Heather Mitts
Soccer defender

Two-time gold medalist Heather Mitts rocks the defense position on the U.S. National Women’s soccer team, which defeated Canada in a dramatic overtime thriller on Monday and advanced to the finals against Japan this Thursday. Off the field, this 34-year-old superstar loves to cook, and preparing healthy, organic meals is a top priority. Her typical dinner consists of fish, chicken, or steak; salad with strawberries and balsamic dressing; and her favorite side dish, oven-roasted sweet potatoes. Heather’s secret weapon after a long practice session may surprise you with its simplicity: It’s a tall glass of chocolate milk. This childhood favorite actually contains the perfect blend of protein and carbohydrates to help repair muscles and replenish their energy supply after a vigorous bout of exercise. To fuel up for matches and top off her glycogen (carbohydrate) stores, Heather tucks into a big plate of pasta the night before and breakfasts on a tall stack of pancakes the morning of game day.