Who is he?
Matthew O’Hanlon is a 22 year old student who plays hurling and football for St. James (his local club), U.C.D and he plays on the Wexford Senior Hurling team.
He was born and raised in Ramsgrange, County Wexford.
He is currently in his final year studying International Commerce & Spanish in U.C.D.
Where can you find him?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattOH91
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ohanlon.9
Don't forget to like Wexford Healthy Eats on Facebook to keep up to date with upcoming interviews with more Wexford people!
Matthew O’Hanlon is a 22 year old student who plays hurling and football for St. James (his local club), U.C.D and he plays on the Wexford Senior Hurling team.
He was born and raised in Ramsgrange, County Wexford.
He is currently in his final year studying International Commerce & Spanish in U.C.D.
Where can you find him?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattOH91
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ohanlon.9
Don't forget to like Wexford Healthy Eats on Facebook to keep up to date with upcoming interviews with more Wexford people!
THE INTERVIEW FEBRUARY 2014
Describe your lifestyle:
I live a very active lifestyle.
Describe your diet in a few words
I follow a healthy balanced diet, relatively low-fat, high protein with plenty of fruit and vegetables. I try to eat as clean as I can.
How do you relax?
I usually relax by putting my feet up watching television, playing Xbox, reading, cinema, listening to music or socialising with friends.
How well do you sleep & for how long?
I sleep quite well; I try to get at least 7-8 hours most nights. I do enjoy the occasional Saturday morning lie-in though it has to be said.
I live a very active lifestyle.
Describe your diet in a few words
I follow a healthy balanced diet, relatively low-fat, high protein with plenty of fruit and vegetables. I try to eat as clean as I can.
How do you relax?
I usually relax by putting my feet up watching television, playing Xbox, reading, cinema, listening to music or socialising with friends.
How well do you sleep & for how long?
I sleep quite well; I try to get at least 7-8 hours most nights. I do enjoy the occasional Saturday morning lie-in though it has to be said.
Describe your training:
I train roughly 6-7 times a week.
Usually this consists of 4 pitch sessions that last 1 hr 30mins and 2-3 gym sessions that usually last 1hr-1hr30mins.
I also take Yoga classes once a week also, they last 45 mins.
I train roughly 6-7 times a week.
Usually this consists of 4 pitch sessions that last 1 hr 30mins and 2-3 gym sessions that usually last 1hr-1hr30mins.
I also take Yoga classes once a week also, they last 45 mins.
"I follow a healthy balanced diet, relatively low-fat, high protein with plenty of fruit and vegetables. I try to eat as clean as I can."
Does your diet fit into one of our stereotypes?
If so, which one? If not, what would you brand it as?
I don’t follow a strict diet plan, but if I were to describe it, it would probably be classed as a low fat, low carb diet, high in protein and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
I use the My Fitness Pal website (www.myfitnesspal.com) and App to monitor my diet to make sure I’m getting enough calories in for my training load on a daily basis.
If so, which one? If not, what would you brand it as?
I don’t follow a strict diet plan, but if I were to describe it, it would probably be classed as a low fat, low carb diet, high in protein and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
I use the My Fitness Pal website (www.myfitnesspal.com) and App to monitor my diet to make sure I’m getting enough calories in for my training load on a daily basis.
"
I don’t follow a strict diet plan, but if I were to describe it, it would probably be classed as a low fat, low carb diet, high in protein and plenty of fruit and vegetables. "
Have you followed any “Diets”or “Detox” in the past?
If so, which one? Elaborate
No I haven’t really followed a prescribed, specific diet before.
If so, which one? Elaborate
No I haven’t really followed a prescribed, specific diet before.
Where do you buy your food in Wexford?
Where do you buy your main groceries?
I don’t have a preference for where I buy my main groceries. I usually get them in Tesco, Aldi or Lidl.
Where do you buy your meat?
In my local Centra in Campile.
Fresh or frozen?
Fresh.
Where do you buy your fish?
We’re lucky enough that we live very close to Duncannon and Ballyhack where we can buy it from local Fishermen.
Where do you buy your vegetables?
Again no real preference here, all of the local supermarkets.
Do you buy food in the local Health Food stores?
Yes I do, In A Nutshell in New Ross, Greenacres and La Cuisine in Wexford all have a great variety of products. I buy seeds, nuts, dried fruit mixes and breads.
Of all of these shops, which is your favourite (or favourites)?
I tend to stick to In A Nutshell in New Ross as it’s more convenient for me.
What are your favourite restaurants and cafes in Wexford?
In Wexford my favourite places would be Greenacres, The Potato Market, The Yard, Stable Diet and Westgate. They all have a good selection of healthy options.
Where do you buy your main groceries?
I don’t have a preference for where I buy my main groceries. I usually get them in Tesco, Aldi or Lidl.
Where do you buy your meat?
In my local Centra in Campile.
Fresh or frozen?
Fresh.
Where do you buy your fish?
We’re lucky enough that we live very close to Duncannon and Ballyhack where we can buy it from local Fishermen.
Where do you buy your vegetables?
Again no real preference here, all of the local supermarkets.
Do you buy food in the local Health Food stores?
Yes I do, In A Nutshell in New Ross, Greenacres and La Cuisine in Wexford all have a great variety of products. I buy seeds, nuts, dried fruit mixes and breads.
Of all of these shops, which is your favourite (or favourites)?
I tend to stick to In A Nutshell in New Ross as it’s more convenient for me.
What are your favourite restaurants and cafes in Wexford?
In Wexford my favourite places would be Greenacres, The Potato Market, The Yard, Stable Diet and Westgate. They all have a good selection of healthy options.
Do you grow any of your own vegetables, fruit or herbs?
I don’t but my Mother has a selection of herbs and vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, lettuce, chives, basil, parsley and rosemary.
I don’t but my Mother has a selection of herbs and vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, lettuce, chives, basil, parsley and rosemary.
Do you look for any particular standards when selecting food?
Do you just buy what's on special offer?
As I’m a student my choices are mostly price-led, I take advantage of special offers especially for fruit, vegetables and meat.
Do you buy organic vegetables?
Generally not as I find them too expensive.
Do you buy grass fed beef/ free-range chicken and eggs etc.
No.
Do you try to buy local/ farmer's market.
When I can.
Do you try to buy Irish? Which are your favourite products?
Again when I can, Flahavans Porridge and Glenisk Natural Yogurt.
Do you try to buy Wexford products? Which are your favourite products?
Once again when I can, Stable Diet Granola.
Do you just buy what's on special offer?
As I’m a student my choices are mostly price-led, I take advantage of special offers especially for fruit, vegetables and meat.
Do you buy organic vegetables?
Generally not as I find them too expensive.
Do you buy grass fed beef/ free-range chicken and eggs etc.
No.
Do you try to buy local/ farmer's market.
When I can.
Do you try to buy Irish? Which are your favourite products?
Again when I can, Flahavans Porridge and Glenisk Natural Yogurt.
Do you try to buy Wexford products? Which are your favourite products?
Once again when I can, Stable Diet Granola.
What do you eat in a typical day?
Breakfast:
I always eat breakfast. The only exception being if I have an early morning training session, in that case I’ll have something small like a banana beforehand and have a big breakfast afterward.
What is your favourite breakfast?
6 Weetabix, Low Fat milk, 2 boiled eggs and 2 slices of Rye toast
What is your go-to everyday breakfast?
Flahavans Porridge oats with a mixture of nuts and blueberries, a banana and green tea.
Breakfast:
I always eat breakfast. The only exception being if I have an early morning training session, in that case I’ll have something small like a banana beforehand and have a big breakfast afterward.
What is your favourite breakfast?
6 Weetabix, Low Fat milk, 2 boiled eggs and 2 slices of Rye toast
What is your go-to everyday breakfast?
Flahavans Porridge oats with a mixture of nuts and blueberries, a banana and green tea.
Lunch:
Do you pre-pack a lunch/ eat it at home/ buy it somewhere?
I pack my own lunch most days.
Do you prepare it- or someone else in your house?
Usually I prepare it myself the evening before, by making double portions of my evening meal.
Describe it.
I love stir-fries, so my lunch would usually be a stir-fry consisting of brown rice/pasta, chicken breasts, and vegetables such as chickpeas, kidney beans, celery, peppers, onions etc.
If you buy it – what and where, specifically?
I would usually get something in the U.C.D on campus restaurant where they offer healthy stir-fry’s, or else I would get a wholegrain chicken salad wrap.
Do you pre-pack a lunch/ eat it at home/ buy it somewhere?
I pack my own lunch most days.
Do you prepare it- or someone else in your house?
Usually I prepare it myself the evening before, by making double portions of my evening meal.
Describe it.
I love stir-fries, so my lunch would usually be a stir-fry consisting of brown rice/pasta, chicken breasts, and vegetables such as chickpeas, kidney beans, celery, peppers, onions etc.
If you buy it – what and where, specifically?
I would usually get something in the U.C.D on campus restaurant where they offer healthy stir-fry’s, or else I would get a wholegrain chicken salad wrap.
Evening meal:
Do you cook (or someone else in the house) or buy it?
I always cook it.
Describe it.
I train most evenings, so I cook my evening meals directly afterwards. Therefore they tend to be carbohydrate based, so I try to have carbs cover half my plate, protein a quarter and vegetables a quarter. A typical meal would be roasted sweet potato, chicken breast, broccoli and carrots.
Is it fresh whole foods/ boxed microwave foods/ jarred sauces etc.?
Fresh whole foods. I avoid microwave foods and rarely use jarred sauces. I usually have a simple sauce for my stir-fries; a squeeze of ketchup, soy sauce and a squeeze of lemon is my go to sauce. Either that or sweet chilli sauce.
If you eat it out- where?
If I’m in Wexford, I would eat in one of the places I mentioned earlier. If I eat out in Dublin I’d go somewhere like Nando’s or Counter Burger which both offer healthy options.
Do you cook (or someone else in the house) or buy it?
I always cook it.
Describe it.
I train most evenings, so I cook my evening meals directly afterwards. Therefore they tend to be carbohydrate based, so I try to have carbs cover half my plate, protein a quarter and vegetables a quarter. A typical meal would be roasted sweet potato, chicken breast, broccoli and carrots.
Is it fresh whole foods/ boxed microwave foods/ jarred sauces etc.?
Fresh whole foods. I avoid microwave foods and rarely use jarred sauces. I usually have a simple sauce for my stir-fries; a squeeze of ketchup, soy sauce and a squeeze of lemon is my go to sauce. Either that or sweet chilli sauce.
If you eat it out- where?
If I’m in Wexford, I would eat in one of the places I mentioned earlier. If I eat out in Dublin I’d go somewhere like Nando’s or Counter Burger which both offer healthy options.
Snacks:
What do you snack on?
I snack on rice cakes, fresh fruit, yogurts. I make my own mixture of nuts, seeds and dried fruit also.
Where do you buy your snacks from?
Health food shops and supermarkets.
How often do you snack?
Mid morning (11am) and afternoon (3-4pm)
What do you snack on?
I snack on rice cakes, fresh fruit, yogurts. I make my own mixture of nuts, seeds and dried fruit also.
Where do you buy your snacks from?
Health food shops and supermarkets.
How often do you snack?
Mid morning (11am) and afternoon (3-4pm)
"I snack on rice cakes, fresh fruit, yogurts. I make my own mixture of nuts, seeds and dried fruit also"
The food in your meals (Quick answers):
How often do you eat the following?
Red meat: 1-2 times per week, Steak.
Poultry: 4-5 times per week, chicken breast.
Fish: 1-2 per week, salmon.
Cereal: 7 times per week, weetabix
Soup: Once per week, mixed vegetable, leek and potato.
Fruit: Everyday, bananas and mandarins.
Vegetables: Everyday, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, peppers and celery.
Salads: 1-2 per week, mixed tossed salad.
Potatoes: 3-4 times per week., roasted sweet potatoes.
Bread: 3-4 times per week, Brennan’s crunchy rye or my Mother’s brown bread.
Rice/quinoa: 4-5 times per week, Uncle Bens Wholegrain rice.
Nuts: 5-6 times per week, walnuts, almonds and cashew nuts.
Sandwiches/wraps/rolls: 3 times per week, brown rolls/wraps.
Sweets/cakes/pudding/chocolate: Once per week, I’d treat myself to the occasional Crunchie Bar.
Crisps: I don’t eat crisps.
Take-away food: Very rarely, maybe once every 2 months.
Deli-food: Only when I don’t have time to make my own lunch, Sweet Chilli Chicken Wholegrain wrap.
Out at a restaurant: Once every 2 weeks.
Coffee/Tea: I drink tea and green tea most days. Coffee maybe once a week, Starbucks Americano.
Alcohol: I don’t drink alcohol in season.
Smoothies/juices: Twice per week, Orange Juice.
Sports drinks/protein: 5-6 times per week. I use Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey protein and Future Nutrition Whey Protein. Sports drink, Powerade.
Water: Everyday, I try to drink at least 3-4 litres per day.
How often do you eat the following?
Red meat: 1-2 times per week, Steak.
Poultry: 4-5 times per week, chicken breast.
Fish: 1-2 per week, salmon.
Cereal: 7 times per week, weetabix
Soup: Once per week, mixed vegetable, leek and potato.
Fruit: Everyday, bananas and mandarins.
Vegetables: Everyday, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, peppers and celery.
Salads: 1-2 per week, mixed tossed salad.
Potatoes: 3-4 times per week., roasted sweet potatoes.
Bread: 3-4 times per week, Brennan’s crunchy rye or my Mother’s brown bread.
Rice/quinoa: 4-5 times per week, Uncle Bens Wholegrain rice.
Nuts: 5-6 times per week, walnuts, almonds and cashew nuts.
Sandwiches/wraps/rolls: 3 times per week, brown rolls/wraps.
Sweets/cakes/pudding/chocolate: Once per week, I’d treat myself to the occasional Crunchie Bar.
Crisps: I don’t eat crisps.
Take-away food: Very rarely, maybe once every 2 months.
Deli-food: Only when I don’t have time to make my own lunch, Sweet Chilli Chicken Wholegrain wrap.
Out at a restaurant: Once every 2 weeks.
Coffee/Tea: I drink tea and green tea most days. Coffee maybe once a week, Starbucks Americano.
Alcohol: I don’t drink alcohol in season.
Smoothies/juices: Twice per week, Orange Juice.
Sports drinks/protein: 5-6 times per week. I use Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey protein and Future Nutrition Whey Protein. Sports drink, Powerade.
Water: Everyday, I try to drink at least 3-4 litres per day.
What is your favourite recipe?
Roasted Sweet potato chips, steak cooked rare, broccoli and carrots.
Roasted Sweet potato chips, steak cooked rare, broccoli and carrots.
Do you use supplements?
Yes I use Future Nutrition Protein after gym sessions, they supply the team. More information is available here (http://www.futurenutrition.ie/)
I also use ROS Nutrition Endurance Recovery or Optimum Nutrition 2:1:1 recovery after heavy field sessions. I also buy Optimum Nutrition ZMA. All of which I buy online from either https://rosnutrition.com/ie/home and http://www.discountsupplements.ie/ There are loads of other websites too, so I usually shop around to get the best price.
I also take Kelkin Vitamin C, Pharmaton Multi-Vitamin and Omega 3 fish oils. I buy these in health food shops or I buy them in Holland & Barrett.
Yes I use Future Nutrition Protein after gym sessions, they supply the team. More information is available here (http://www.futurenutrition.ie/)
I also use ROS Nutrition Endurance Recovery or Optimum Nutrition 2:1:1 recovery after heavy field sessions. I also buy Optimum Nutrition ZMA. All of which I buy online from either https://rosnutrition.com/ie/home and http://www.discountsupplements.ie/ There are loads of other websites too, so I usually shop around to get the best price.
I also take Kelkin Vitamin C, Pharmaton Multi-Vitamin and Omega 3 fish oils. I buy these in health food shops or I buy them in Holland & Barrett.
“My favourite recipe is roasted Sweet potato chips, steak cooked rare, broccoli and carrots.”
Any more advice for Wexford Healthy Eaters?
I think when it comes to diet; it’s very easy to be misled. Lots of people advocate one diet over another because it has worked for them but in my opinion it’s best to find one that suits you and your lifestyle; a diet that you actually like. It’s ten times harder to stick to a diet where you don’t enjoy the food you’re eating.
I think when it comes to diet; it’s very easy to be misled. Lots of people advocate one diet over another because it has worked for them but in my opinion it’s best to find one that suits you and your lifestyle; a diet that you actually like. It’s ten times harder to stick to a diet where you don’t enjoy the food you’re eating.
"Lots of people advocate one diet over another because it has worked for them but in my opinion it’s best to find one that suits you and your lifestyle; a diet that you actually like. It’s ten times harder to stick to a diet where you don’t enjoy the food you’re eating”