Charlotte’s Feeding a Panther

The man needs to eat. During a routine day on the job, he needs the equivalent of what five average people consume. His name is Mike Rucker. He is 6’5”, 275 pounds and the defensive wide end for the Carolina Panthers.
 
Rucker recently asked experts at the J&W Charlotte Campus for help setting the nutritional needs for him and his family. Chef Joseph Benedetto, Rucker’s “nutritional coach,” says it’s not as simple as one-menu-fits-all. “Everything that applies to him doesn’t apply to his family. What he needs is off the charts.” Benedetto says “He really is a super human when it comes right down to it.”
 
Based on recommended daily allowances, Benedetto says, Rucker needs about 4,793 calories a day just to maintain his current physical status. On game days, his nutrient requirements can more than double to a whopping 10,000 calories due to the demand on his body. The average adult needs about 2,000 calories a day.
 
Food calories are not created equal. Fast foods and junk foods do not provide sustained nutrition and long-term energy to the body. Healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats are nutrient dense and contain a higher level of nutrients compared to the amount of calories.