Wheelchair Racing Ace Launches Performance and Nutrition Guide

Samantha Kinghorn, an accomplished wheelchair racer aspiring to become a member of Scotland’s 2014 Commonwealth Games squad, has launched a new edition of Performance +, a performance and nutrition guide for athletes and young people.

The guide, produced by Quality Meat Scotland, outlines the benefits of eating a balanced, healthy diet. It provides a range of recipes designed to fuel the body and features well-known Scottish sports stars including Lee McConnell, triple Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist, and Craig Benson, Olympian and World Junior swimming champion.

Samantha, who recently won the sports category at the Young Scot Awards, was paralysed from the waist down in December 2010 after an accident while clearing snow at the family farm, Middlethird, just outside the Berwickshire town of Gordon.

“I’m a great believer in the role nutrition plays in training and recovery,” said Samantha. “A healthy, balanced diet is essential for me to maintain my energy levels throughout the day so I can exercise and study.

“I have my sights set on competing at the Commonwealth Games and at the Paralympics in Rio,” added Samantha. “To do that, I know I need to train hard, focus and eat well.”

The guide includes twelve quick and easy recipes including Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork. The nutritional analysis of each recipe is also included showing how the dishes provide the essential protein, carbohydrate, fat and minerals which make up a healthy, balanced diet.

Jennifer Robertson, Quality Meat Scotland’s Health and Education Coordinator, said: “Performance + is aimed primarily at young people who would like to lead a healthier lifestyle and who may have a sporting hero as their inspiration.

“Performance is not just about sporting achievement - mental or psychological well–being is just as important as physical fitness. Motivation, determination, enthusiasm and focus can all apply to everyday life and for many teenagers, about to embark upon a new life as a student, without mum as a resident cook, this book will also be invaluable.”

Irene Riach, senior performance nutritionist at the sportscotland institute of sport, said: “At the sportscotland institute of sport, we work with sports and athletes to ensure their diet provides all the nutrients they need to maximise training, reduce risk of illness, recover well and, ultimately, be in peak condition when it’s time to compete.

“While we tailor nutritional advice to our athletes to meet the needs of their sport, having the right fuel in the tank is essential for everyone - whether you are a young person at school or aiming for gold in Glasgow 2014.  A well-balanced diet is central to a healthy, active lifestyle, and this guide aims to show how easy it is to achieve.”

Performance+ is available on request from Quality Meat Scotland by emailing info@qmscotland.co.uk and can also be downloaded at https://qmscotland.co.uk.