Feeding 1,300 athletes over eight days three meals a day plus snacks.
As daunting as it may seem, it’s not a big deal for Westons of Gander, the company responsible for feeding the bellies of our hungry youth participating in the 2018 Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games.
The first half of the Games is in the books and Wednesday was changeover day for the second half as 619 athletes from around the province arrived at the Athletes Village to compete for gold for their respective regions.
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Phallan White, operations manager with Westons Catering, had eight staff members from Gander and five from Deer Lake to take care of business with the help of about 15 food service volunteers lending a helping hand each day.
A total of 621 athletes were fed during the first half and White is proud to say things went really well with no issues popping up. She said her crew worked closely with the volunteers and they made every effort to perform at the optimum best to ensure everybody had a good experience.
“The athletes have been fed in a timely manner,” White said Wednesday as her crew went about their business making sandwiches and wraps. “There’s nothing that I would report in a negative aspect for any of it.”
An athlete at the Games starts of his or her day with breakfast, a set menu that offers eggs, cereal, oatmeal, toast and bagels.
Two homemade soups, beef and turkey, and a variety of cold sandwiches, subs and wraps are on the lunch menu.
Suppertime sees the athletes treated to a hot homemade meal — only two suppers for the athletes in the first half but three for those starring in the second half.
Homemade BBQ chicken legs with rice. Lasagna with Caesar salad. The third supper meal, for the second part, is homemade macaroni and cheese.
Throughout the day, athletes had free rein on healthy treats like yogurt and there was a healthy supply of juice and milk.
White admits there were athletes looking to have more deep-fried foods on the menu, but there wasn’t much she could do to accommodate them because she’s following a menu laid out by the province’s nutritionist.
“We’re working to put the best fuel in their body as possible so nutrition is the No. 1 factor that we consider when preparing the menu for these Games,” she said.
There were some amazing performances during the first half.
That’s food for thought as we head into the second half looking for more big moments in the lives of our young athletes.
