Who ever said you have to eat healthy to be a champion? Some athletes take that idea so seriously it’s almost scary, while others do the exact opposite and eat whatever they feel like. Between weird drinks, bizarre rituals, and nugget binges, their menus could belong on another planet.
The truth is, the sports world is full of characters who, instead of listening to a nutritionist, follow their gut, their grandma’s advice, or their superstitions. So, if you thought your “I’ll start Monday” diet was strange, wait until you read about the most unusual eating habits in sports.
The Strangest Diets Athletes Have Ever Followed
Between bad habits and championship quirks, athletes have pulled off culinary stunts that would make any dietitian shudder. Here’s a rundown of the most bizarre diets in sports — the kind that make you wonder whether success depends on calories or pure oddity.
Usain Bolt and His Olympic Nugget Diet
The Jamaican lightning bolt devoured about 100 chicken nuggets a day during the Beijing Olympics. To him, they were his magic fuel — 4,700 calories of processed happiness. He eats veggies now, but back in 2008, he was faster than the guy delivering McDonald’s.
Dwight Freeney and the Grape Juice Crusade
This NFL player followed a diet so strict it only allowed water, tea, and grape juice — not a drop of oil, garlic, or pepper. When dining out, he brought his own ingredients and utensils. His fridge looked like the pantry of a billionaire Zen monk.
Kevin Garnett and the PB&J Superstition
The NBA legend never set foot on the court without his peanut butter and jelly sandwich — a combo he considered magical. Over time, the habit spread through the team and eventually became a sacred basketball ritual.
Lyoto Machida and His “Morning Coffee”
The UFC fighter shocked the internet when he admitted to drinking his own urine every morning. He claimed it gave him health, energy, and strength. Doctors strongly disagree, of course, but hey, everyone has their own version of a protein shake.
Caron Butler and His Toxic Love for Mountain Dew
Before every game, this player would chug up to six bottles of that neon-green soda that looks like it came from a nuclear plant. When he quit, he went through sweats, headaches, and full-blown withdrawal. If that’s not love, Pepsi should take notes.
Drew Ott and the Egg with Shell
A guy once bet him five bucks he couldn’t eat a raw egg — shell and all. The football player swallowed it whole like a hard gummy. Since then, he eats raw eggs for breakfast “out of laziness.” As for digestion… let’s just say that’s tomorrow’s problem.
Bryce Harper and His Lucky Waffles
Before every game, the Nationals slugger never skipped his go-to Eggo waffles topped with peanut butter and honey, convinced they brought him good luck. Combined with his habit of showering seven times a day, his pregame ritual bordered on religious devotion.
Chad Ochocinco and the McDonald’s Menu
The former NFL receiver proudly claimed his champion diet consisted of three daily meals from McDonald’s — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He paired each one with a grin worthy of Ronald McDonald himself, and somehow still outran your motivation to hit the gym.
Lamar Odom and His Sugar Obsession
If basketball were measured by sugar intake, Lamar Odom would rule the court. He ate Skittles, cookies, and candy bars nonstop — even slept surrounded by sweets. His assistant reportedly spent around $80 a week just on candy runs.
Babe Ruth and His Hot Dogs of Glory
The Yankees’ legendary slugger had a pregame ritual that defied logic: three hot dogs and a whiskey-ginger ale combo before taking the field. Rumor has it he once scarfed down a dozen in one go — his cardio came from running the bases, naturally.
Michael Phelps and His 12,000-Calorie Marathon
The most decorated swimmer in history ate six times what a normal person consumes. His breakfast alone included three egg sandwiches, omelets, French toast, and chocolate-chip pancakes. The miracle isn’t that he floated — it’s that he didn’t sink the pool.
Wade Boggs and the Chicken Religion
This baseball player turned a quirky habit into a tradition. He ate chicken before every game, convinced it improved his batting. His wife cooked more poultry than a KFC at rush hour — and superstition or not, it worked, since he ended up breaking records and earning his champion title.
If these athletes’ eating habits prove anything, it’s that there’s no single recipe for success. Some swear by nuggets, others by pee, sugar, or chicken. In the end, what really matters is believing — even if it’s in a hamburger.
