What a PRO Pickleball Player Eats in A Week

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What’s up, guys, this is Christian Alshon. Today, we’re diving into what a top five pro pickleball player eats in a week. Spoiler: it didn’t go exactly as planned, but I’m happy with how it ended. I’m one of those people who struggles to eat as many calories as I burn, and this week was all about figuring out how to change that.

Day 1: Learning How to Track Calories

I kicked off Day 1 with oatmeal and berries around 9:00 a.m. I didn’t yet know how many calories I should be eating, but I knew it had to be a lot. Here’s the breakdown:

• 1.5 cups of oatmeal: 375 calories
• Banana: 100 calories
• Berries: not a ton, but still something
• Total: ~500 calories

Later, I had my first lunch: leftover rice and ground turkey.

• 2 cups of rice: ~320 calories
• Ground turkey: at least 200 calories
• Handful of spinach: basically no calories, but it counts for health
• Total: ~500 calories again

Cleaning the kitchen all the time is honestly the hardest part about eating this much. Just constant prep and clean-up.

At 2 p.m., I made a shake—my first one of the week. It had:

• Berries: 100 calories
• Coconut milk: 100 calories
• Peanut butter: 300+ calories
• Oatmeal: ~150 calories
• Honey: 50 calories
• Protein powder: 120 calories
• Total: ~750 calories

Later that day, I ate a banana and two Ukan gels (those calorie gel packets). I wrapped up with a solid dinner made by my mom: rice, seared tuna, and salad (just lettuce—can’t eat dairy). I’m thankful for her help and suggestion to start weighing my food with a scale.

At 9:30 p.m., I ended the night with some berries and tea, putting me at roughly 3,000+ calories for the day.

Day 2: Taking Food Tracking Seriously

I woke up and decided to start weighing everything. Breakfast was:

• Four eggs and some egg whites: 10 oz = ~450 calories
• Two pieces of toast with butter: 220 + butter = ~800 calories total
• Banana: 100 calories
• Total: ~800 calories, 45g of protein

I also talked about my matcha routine—been off coffee for over a year because it messes with my stomach. Matcha gives a smoother energy boost, and I take a matcha shot with Lion’s Mane and ashwagandha.

Mid-Morning Meal: A Calorie-Packed Sandwich

Around 10:15 a.m., I made a huge sandwich with:

• Four eggs
• One avocado
• One bagel
• Four slices of turkey
• Total: ~840 calories, 60g of protein

This meal was tough to finish, but I’m learning that my stomach will adjust as I keep eating more.

Post-Workout Nutrition and Grocery Run

After a noon–1:30 p.m. training session, I went grocery shopping—spent $76 for about 10–15 meals. Came home and cooked chicken breast, rice, and black beans. Ate at 3:15 p.m., focusing on post-workout carbs. At 5:30 p.m., I had another Ukan carb supplement and a banana.

Dinner Revelation: Custom Nutrition Plan

Before dinner, I rediscovered a nutrition guide made by a dietitian months ago. Game changer. It gave me exact macros and calories. Dinner was pasta with marinara, mushrooms, tuna, and broccoli.

I ended the night with 15 minutes on the bike and a protein shake with coconut milk, totaling 3,875 calories—well over the 3,710 I was supposed to hit.

Christian Alshon in Texas 2025

Day 3: Dialed-In and Focused

I started at 6:30 a.m. with a banana (100 calories), then went to my 7:00 a.m. workout. Post-workout breakfast at 9:00 a.m. was eggs, toast, and berries.

At 11:30 a.m., I ate my prepped meal of ground turkey, rice, and black beans. Then came some Ukan and a Lärabar around 1:30 p.m., followed by a 90-minute pickleball session working on serves and returns.

Post-Pickleball Shake and Reflection

I made a 1,035-calorie smoothie after playing. This time, I measured every single ingredient—no more guessing. That’s been the biggest difference from Day 1 to now. Before, I was estimating everything. Now I know exactly what I’m eating and how much.

Final Thoughts on My Nutrition Journey

It’s wild that it took making this article to actually figure out how many calories I was eating. I’ve been trying to eat more for so long but wasn’t tracking accurately. Once I started, it got way easier. I knew what to eat, how much, and when.

That structure—knowing the exact numbers—was everything. It’s not just “eat a lot.” It’s “eat this much, at this time, using these meals.” That clarity helped me feel more energized, train harder, and take my job seriously.

Yes, my grocery bill’s gone up. But this is part of being a professional athlete.

🎥 Check out full-version breakdowns on my YouTube channel, where I dive deeper with real-game analysis, and exclusive content.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a video by Christian Alshon. We partnered with him to highlight key concepts in a written format for players who prefer to read or reference drills on the court.

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