When you think of food meant to help athletes, you might think back to when parents would give orange slices or Gatorade to kids during soccer games. Now, fast forward your thinking to the best options available to fuel today's performance athletes. What do you imagine they would use before or during a game?
I quickly went to protein bars or energy gels (like GU) ... But, I was wrong.
According to research from The Athletic, The NFL's favorite halftime energy booster is now the uncrustable.
What is that? An "uncrustable" is a crustless sandwich consisting of a filling between two layers of crimp-sealed bread. They are convenient, portable, and they tend to come in homey flavors like PB&J. While you can theoretically make one at home, Uncrustables, in this context, are made by Smuckers.
The Athletic via X
Based on this math, it's reasonable to assume that NFL teams go through ~4000 Uncrustables a week (on top of however many PB&Js or other sandwiches they consume). Regardless, it is a lot.
Why the sudden surge in popularity? It's a combination of factors:
- Nostalgia and Comfort: The uncrustable taps into a sense of childhood nostalgia, offering a comforting and familiar taste.
- Nutritional Balance: It provides a balanced blend of carbohydrates for quick energy, fats for sustained power, and protein for recovery.
- Convenience: Pre-packaged and mess-free, uncrustables are perfect for a half-time snack when you have very little time to eat.
If you think about it, it makes sense. PB&Js are universal. Regardless of geographic region, socioeconomic status, etc. – it's a staple.
They're easy to digest, convenient, and comforting. Hitting all the marks a professional athlete might be looking for.
Even in a high-tech world, people still crave simplicity and effectiveness.
I've never had one ... but now I kind of want to try. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure they used to call this a Pop-Tart. But I guess that just makes me seem old.
The NFL's Halftime Hack
When you think of food meant to help athletes, you might think back to when parents would give orange slices or Gatorade to kids during soccer games. Now, fast forward your thinking to the best options available to fuel today's performance athletes. What do you imagine they would use before or during a game?
I quickly went to protein bars or energy gels (like GU) ... But, I was wrong.
According to research from The Athletic, The NFL's favorite halftime energy booster is now the uncrustable.
What is that? An "uncrustable" is a crustless sandwich consisting of a filling between two layers of crimp-sealed bread. They are convenient, portable, and they tend to come in homey flavors like PB&J. While you can theoretically make one at home, Uncrustables, in this context, are made by Smuckers.
Based on this math, it's reasonable to assume that NFL teams go through ~4000 Uncrustables a week (on top of however many PB&Js or other sandwiches they consume). Regardless, it is a lot.
Why the sudden surge in popularity? It's a combination of factors:
If you think about it, it makes sense. PB&Js are universal. Regardless of geographic region, socioeconomic status, etc. – it's a staple.
They're easy to digest, convenient, and comforting. Hitting all the marks a professional athlete might be looking for.
Even in a high-tech world, people still crave simplicity and effectiveness.
I've never had one ... but now I kind of want to try. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure they used to call this a Pop-Tart. But I guess that just makes me seem old.
Posted at 02:30 PM in Business, Current Affairs, Food and Drink, Gadgets, Games, Healthy Lifestyle, Ideas, Just for Fun, Market Commentary, Science, Sports, Trading | Permalink
Reblog (0)