Mark Pugh, also known as 'The Foodie Football' online, met up with the Carlisle United under-18s, to help give advice on how important nutrition can be for athletes.
The 39-year-old, who retired in 2021, is a qualified nutrition expert and has worked with academies across English football, teaching young players about the importance of a healthy and planned diet.
Pugh, who most notably played for AFC Bournemouth for nine years, four of which were in the Premier League, also turned out for the likes of Bury, Hull City, Queens Park Rangers and Shrewsbury Town.
Having gone from the fifth tier of English football, all the way to the Premier League during his career, he can be seen as an inspiration for younger players coming through the clubs' system.
As someone who has been through so much as a player, Pugh admitted that he didn’t focus too much on nutrition until mid-way through his career.
“I didn’t pay much attention to what I was eating until I did my diploma in nutrition at 25/26 years old, when I got promoted to the Championship with Bournemouth.
“Before then, I was getting tired with 30 minutes left in the game, so when that started happening more regularly, I knew I had to change something,” he said.
The former winger believes that improving his diet and nutrition was a key factor in him reaching new heights as a player, and within a few seasons, reaching the Premier League.
“It was a game changer for me (adapting his diet), my sprinting statistics were better, I was running at a higher intensity, and my recovery time was much quicker.
“I improved off the pitch as well; my mental clarity was better, and I was more present with my family.
“It shows that what we fuel our body with, really does come to the surface.”
Within the session today, Pugh showed the players how to make a healthy French toast and Turkish eggs with cheese, both of which were popular among the squad, with some even trying ginger and beetroot shots.
The Lancashire-born nutritionist admitted that having a healthy pre-planned diet can be one of the differences between a player succeeding and a player not.
"We went through various aspects of fuelling for a game and everyone got involved in the kitchen, which was great to see.
"It's all about the players trying to be the best version of themselves, making sure that they recover in the best way possible is so important.
"I'm trying to give them one of the small tools that they can take into everyday life, which could end up making a big difference," Pugh said.
