Ask The Muscle Cook: Got A Healthy Pre-Contest Cheat Meal Recipe?

Q: Can you please give a healthy cheat meal recipe to enjoy while I'm preparing for a bodybuilding contest? (If it has chocolate in it, all the better!) My cravings have become so dire that I usually end up eating anything in reach.

Dave: Good old pre-contest diet cravings - they tend to get the best of people when dieting strictly for a show. But I'm a big believer in the value of a good cheat meal, and a properly planned one can actually propel you forward, furthering your progress rather than hindering your results.

So what do I mean by a "good" cheat meal? Isn't that an oxymoron? No! Not if your cheat meal includes plenty of nutrient-dense elements. In fact, good cheat meals, including the one I'm about spring on you, can be eaten throughout your pre-contest phase, not just once or twice.

Take this cheat meal recipe, for example. I eat this pretty much day-in and day-out even when dieting down for a show. Yet it still tastes and feels like a cheat meal every time. When I can start my day off with this, it's so much easier to stick to the diet the rest of the time. It completely eliminates my cravings, especially for chocolate, which - just like you - is a big one for me.

Dave's Chocolate Cheat

1. In a big bowl, mix all ingredients except the frozen blueberries.
2. Next, cook the oatmeal in the microwave for 3-4 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave. (Be sure to mix after 2 minutes of cooking.)
3. Once finished, add the frozen blueberries, stir and enjoy!