From Feb. 28 to March 1, the reigning Strongest Man on Earth (SMoE), Mitchell Hooper, will contend for his third straight Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) title in Columbus, OH.
In late January, Hooper took to YouTube to reveal some of the diet hacks he’s using to get enough calories in every day while on the road. He weighed 320 pounds when he posted the video and plans to gain 10 more before the 2025 ASC.
“It’s the opposite of traditional diet advice,” he said as he prepared his meals during a recent trip to Florida.
[Related: Sadik Hadzovic’s 3 Go-To Meals for Mass Gain]
Full Day of Eating — Total Breakdown
- Calories: 4,579
- Protein: 400 grams
- Fat: 158 grams
- Carbs: 330 grams
Breakfast: 1,081+ Calories
- Orange juice & yogurt
- Eggs and beef
- Whey isolate shake
- Decaf coffee
A recurring theme of Hooper’s diet is orange juice mixed with yogurt. He has an “orange slurries” with nearly every meal. He eyeballs two cups of orange juice and three-quarters cup of Greek yogurt.
Hooper shared that he doesn’t respond well to coffee, stating that it spikes his blood pressure rather than making him feel more alert. He drinks decaf instead.
His breakfast includes three eggs, two ounces of ground beef, and a whey isolate protein shake.
Pre-Lunch Grocery Haul
“Diet Coke is an absolute staple for me,” he said while sticking sliced limes in the can.
Hooper’s breakfast staples are eggs, bread, avocado, and bananas. He grabs premade meals from Mr. Meals in Orlando, FL. Besides the strongman essentials, Hooper prefers chickpea pasta over traditional pasta to control his carbs, adding pita chips and hummus.
For dessert, Hooper likes Halo Top’s “light ice cream,” which offers calories and balanced macronutrients. He swaps peanut butter with a high fat-to-protein ratio for Biscoff cookie butter.
“Biscoff has a better balance of carbs and fat [than peanut butter],” Hooper said. “I’m getting a better fuel source and limiting fat.” Hooper buys small cups of Walmart birthday cake and ice cream for pure sinfulness.
Lunch: 1,610 Calories
Lunch includes another orange slurry, plus salmon, rice, and broccoli with pita chips and hummus. He takes two scoops of high-stim pre-workout and admittedly wings his pre-workout diet.
“When you train for strength, you’re not burning that much energy, so you don’t need to carb up the same like a bodybuilder or if you’re going for a run,” he said.
Post-Workout: 860 Calories
The first part of Hooper’s recovery nutrition is chicken, broccoli, and rice. “Heavy calories for liquid food and lighter calories for solid food help me not stay so full so I can get all the food I need for the day,” he said.
A little while later, Hooper mixed two cups of milk with 65 grams of protein and chugged it before dinner.
Dinner & Dessert: 728+ Calories
Hooper’s final full meal was chicken breasts and a salad with avocado, peppers, spinach, asparagus, and feta cheese. He washed it down with a Diet Coke and topped it off with Halo Top ice cream.
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Featured image: @mitchellhooper on Instagram
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