Jalen Hurts made big diet changes after entering into the NFL, and it forced him to cut back on his grandma’s cooking— just a little bit. He also eliminated one specific food from his life all together.
Hurts, who was three points away from lifting the Lombardi Trophy after a Super Bowl win over the Chiefs in January, is back with a vengeance in 2023. The Eagles made a few big moves during the offseason and have their sights set on a return trip to the big game with a different result.
To try and ensure that Hurts is at his best, the 25-year-old quarterback has fine-tuned the way he eats. There are so many little things that can create an advantage. Diet is one of them.
If you aren’t feeling at your best, you can’t play your best. Hurts agrees.
As a result, he told Christopher Cason of GQ Magazine that he no longer eats pork. Not all meat, just pork. Hurts did not like how pork made him feel, so he cut it out.
I don’t eat pork. It’s not for any religious purposes—it’s just something that I let go. I grew up being a big baby back rib and pork chop guy—bacon and all of that. That was something I don’t feel like my body reacted to in a positive way and I noticed that in high school, honestly. The pork was something I parted ways with.
— Jalen Hurts, via GQ Magazine
Although Hurts is not consuming pork like he used to, there are a few pig products that are passable. There was simply no way to go without his grandma’s cooking.
Now, there are a couple of things that get the green flag for me and that’s a couple of things my grandmother cooks. I don’t eat the pig feet like I used to but she makes chitterlings and tripe. I’ll eat that probably once—if I’m lucky, twice a year. It’s been that way over the last seven to eight years.
— Jalen Hurts, via GQ Magazine
Jalen Hurts is doing whatever it takes off of the field to get ahead on the field.
While it can be a challenge to adhere to specific dietary measures, Hurts has found that it has become easier as he gets older. That is especially true after the disappointing loss to Kansas City last season. The more that you want to win, the easier it is to remain disciplined.
I think the older you get, the more capable you are of taking that next step in your off-the-field preparation. Whether that be your nutrition, where you train, how you train and who you train with—I think that evolves as you grow older and get more experienced.
— Jalen Hurts, via GQ Magazine
Every little thing can be an advantage. Longevity starts and ends with off-field preparation.
My health has always been an important thing, and I know that there is a window of opportunity in terms of playing this game and I’m not naive about that. It’s about what you do now and what you do to take care of yourself both on and off the field. I definitely try and eat right and put the right things in my body.
— Jalen Hurts, via GQ Magazine
Hurts’ diet varies from day to day. He isn’t on a specific schedule or anything like that. Rather, Hurts is focused on the overarching principles on which he has found work best for him.
I just try and keep it clean. I think the most important thing is staying away from fried foods and being able to stay disciplined with that. Also, drinking a lot of water to cleanse everything.
I think it’s important to get some good proteins and some carbs in. You always want to go into the game with good energy.
— Jalen Hurts, via GQ Magazine
With all of that being said, Hurts is still making sure that he properly fuels his body. Food is crucial and he does not miss a meal! He knows “some guys that do that” but he will never be one of them.