Around the Kitchen Sink
COOKING UP CONVERSATION WITH JEFF SATURDAY Southern roots and Sunday meals BY HEATHER TALLMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA BARNES PHOTOGRAPHY
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any phrases come to mind when you talk about former Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Jeff Saturday: Integrity, honesty, the voice of reason and down to Earth are just a few. Having watched him play only on television, I had no idea of his background, the ties to the community he shares with his wife, Karen, or the vast culinary knowledge he wears like a badge of honor. One would not expect someone like Jeff Saturday to know his way around the kitchen, but his deep Southern roots and a lifetime of Sunday meals with family have left an impression on him. Jeff and Karen still live in Indianapolis, where they moved when he joined the Colts in 1999, which comes to no surprise to me. They are invested in this city they love. They have chosen to reside and raise their three children—Jeffrey, 13; Savannah, 11; and Joshua, 7—in central Indiana. Saturday retired as a Colt in 2013 and decided he needed to make some changes in both his diet and exercise routine. “When I retired in February, I made a conscious choice that I was going to change how I ate. There was now no need to log the amount of calories that I was [eating] as an offensive lineman. They either get fit or fat when they are done playing. The choice was easy for me.” Jeff Saturday played 13 seasons with Peyton Manning as an Indianapolis Colt and exemplary player. When deciding how he would chart a course to lower fat and calorie intake, joint health played a major role. Jeff did his research and found that a diet rich in vegetables and whole proteins would suit him best. Lean meat, colorful veggies and eliminating dairy and empty carbohydrates have been his secret to success.
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edible INDY WINTER 2013
Finding that certain foods laden in sugar and carbohydrates made him feel bad and a cleaner diet made him feel good was the clearest sign that he was on the right track. Another element to his fitness routine is staying active. Through daily walks, strength training and weights, Jeff has watched the pounds drop off—all from tweaking his diet and staying active. Setting an example for his kids that the healthy and active lifestyle would carry on after he left the field was a sticking point that Jeff felt was important. This is a family affair for the Saturdays. As I can attest, it takes a lot to keep your kids’ attention as they get older. Jeff and Karen are getting creative. The Saturdays often walk as a family, ride bikes and keep each other motivated to do more. Each of his kids has an activity that they excel at, whether it be dance, running or even rope climbing. “Challenging our kids to stay active and healthy through a bit of family competition is great for everyone. Being competitive in the right way and being healthy can be fun.” Jeff admits to practicing so he can beat his kids at climbing ropes, pull-ups and the 50-yard dash. As a parent myself, I can see where this can be a fun and healthy way to engage your older kids in a bit of fun. I mean, what kid doesn’t want to beat their parent at a physical challenge? I asked Jeff about his Southern childhood and his upbringing in Atlanta. I imagined the slow-cooked pace of the South had left its mark on Jeff and his wife and I was right. Greens cooked with ham hock, black-eyed peas, okra and grits are many dishes he remembers fondly as a young person and has looked for since living up north.
