- Raheem Mostert leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns through Week 9 of the 2023 season.
- The Miami Dolphins running back chases peak performance through his diet and exercise choices.
Raheem Mostert is running circles around the rest of the NFL.
The Miami Dolphins running back leads the league in rushing touchdowns through the first half of the season and is tied with San Francisco 49ers superstar Christian McCaffrey for most total touchdowns from scrimmage.
Mostert is actively defying the conventional NFL wisdom that suggests running backs peak before they turn 30, as ESPN's Tristan H. Cockcroft detailed ahead of this season. At 31 years old, he's enjoying the best season of his nine-year professional career — and he hasn't relied on an extreme approach to his diet to make it happen.
Mostert takes an 'everything in moderation' approach to his diet
Though he works hard to pursue peak performance and longevity, Mostert told Insider that, unlike NFL players such as Tom Brady or George Kittle, he refrains from restricting himself too much when it comes to food.
"I do a little bit of everything," Mostert said while promoting the NFL's partnership with Charmin. "I truly try to enjoy life for what it is."
But like everyone else, Mostert understands his body well enough to know that there could be serious repercussions associated with indulging in certain foods. He's willing to make the choice that will result in his body feeling better.
"Prime example; if I'm eating a burger, I probably have no cheese on it just because I know that it's an inflammatory issue for me," Mostert explained. "So I try to cut out those little things."
But it's far from a hard and fast rule. If he doesn't have a game the next day, there's always a chance he'll opt to add a slice.
"If it's a Friday night and I'm feeling froggy, then I'm going to have to go with a piece of cheese on my burger," Mostert said with a laugh.
Maintaining his weight and energy levels is crucial, and he factors that into his go-to pregame meal
Mostert's primary concern when it comes to nutrition is ensuring he's at the proper weight to compete week after week. He also needs sufficient energy to "perform at a high level and not feel so tired" — whether that's on the gridiron or while watching film.
"Even in training room, I'm always having a shake to try and make sure I'm staying at the appropriate weight," Mostert added.
He packs in as much energizing, filling foods into his typical pregame meal as possible so that he's ready to hit the ground running — literally — right after kickoff.
"I like to do scrambled eggs with spinach, turkey, bacon, chicken, peppers, onions, jalapeños, salt, and pepper," Mostert said. "I think that's a good portion for me and I try to get some type of carb, whether it be hash browns, potatoes, something in that range."
He'll sometimes round that out with a side of avocado or a slice of whole wheat toast.
It's all adding up to a career year for Mostert. With eight games remaining in the regular season, the New Smyrna Beach, Florida, native has already bested his previous career-high touchdowns in a year from 2019 with the San Francisco 49ers and is on pace to smash his career-best 891 rushing yards from last season.
The Dolphins have a bye for Week 10, but Mostert will be back on the gridiron November 19 for a home showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.