A healthy diet can play an important role in helping racing driver Charles Leong – twice winner of the Macau Formula 4 Race held during the Macau Grand Prix – succeed on the track.
“I think diet and physical training are a 50-50 balance,” the Macanese driver says. “So, we need to eat clean food, some protein to build muscle and we also need high-quality carbs to store energy.”
Sports and gastronomy might not seem natural fits at first, but his home city is known not only for hosting November’s annual international motorsport road racing event for cars and motorcycles, but also as a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy, which recognises the unique Chinese and Portuguese influences of its culinary heritage.
He believes that Macau – a city celebrated for its food scene – is the perfect place for him to work with a chef to create meals that support his training and specific dietary needs, and are also enjoyable to eat.
“I think there’s a close relationship between the motorsports culture and gastronomy in Macau, because they are both hallmarks of Macau,” he says. “Whether it’s racing or other sports, or even daily life, the way you eat is extremely important. I think eating accounts for half your performance.”
“Go-karting is the foundation for all racing drivers,” he says. “We usually use go-karting to train our reactions and physical fitness.”
Fung says: “In recent years, I’ve noticed that more and more people in Macau are focusing on wellness. So, I actually wanted to match their lifestyle by developing ‘nutrition-forward’ menus.”
She had an office job before quitting to follow her dream and pursue her passion for food, first by studying at the renowned cooking school in Paris and then working as a hotel chef. Today, she has developed her own personal brand as a chef and food personality.
To help meet Leong’s dietary requirements, Fung cooked a three-course meal, which included high-quality protein such as salmon, scallops and beef to promote muscle growth and repair, and healthy fats, including avocado and olive oil, to provide sufficient energy. “Finally, we need to replenish [him] with complex carbohydrates, included through oatmeal, potatoes and sourdough toast, so he won’t get tired so easily during high-intensity training,” she says.
She also added flavour, such as a dressing made with mandarin orange juice for the first course of beetroot, avocado and smoked salmon salad, to provide a gourmet touch to the meal.
Leong says eating healthily can often be bland and boring, but Fung’s specially created menu has given him a fresh perspective. He now sees that, with some thought and creativity, healthy meals can be an interesting and nutritious experience, too.
“Collaborating with people from different fields can help promote health and get more people to pay attention to the balance between diet and exercise,” he says.
Watch the video of racing driver Charles Leong and chef Betty Fung discussing the relationship between sports and food at Macau’s Coloane Karting Track, before sitting down for a three-course nutritious meal she prepared for him.
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