins throughout a tournament. “Hindi sila pwedeng kumain ng sobrang dami after ng fight kasi meron ka pang next bout in about 1-2 days na kailangan muna mag-weigh-in,” she said, highlighting the delicate balance between recovery and weight management.
The mistakes
Coach Aro also shed light on some of the nutritional mistakes some elite athletes make during their bouts. “Unang-una siyempre yung mga nag-ccut ng fluid intake, yung hindi na halos umiinom, kumakain just to lose the excess weight,” she begins. “But on weigh-in day, that’s also your fight day. This means you arrive at the weigh-in completely drained, and tired before you even start fighting.”
The consequences of such extreme measures are severe. Athletes arrive at their competitions depleted, their bodies and minds pushed to the brink before the real challenge even begins. It’s a scenario Aro has worked tirelessly to prevent, advocating for smarter, more sustainable approaches to weight management.
“Kailangan meron kang ample time na pinu-follow in order for the body to really cut down on unnecessary body fat,” she explains. “Weight na hindi nakakatulong sa performance ng isang combat sport athlete.”
But perhaps the most alarming trend Aro has observed is the dangerous practice of extreme dehydration. “That’s what they often do, barely drinking any fluids,” she says with concern.
The habits
Despite these challenges, Coach Aro’s approach to nutrition might surprise you. “Normal food lang kung ano yung usual na kinakain ng ordinaryong tao. Kasi tao lang din sila,” she explains with a smile. Her philosophy is refreshingly simple: start with the basics of a healthy diet, then tailor it to each athlete’s needs and quirks.
Adobo, sinigang, and tinola are staples on many athletes’ plates. Coach Aro believes in the power of comfort food, especially when athletes are far from home.
“I have to make sure na yung foundation ng isang healthy diet ay ma-establish sa isang athlete,” she says. But she’s quick to add, “But there are some athletes na medyo kakaiba yung kanilang regimen pagdating sa food habits nila.”
Take, for instance, a champion swimmer who struggles with vegetables. Instead of forcing the issue, Coach Aro finds creative ways to ensure nutritional balance. “Hindi pwedeng mag-aaway kami para lang ipaglaban yung prinsipyo ng foundational principles ng nutrition,” she explains. Her priority is supporting the athlete’s needs without compromising their relationship or performance.
This flexibility is key to Coach Aro’s success. She understands that each athlete is unique, and their diet should reflect that. “In general, ang priority pa rin kasi is for them to have optimum health and then performance,” she emphasizes. “Because how can they perform if they don’t have optimum health?”
As we watched her talk about her passion for nutrition, it was clear that Coach Aro’s approach goes beyond mere nutrition. She’s creating a culture of mindful eating that nourishes both body and spirit. In the pressure cooker of Olympic competition, that might just be the secret ingredient for success.
The future ahead
Aro also shares her advice to younger athletes regarding their nutrition and food intake and how important it is to their bodies. “Kadalasan kasi, ang iniisip nila, talent is enough for them to achieve optimum performance in their respective sports,” Aro muses. “But, at the world level, at the Olympic level, dito yung mga makakasama mo kasing mga athletes are also talented. They are also highly motivated to win. They are also mentally prepared.”
“Pero yung mga maliliit na bagay kasi ‘yun yung mga talagang, it makes a difference. Which includes nutrition, supplementation, sports psychology, mga recovery habits.”
Aro’s journey to becoming the Philippines’ premier sports nutritionist is as inspiring as the athletes she guides. With over two decades of experience spanning 20 different sports, she’s been the secret weapon behind numerous Filipino triumphs on the world stage. Her expertise isn’t just about counting calories or balancing macronutrients; it’s about understanding the footing between an athlete’s body, mind, and the demands of their sport.
“Nutrition alone won’t make you win,” Aro admits, dispelling any notion of dietary magic bullets. “But if you are a highly talented athlete, highly skilled, very coachable, and then you are very motivated to achieve your goals, nutrition can help advance yung optimum performance ng isang athlete. Maliliit na bagay but it really makes a difference.”
For young athletes dreaming of Olympic glory, Aro’s message is clear: talent alone isn’t enough. In a world where milliseconds and millimeters can separate champions from challengers, every advantage counts.
And in Aro’s playbook, proper nutrition isn’t just about fueling the body — it’s about unlocking potential, accelerating recovery, and giving athletes the edge they need to shine on the world stage.
Banner images from Coach Jeaneth Aro on Instagram. Special thanks to Dayne Aduna.
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