Nutrition and Sport: How Food Shapes Performance and Well-Being

16 October 2025

Nutrition and Sport: How Food Shapes Performance and Well-Being

AI-generated image of a plate of steaming Autumn Harvest Gröstl (pumpkin, potatoes, and fried egg) on a wooden table in a luxury modern kitchen with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains.

Nutrition and Sport: How Food Shapes Performance and Well-Being

Eating well is not just about taste—it is the foundation of how the body performs, regenerates, and feels. Balanced nutrition provides the energy, strength, and focus needed for daily activities as well as for athletic performance. The Austrian non-profit Land schafft Leben, known for its detailed insights into local food production and consumption, has now published a new report titled "Essen und Sport" (Food and Sport).

Food as the First Step Toward Performance

The report emphasizes that performance begins on the plate, not in the gym. Drawing from nutrition and sports science, it explains how energy, nutrients, and hydration interact to support muscle building, recovery, and concentration. Instead of promoting supplements or restrictive diets, the publication encourages the use of natural, minimally processed, and regional foods—following the principle "food first." Practical examples such as the "plate model" illustrate how balanced meals can be composed: half vegetables and fruit, one quarter grains or potatoes, and one quarter protein sources such as legumes, dairy, meat, or fish. The report also highlights how protein quality improves when animal and plant sources are combined—for instance, eggs with potatoes or beef with soy.

Learning How to Eat

Land schafft Leben identifies a strong "hunger for knowledge" among young people when it comes to food and sport. To address this, the organization provides free educational materials for secondary schools. The resources link scientific findings to classroom learning, helping students understand the connection between diet, growth, regeneration, and energy balance. This educational effort follows Austria's student survey on school food, conducted in 2024. Around 5,000 students aged 14 to 20 shared their views on eating at school—a project that underlines the relevance of nutritional education for young generations.

Knowledge Instead of Prescriptions

The "Essen und Sport" report is not a manual for athletes searching for precise diet plans or protein shake recipes. Rather, it aims to strengthen awareness about how everyday eating habits affect both health and performance. By understanding how food works in the body, readers are encouraged to make their own informed choices—whether preparing dinner at home or refueling after exercise. Ultimately, Land schafft Leben's report serves as a guide to understanding that mindful nutrition, grounded in knowledge and curiosity, is one of the most effective ways to support both physical performance and personal well-being.

Additional Note: As a practical follow-up, Fashion.at asked ChatGPT to create a family-friendly lunch recipe for autumn in Austria, inspired by the nutritional principles outlined in the Land schafft Leben report—using regional, seasonal ingredients and a balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and vegetables.

Harvest Gröstl with Pumpkin, Potatoes, and Eggs

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 600 g waxy potatoes
• 300 g Hokkaido pumpkin (with skin, diced)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
• 4 eggs (free-range)
• 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: a few pumpkin seeds for topping

Preparation:

1. Wash the potatoes, cook them in salted water until tender, let cool slightly, then slice.
2. Heat rapeseed oil in a large pan. Add the onion and sauté until golden.
3. Add the pumpkin cubes and fry for about 5 minutes. Then add the sliced potatoes and fry everything together until lightly crisp.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. In a separate pan, fry the eggs sunny-side up.
6. Serve the vegetable Gröstl on plates, top with the fried egg, and sprinkle with parsley and pumpkin seeds.
This simple Austrian-style dish reflects the "food first" approach promoted by Land schafft Leben: seasonal vegetables, regional ingredients, and a natural balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for energy and well-being.

Image: The AI-generated image features a luxurious autumnal scene with a plate of steaming Autumn Harvest Gröstl with pumpkin, potatoes, and a perfectly cooked fried egg on a light wooden table. This cozy meal is contrasted by the backdrop of a modern, minimalist kitchen with sleek wooden paneling and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that frame a spectacular, panoramic view of sunlit, snow-capped mountains and the valley beyond. Photo: © Fashion.at / Generated with Google AI Studio (Nano Banana)