What is Nathan MacKinnon's diet?

Nathan MacKinnon is the alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche, as of February 2025. He was drafted first overall by the Avalanche in 2013. MacKinnon, who won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022, was named the league's most valuable player in 2024, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.

MacKinnon’s international career began with Canada Atlantic at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He scored five goals and eight points in five games. He also represented Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championships and won gold at the 2015 World Championships. MacKinnon played for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and helped Canada win silver at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, leading the team in points.

Read More: Nathan MacKinnon's weight

Nathan Mackinnon diet

According to GQ, Nathan MacKinnon follows a mostly gluten-free and dairy-free diet, which helped improve his performance on the ice. He focuses on eating healthy proteins like chicken, salmon, and steak, with vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and sweet potatoes. His typical breakfast includes gluten-free toast, eggs, and granola.

During the season, he works with a chef to design meals based on his bloodwork data. MacKinnon avoids strict pregame meals and likes to change his diet often. His cheat meals include chips with guacamole and occasional ice cream.

Nathan Mackinnon’s exercise plan

According to The Gazette, Nathan MacKinnon’s exercise plan focuses heavily on recovery and endurance, using cycling science to stay at the top of his game. His workout routine begins right after each game. Instead of quickly leaving the arena like most players, MacKinnon spends extra time on a stationary bike to aid recovery.

This approach is inspired by Tour de France cyclists, who use “zone two” rides on their rest days to flush out lactate and improve muscle efficiency. Zone two cycling is done at 56-75% of functional threshold power (FTP) and helps increase mitochondrial density, improving endurance, and preserving energy for future performance.

Nathan Mackinnon’s cheat meal

According to GQ, Nathan MacKinnon’s cheat meal includes chips with guacamole. His cheat meals also involve indulging in non-dairy-free ice cream, making it a real treat since he typically avoids dairy. He enjoys switching things up and treats himself occasionally with comfort foods outside his regular diet.