Guess What Real Men Eat

Now Butler begins the day with oatmeal, grits or ReddiEgg omelets -- "fake out" eggs as Love calls them, made from egg whites, which are rich in protein. "I sprinkle that with organic cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack," Love says. "That gives him energy."

Lunch is often soup and sandwiches -- either grilled chicken or lean organic burger -- on hearty multigrain buns. Butler's favorite soups are minestrone, loaded with garbanzo beans, tomatoes and zucchini, and chicken noodle, made with chicken breasts, celery, onions and carrots.

On the road, Butler often text messages Love for guidance in ordering from room service. He has been eating carefully since he was recently sidelined with a strained left hip flexor. "I'm trying to eat as light as possible to keep my weight the same," Butler says, adding that the effort has paid off. "Over the last two years, I've been an All-Star, so it's worked out."

Haywood's chef has helped him cut back on processed food, adding more organic chicken, beef, vegetables, fruit and whole grains. One of his favorite dinners is shrimp with saffron rice. Vegetable side dishes include broccoli, peas, green beans, collard greens, mustard greens and kale. "But he's not going into Brussels sprouts or asparagus," says chef Will Simpkin, who also introduced Haywood to orange roughy. "He loves it," Simpkin says of the fish. "It's not around all the time, but when it's in the market, I will get it for him."

Pro athletes who can't afford to hire their own chefs are also paying more attention to fueling their bodies. Bonci counsels minor-league baseball players and football practice squad members on tight budgets to skip the soda and Pop-Tarts. She encourages them to eat inexpensive, healthful and filling meals of burritos, beans and rice at Chipotle rather than fried fast food somewhere else.

Despite the trend toward healthier eating, few male athletes seem tempted to give up meat altogether. "Vegetarian?" Butler says. "No, it never crossed my mind."

He's not alone. At last week's congressional hearings on possible steroid use in baseball, members of Congress also grilled baseball player Roger Clemens on his eating habits.

"Have you ever been a vegetarian?" Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) asked Clemens.

"I have not," Clemens said.

"Have you ever been a vegan?

"I'm sorry?" Clemens said, sounding puzzled.

"A vegan?" Braley repeated.

Clemens responded: "I don't know what that is."