The number of calories LeBron James eats in a day will depend on the time of the year.
In the height of Olympic and NBA training, LeBron eats as many as 5,000 calories per day. Most of that will come from lean proteins and healthy fats. When he is in the offseason, he will likely eat less as he isn’t working out as much.
Of course, someone like LeBron has help with his meals and focuses on eating healthy foods as much as possible.
Who Feeds LeBron?
Most professional athletes, especially those of LeBron James stature, will have professional cooks come and make their meals. LeBron is known for working with Glenn Lyman, who specializes in healthy meals that are heavy on protein. He makes healthy meals that taste and look like something your mom would make. This way, the athletes are able to enjoy themselves.
In a conversation with a magazine, Lyman said that LeBron isn’t a picky eater, even though he does have some favorites. Instead of flavor, the focus is on getting LeBron as many healthy calories as possible.
Of course, feeding a professional athlete isn’t always fun! Lyman said that one time he had to create a menu, shop for, and feed a dinner party with some extremely important TV and film execs – all in just three hours!
James Love Breakfast
In that same interview, Lyman said that LeBron absolutely loves to eat breakfast foods. He will eat stacks upon stacks of whole-grain french toast.
It is often considered healthier to start the day with carbs like french toast because they will keep you full and active all day long, and then you should pack on the protein and veggies later on in the day.
LeBron James Doesn’t Love Red Meat
When it comes to his protein sources, LeBron James tends to prefer lean meats like chicken, shrimp, turkey, and salmon. These meats are packed with protein and are healthier for the heart. Even so, it takes a lot of this meat to get muscles like LeBron’s.
What does he get for dessert? It has been reported that his favorite ice cream is Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.
If His Diet Isn’t Balanced, He Loses Weight Quickly
Since LeBron James is in the spotlight and considered to be the best in the sport, it is fairly obvious when he does something different to his body.
Between seasons back in 2014, he decided to cut dairy, sugar, and carbs from his diet. He kept up his level of activity (which is more than the normal person, even in the offseason), and quickly lost a lot of weight. People were so worried that he was sick or that something was wrong.
What Does He Eat Before A Game?
In an interview in 2016, James spoke with Business Insider about what he eats before game time. “Before competition for me would be like a chicken breast and maybe a little pasta. The carbs help because you’re going out and playing a lot of minutes,” he said. “But a salad and some veggies will have me perfectly fine. And before the game I might have a protein shake and some fruit, and I’ll be ready to go.”
During a game, he will quickly lose energy so he refuels with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some fruit.
He then said that after the game is when he will splurge a little bit and eat more junk food like pizza and burgers.
He also admitted that when he gets tired quickly, especially around playoff time, he will start to eliminate sugars from his diet again. This, he claims, helps with recovery.
Does He Ever Have A Cheat Day?
When you have to eat that many calories in a day, it might seem almost impossible to have a “cheat” meal of any kind. However, LeBron has said that his cheat meals are often those that accompany a glass of wine. He’s also a huge fan of pizza with a ton of toppings.
Want To Look Like LeBron?
In an interview on the Tim Ferriss show, LeBron revealed that a recent meal plan looked like this:
Breakfast: Egg white omelet with smoked salmon; Gluten-free pancakes with berries
Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with salmon and veggies;
Pre-game: PB&J
Halftime: Sliced apples with almond butter on top
Post-game: Protein shake
Dinner: Chicken parm with a rocket salad and glass of wine
Remember if you eat this much, you will also have to workout as much! LeBron likely has cheat days and days where he eats far fewer calories.