Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies Baseball Breakfast

The Colorado Rockies are wrapping up Spring Training down in Scottsdale and are getting ready for their big season opener at Coors Field in just a couple of weeks. At the Original Pancake House, we’re getting excited for baseball season in Denver!  So that got us to thinking – what do baseball players like to eat?

Apr 1, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) hits a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. At right is Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20). Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA Today Sports
Apr 1, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) hits a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. At right is Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20). Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA Today Sports

Baseball is a bit different than other professional sports in its approach to health and nutrition.  Until very recently, baseball players were eating candy bars, hot dogs, and their fair share of beer after a game.  Just in the past few years, baseball players and their respective clubs have started to put a much greater focus on nutrition and healthy choices that one might expect for professional athletes.  Whereas a pre or post game spread used to consist of cheese and bologna sandwiches, fast food, and a few hot dogs, now the players are dining on salmon, veggies, and shrimp scampi.  Gone are the sweets and processed foods, gone are the days of ball park fare!

With a focus on health and well-balanced meals, baseball players are also making healthy choices for their other meals, including breakfast. Many baseball players sleep in and enjoy a big breakfast after a late night at the park.  But their breakfast is typically well-balanced with lean protein, fruits, veggies, and of course a few healthy carbs.

We’ve come up with a perfect breakfast for the professional (or little league!) baseball player.  This meal has a perfect balance of protein, fruit, veggies, and carbs to fuel any position from pitcher to left field.

Colorado Rockies Veggie Omelet Platter

  1. To start, make sure your eggs are whipped until they are light and even a bit frothy.  For a solid meal, we usually use three eggs. Choose a selection of your favorite veggies such as broccoli, peppers, onion, spinach, tomatoes – anything goes! Dice veggies.
  2. Warm your pan over medium heat and add a tablespoon of butter or oil.
  3. Turn your pan down to low heat.  Add your eggs to the pan and sprinkle veggies and cheese if you like over the top.
  4. Once the eggs are in the pan, lightly stir the eggs and pulling them away from the sides to ensure evenly cooked eggs.  Cook covered on very low heat for 5-8 minutes.
  5. Once the omelet has finished cooking, fold in half or in thirds and ENJOY!

Serve Omelet with whole wheat toast or an English muffin and a side of fruit.

 

Of course if you are tired from extra innings in your game the previous night, the Original Pancake House would be happy to serve you an MLB-style breakfast in Denver.  We have a great selection of veggie omelets including our Mediterranean Omelet, our Denver Omelet, the Fresh Vegetarian Omelet, or the Florentine Omelet.  Best of luck to our Colorado Rockies in their upcoming season, and best of luck all our Denver little leaguers who dream of someday becoming one of the Rox!


todd helton

Peanuts & Cracker Jacks: Funny Food Superstitions of Major League Baseball

Baseball season is in full swing across the country!  We love to take our family to Coors Field each summer ttodd_helton21o cheer on our Colorado Rockies and check out the fun and crowds in downtown Denver.  On a recent trip to the ball park, we got to talking about Major League Baseball players and their superstitions.  Many players have a special song that they play before each at-bat, or a routine that they follow before each game.  One of our favorite (now retired) Rockies players, Todd Helton, used to start a game with a full beard.  If he didn’t get a hit by the fifth inning, he would shave his beard to a goatee.  If he still didn’t have a hit by the seventh inning, he would shave his beard entirely!

We also learned that some players have a special food or meal that they must eat before every game.  Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs used to eat chicken before every game. Retired Chicago Cubs pitcher Lee Smith used to sleep through the first four innings of every game and have his teammates wake him up before the fifth inning with a cheeseburger.  Drew Storen, relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals, had a grilled cheese sandwich and glass of milk every day during the 2011 season.

Our favorite superstitious player is C.J. Wilson who plays for the Los Angeles Angels.  On the days that he is scheduled to pitch, Wilson eats a very specific breakfast.  His game day menu includes a vegetable omelet with an English muffin.  However, he is allergic to butter, so his English muffin has to be served without! Next time C.J. is in town, we hope he joins us for breakfast in Denver.  We would be happy to serve him a lucky veggie omelet and English muffin without butter.

To all the superstitious Major League, Minor League, and Little Leaguers, we wish you luck this baseball season. We are happy to serve you a lucky breakfast before any game, just swing on in to The Original Pancake House!