What are our University of Colorado Student Athletes eating?

Written By: Aidan DeMuro

How CU Athletics Executive Chef; Carl Solomon is changing the college food game for athletes across the university.

In lieu of the CU / UFC blowout football game on Saturday, I was curious about what our student athletes are eating, and the curators behind the menus that give the needed nutrition to push hard on the field everyday.

Executive Chef; Carl Solomon has been with the University of Colorado since 2019 and has over 18 years of experience in the restaurant industry. However, upon Deion Sander’s arrival at the University, many eyes were brought upon what Deion was personally going to do about players nutrition and well-being through food.

With Chef Solomon’s expertise in the field of nutrition and gastronomy, combined with the resources Deion would bring to the university, the kitchen staff was able to implement wide reaching healthy and nutritious meals for every student athlete involved in university athletics

As a southern man, and Florida native, Deion is no stranger to good homestyle cooking. “Back then, we used to eat soul food and go out to practice like it wasn’t nothing’ Deion said. But as he learned from his prolific athletic career, nutrition was a giant piece of the puzzle.

One major highlight of the university Deion specifically highlights in his choices for cuisine for student athletes, is the diversity on campus. Chef Solomon keeps a kitchen staff with a remarkably wide range of backgrounds so he can only further his skillset in the kitchen. “One of my staff members is from Spain, if i can be delightfully included in the way his mother made his paella, that will be an experience I’ll cherish and use forever.” Chef Solomon said.

https://www.instagram.com/carlssolomon/?hl=en

The fruits of this labor by Chef Solomon and the kitchen staff are shown in the UCHealth Champions Center. The premier student athletic resources building where this amazing food is being championed.

When Deion made his arrival before the 23′ season, it was crucial to him that every student athlete representing the university would have the same access to privilege in athletic resources. “We all love to be together, sharing a meal. We got skiers, volleyball players, and my football guys all sharing a meal. That’s the community I’m talking about.”

With the high standards brought with Deion’s arrival to the schools food program teamed up with Chef Solomon’s drive to provide meals with purpose, the University of Colorado’s food program is now one of the most studied and renowned athletic food operations in the country. Slinging a diverse menu with touches of flare from everywhere is essential to providing our student athletes with the experience they deserve, with the experiences they give us.