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Recipes from Unbound 2026



One of my favorite parts of working at cycling camps is feeding hungry athletes after long days on the bike. While I'm a sports dietitian by trade, I've always loved cooking. I certainly wouldn't put myself in the same league as the incredible performance chefs working in professional and collegiate sports, but over the years I've picked up a few skills through experience as a line cook, baker, produce manager, catering prep cook, and, of course, countless hours cooking for athletes, friends, and family.


When it comes to camp food, my goal isn't to create a menu of "perfect performance foods." It's to make food that is delicious, comforting, practical, and supportive of training. After all, athletes don't just need nutrients—they need meals they genuinely look forward to eating.

The recipes below were some of the biggest hits from camp this year. Credit goes entirely to the talented recipe developers behind them. What I love about these dishes is that they strike a balance between flavor and function. They're satisfying enough to serve to a crowd, simple enough to make at home, and flexible enough to support a variety of training demands.


One of the most liberating things athletes can learn is that performance nutrition doesn't require an entirely separate menu of "healthy" foods. With a few simple adjustments, almost any meal can support your goals. Add an extra serving of rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, or fruit when training volume is high. On lighter days, you might emphasize vegetables and protein while scaling back some of the carbohydrate-rich foods. The meal itself doesn't necessarily need to change—just the proportions on the plate.


That's one of the reasons I enjoy sharing recipes like these. Good performance nutrition isn't about eating differently from everyone else at the table. It's about learning how to make everyday meals work for your training, recovery, and overall health.


Camp Favorites

Slow Cooker Korean Beef Bulgogi

Rich, savory, and perfect over rice. An easy way to feed a crowd with minimal effort.


Soy-Braised Brisket with Honey and Garlic - A hearty meal that somehow tastes even better the next day.


Classic Rice Pudding with Dulce de Leche - Comfort food meets recovery food. Great as a dessert or post-ride snack.


Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole - Ideal for busy mornings when you need breakfast ready before the coffee is finished brewing.


Lemon Basil Ricotta Pasta - Simple ingredients, bright flavors, and easy to scale for a family or training camp.


One-Pot Lemon & Date Chicken - A sweet-and-savory dinner that feels fancy but requires very little work.


Focaccia Pizza - An athlete-approved crowd pleaser and a fun way to use store-bought or homemade dough.


Nutty Monkey Smoothie - A calorie-dense option for athletes who struggle to eat enough during heavy training periods.


Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple - A flavorful dinner that pairs perfectly with rice after a long ride.


Angel Food Cake Berry Trifle - A simple dessert that disappears quickly whenever it's served.


Baked Sweet Potato with Maple-Jalapeño Sour Cream - A side dish that often steals the spotlight from the main course.


One More Recommendation

If you enjoy cooking for family, teammates, or friends, one cookbook that continues to inspire me is Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman. It captures the idea that good food doesn't have to be complicated to be memorable.



A Final Thought on Meal Prep

You'll notice that many of these recipes rely on slow cookers, ovens, or one-pot cooking methods. That's intentional. One of the biggest meal-prep mistakes people make is trying to actively cook every meal from scratch.


Instead, lean on passive cooking tools. Let the slow cooker work while you're training, working, or spending time with family. Double recipes when possible. Cooking two or three larger meals each week is often far more sustainable than cooking every day.


Happy Cooking!

 
 
 
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