DEALSPWN.com – May 2010
Eat ‘Em Ups? Can What You Eat Change Your Gaming Experience?
We’ve all been there. Some of us are probably still there, in fact: the gaming all-dayer / all-nighter. During those sorts of sessions, we tend to get by on adrenaline but news has reached us of a new angle to explore: the gaming diet.
Capcom, they of assorted legendary coin-ops and console classics, have teamed up with a health and fitness expert to create a menu to keep your gaming abilities in tip top condition. The argument is that healthy food will keep energy levels ticking along, keep you mentally alert, boost your reaction
The menu – the “Street Fighter” menu to give it its official title – has been put together by health and fitness expert Laura Williams. No, me neither, frankly but the photo on the press release suggests she’s annoyingly radiant and fit and stuff, so who am I to question?
“In games such as Super Street Fighter IV, a proper, balanced diet which releases energy over time rather than in short bursts can give a real competitive edge,” says Laura. “A gaming diet is nutritionally balanced, easy to make and combines essential fatty acids – which help brain functioning – with high protein to increase stamina and reaction times. Eating well can certainly help you game better, and this is the perfect gaming meal.”
So there you go. I figured two days without the usual gaming staple of fried potato hand held snacks could be a good test. It would probably make my controller less crumby too… More than that, I’d rather improve my health this way than with that pesky Pokemon pedometer.
After an afternoon of running around that aeroplane graveyard (and yes, getting stabbed in the neck), and after removing the traces of peanut butter from the R1 button, it was time for dinner and that meant steak and jacket potato? Rah. More manly food. When questioned by the other half, I pointed out that jacket spuds are high in fibre and steak is high in protein, and that keeps my muscles in good form. She sniggered, which wasn’t very nice frankly, and then muttered something about how it might be good for the muscles but it’s not stopping me getting stabbed in the neck by a 12-year old…
And so to day two, which started in the sort of style I’d anticipated: cereal containing some seeds and/or nuts. These are good, Laura explains, for brain-function boosting EFAs, or Essential Fatty Acids. You can also occupy yourself while avoiding sneaky sub-teen assassins by trying to get the
The evening called for grilled chicken and cous cous, which was simple and damned tasty and filling, and should keep you going for a late night sesh. It did, to be fair, and after two days of this – cough, splutter – important experiment, I felt better than I had for a while. I slept better too, which possibly had a greater overall effect on my reaction times and things.
So, there might actually be something in this gamer’s diet and hell, it never hurts to up the fruit and veg consumption, does it? Saying that, I never did catch that little bugger with the knife. if I really want to boost my abilities, maybe I should just ask him what brand of fishfingers his mum buys…
To book a session or to find out how Laura can help you get into shape, email her at laura@laurawilliamsonline.co.uk
Or call her on 07712 001525.