EAT SMART, PLAY HARD spells out precisely what active people need to eat to achieve maximum fitness and perform at their best. Unlike other nutrition books on the market, this is not a weight-loss diet - nor is it targeted toward a specific sport. Rather, EAT SMART, PLAY HARD is aimed at active people of all levels of ability, from occasional athletes to serious competitors. Runner's World Nutrition columnist Lix Applegate provides the latest research in sports nutrition, including a new Fitness Food Pyramid that encompasses 9 food groups instead of the basic 4. Readers will learn: * Eating before a workout burns more calories than fasting * Foods that can work just as well as designer sports nurition products * Chocolate contains the same heart-helping antioxidants as red wine * Taboo foods like red meat, milk and fat contain nutrients that are essential to maintaining an active lifestyle Applegate offers eating programmes for different fitness goals, from pre-and post workout meals to eating for maximum strength, to boost energy, to lost weight - even weekend warriors have specific needs. Nutritional charts help readers choose among the myriad of new sports nutrition products, including drinks, energy bars and energy gels that have flooded today's marketplace. Complete with recipes, EAT SMART, PLAY HARD will help readers easily adopt the best eating habits to keep them in top shape.