The daily eating habits of the Dons athletes includes lots of protein, carbohydrates and multiple meals and snacking throughout the day.

Dons football player Tommy Silvas, 20, kinesiology major, starts his day off with an oatmeal-protein shake before his morning workout. Then he comes back to have a full breakfast of eggs, potatoes and bacon.

Silva frequents J&J Hawaiian Barbeque down the street for lunch between his classes. Following an afternoon workout, he will have a protein shake for dinner.

Women’s soccer team player Taryn Phillips, 19, psychology major, says she starts the day with cereal and orange juice and gets a deli sandwich from the campus cafeteria.

Phillips loves to eat spaghetti and homemade sauce for dinner. She occasionally splurges and eats ice cream or cookies for desert.

Nutrition is an essential role in maintaining good health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The government agency promotes healthy lifestyles as a preventative measure for disease.

CDC recommends establishing an eating plan that incorporates each of the four basic food groups: dairy, meat, grain, and fruits. It also emphasizes that individual diets may differ, and each person should make the right plan for themself.