As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: In my world, success is all about balance and proper nutrition, just like Travis Kelce on the field. Behind every great man, there’s an unsung hero – in his case, that’s his personal chef who meticulously prepares the meals to keep him energized and ready for game time. It seems like Taylor Swift plays a part off the field, but it’s the chef’s dedication to nutrition that truly fuels Travis Kelce’s victories!
As the Kansas City Chiefs aim for their third consecutive title and their fourth championship in six years at the 2025 Super Bowl on February 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s essential that the 35-year-old tight end focuses on the basics now more than ever.
Travis said in February 2023 to Yahoo! Sports that he was surprised at how well he managed to overcome the typical decrease in performance that comes with age in his field. He attributes this to his diet, giving a shout out to KuEatsFresh, specifically Kumar Ferguson, for the meals he’s been provided, which he believes keeps him feeling youthful.
Since 2016, long-standing friends Travis and Kumar, hailing from the city of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, have been devoting their full work hours to a shared endeavor.
Kumar, who had been sampling food from different parts of the country as a truck driver, told Vanity Fair in 2023 that he expressed, “Hey, I’m ready to get serious about my diet and make some real changes.” Having said that, just a few days later, he found himself in Kansas City.
In today’s context, their fruitful partnership persists, with Kumar (also known as Chef Ku) taking care of grocery shopping, meal preparation, and cooking three meals daily. Additionally, he delivers Travis lunch during practice at the Chiefs’ training facility located near Arrowhead Stadium.
In a conversation with Startland News back in September 2023, Kumar, who runs recipe subscription site KuEatsFresh and ZoomChef, expressed that while he finds it enjoyable, he takes his role seriously, understanding that his efforts can affect someone’s health. He strives to always give his best to ensure the person is prepared for the field and well-nourished.
How does one nourish the 6-foot-5 sportsman, famed for his lasting love of beer (as evidenced by his partnership in Ohio-brewed Garage Beer alongside his brother Jason Kelce) and whose girlfriend is known for generously sharing homemade pastries with her family?
During the season, the chef will serve oatmeal and fresh fruits for breakfast, whereas Travis prefers seafood Alfredo pasta for dinner. However, he’s also fond of meat, especially more of it.
While Travis was studying at the University of Cincinnati, his father often grilled filets for him late at night (around 2 or 3 am) on their back porch in Cleveland, as Kumar recalled. And after the day’s end, he emphasized that they were all ordinary guys from northern Ohio who enjoyed eating steaks, chops, chicken, and similar dishes. However, he aims to give those classic meals a contemporary twist.
Donna Kelce, their mom, ensured her sons followed a high-protein diet as well. As she shared with the Associated Press prior to the 2023 Super Bowl, “The fridge was always full, but it didn’t stay that way for long. We had whole chickens, they loved pork and ribs. Leftovers from the fridge would disappear within a day.
As an ardent enthusiast, let me confess: Kansas City’s barbecue scene was my obsession when I first arrived, visiting a new spot each week. However, being a professional athlete, my physique wasn’t maintaining its best form due to this indulgence. In 2022, when I spoke with Inside Hook, I admitted that I had to dial it back a notch. Nowadays, I still savor the barbecue at least once or twice a month.
During his youth, Kumar took on the role of the in-house chef even before he was being compensated for it by Travis.
As a child, I used to prepare meals for my friends following long days spent together, as shared during an interview with Kansas City Magazine in 2024. That kitchen table gatherings have consistently served as the heart of our group. Without a doubt, we’ve continued this cherished tradition throughout our lives.
But tending to Travis’ temple is also a business, one that has paid off in spades.
In a conversation with Startland News, Kumar stated that Travis’ dietary choices and habits are all carefully planned. Every aspect serves a specific purpose – either for energy, comfort, hydration, or nutrition. Each meal is thoughtfully prepared, aiming for optimal health benefits. This mindful approach extends to grocery shopping and cooking, ensuring intentionality in every food selection and preparation.
Leslie Bonti, the Chiefs’ official dietitian, was greatly impressed by Travis’ appearance and body measurements, according to Kumar. His physical performance aligned well with his diet, which is a positive sign that testing labs look for. This led to many positive comments. As a result, opportunities to help other team members arose, contributing to the process.
Travis might not be particularly fond of vegetables, but Kumar still stocks up on organic produce. For instance, a trip to Whole Foods in Kansas City, which he posted on his Instagram Story, featured kale, asparagus, green beans, blueberries, oranges, plus meat items like bacon, bison, chicken, fish, oats, wild rice, and chocolate milk.
On average Travis will take in around 4,000 calories on practice and game days.
Leslie explained to Bet Kansas, as reported by Fox 4 in December 2023, that some athletes don’t feel hungry in the mornings and eat relatively little at lunch due to training. Some of these players also go to bed early, so they skip the late-night snack as they prefer to sleep instead, resulting in less food intake than people might assume.
But while she finds that most athletes are “creatures of habit,” variety is the spice of life.
She mentioned that they offer a variety of options such as steak, pasta, chicken, sandwiches, French toast, and more, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Her goal is to prevent players from driving away without refueling, so she gives credit to their talented executive chefs.
And Travis is all in on the French toast before games.
On game day, he emphasized the importance of loading up on carbohydrates for energy, as stated to Men’s Journal in 2020, before his first Super Bowl victory. “If possible, I’ll opt for a meal similar to breakfast, considering our games often take place from noon to 4 p.m. Occasionally, lunch might be involved, but it’s primarily breakfast. For my part, I like to have French toast. It helps boost my blood sugar levels and provides carbs. I’m quite fond of French toast and always make sure to have it at the pre-game team meal.
Additionally, he enjoys homemade pop-tarts and cinnamon rolls, which are provided by the Grammy award-winning individual he has been associating with for the past 18 months.
Travis expressed in January to Stephen A. Smith that he has never been more dedicated to his job and striving to be the best player he can, consistently week by week for this team. He attributes this focus to not having distractions off the field.
Least of all what to eat next.
Grab the syrup and dig into the X’os and O’s about Travis Kelce:
Although Travis Kelce might always be synonymous with Kansas City, Missouri, his roots are firmly planted in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he spent his childhood.
Instead, the man vocalizes his hometown rather than his academic alma mater, University of Cincinnati, during live sports broadcasts when players are being introduced.
Which, as you might guess, has irked some fellow alums.
Travis expressed in 2019 that while he greatly values the time he spent at the University of Cincinnati, he also acknowledged it wasn’t always an easy journey for him. He mentioned it was challenging and difficult. During his stay at Cincinnati, he lost his scholarship and made some poor decisions. He added that many people in the room might know someone from Cleveland Heights High School who has done similar things, referring to himself as the person who made those mistakes back then, among his friends.
Beyond just being significant to him alone, he explained, the Heights held a special place in everyone’s heart up there. The diversity of this area was remarkable, stirring something deep within him. Everything he undertook was for the betterment of this city. It may sound trite, but I assure you, everything I do beyond here – when you witness me celebrating in the end zone, that’s a tribute to Cleveland Heights, for all of you.
2. About that revoked scholarship…
Following their unbeaten 2009 season, which culminated in winning the Big East championship, Travis was found to have used marijuana prior to the 2010 Sugar Bowl. This happened after an excessively enthusiastic New Year’s Eve celebration in New Orleans left him in a compromising position.
Beyond just missing out on the bowl game, he was suspended by the NCAA for the entire 2010 season, lost his scholarship, and found himself without housing. To make ends meet, he moved in with his brother Jason (specifically, into a room within their shared house with some teammates), and took up a job where he made calls to ask people about their opinions on the Affordable Care Act as a telemarketer.
They did, and Travis could not wait to get back on the field.
I, Travis, dabbled in hockey, baseball, and basketball before finding my passion in football, where I shone as a quarterback during high school. Interestingly, I was a two-star QB prospect for Cincinnati, but had to transition to tight end as part of the terms for my reinstatement to the team post-suspension.
In his conversation with Arrowhead Pride after being drafted by the Chiefs in 2013, Travis explained that at the time, we had an exceptional quarterback named Zach Collaros. However, we required assistance in both our running and passing games. Consequently, I approached my coach, Butch Jones, who was coaching me then. He suggested we needed a tight end, and since my abilities, athleticism, and direction fit perfectly with this role, it turned out to be an ideal match for me.
In 2017, when he was reminiscing about his less than shining moment to GQ, he expressed it this way: “People have always seen me as a tight end, regardless of the entirety of my life.
4. The house located on 127 W. Nixon St., which Travis shared with Jason and other Bearcats, was often the site of many mischievous activities fueled by beer.
4. The house at 127 W. Nixon St., where Travis lived with Jason and some fellow Bearcats, was frequently the location of a lot of fun, but sometimes rowdy, activities involving beer.
Tom DeTemple, a college friend and teammate, recounted to the New York Times before the 2024 Super Bowl that the brothers were frequently found immersed in hours of Nintendo 64 gameplay, simultaneously bashing controls and drinking beers. He added that they would invent unpredictable drinking games during these gaming sessions, showcasing exceptional skill at it.
5. And suffice it to say, Travis is extremely proud of being a Bearcat.
As I stood before the reporters ahead of the 2023 Super Bowl, my heart swelled with pride, knowing it was all about Cincinnati. You see, I’m a product of the University of Cincinnati, and I’ve always worn that badge with honor. Finally, after years of hard work, I walked away with my diploma, a testament to my alma mater’s impact on my life. I make it a point to give back whenever I can, and when opportunities arise, I find myself right back at the university where so many unforgettable moments were made. I miss the camaraderie of my teammates, and the people I met along that journey who have stood by me through thick and thin. Cincinnati, baby, will always hold a special place in my heart.
When he found himself facing criticism from the NCAA, he responded by saying, “Those who were part of the university – the players, coaches, and staff – had faith that I could improve the situation and make progress personally. This belief was incredibly important to me during that period.
6 years following his college graduation to enlist in the draft, Travis finally completed his interdisciplinary studies degree in 2022. However, he didn’t receive his diploma until April 2024, during an unexpected commencement ceremony that coincided with them taping a live episode of New Heights at Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena.
As the graduate drew near to shake hands with the dean upon receiving his diploma, he was already clutching a can of beer, which he swiftly finished off immediately afterwards.
And Travis was going to graduate in 2022 but he missed his flight.
7. Due to his issues away from the field, Travis was selected as the fifth tight end in the 2013 NFL Draft, picked first in the third round by the Chiefs. Later on, coach Andy Reid, who had previously coached Jason in Philadelphia, requested that the older Kelce brother endorse Travis.
Andy and Travis have three Super Bowl rings to show for Jason’s endorsement.
8. For quite some time, Travis used to listen to Randy Newman’s “Burn On” as his pre-game tune, even though the genre of music he favors may have shifted since then.
In a conversation on the NBC Sports podcast “PFT Live” in 2017, he expressed that as someone who grew up on the east side of Cleveland, this particular song reminds him of his family and makes him reflect on where he is in life, appreciating it deeply.
Let us explain: It’s in the opening credits of Major League, the ultimate Cleveland sports movie.
9. Everyone, including Travis, is mispronouncing his last name.
Although they’ve recently departed with Kelce, whose name sounds like “Kel-see”, it is actually pronounced similar to the word “else”.
Travis’ teammate Chris Jones dropped a surprising comment about something on Inside the NFL in January, saying “Freaky, isn’t it?” This sparked curiosity among the brothers when they questioned their father Ed Kelce about it on their New Heights podcast.
Jason wondered aloud, “Why on earth did you suddenly decide to change your name without warning, and now we go by ‘Kel-see’?” He questioned, “How could we have thought that our names were ‘Kel-see’ for the first 24 years of my life and 25 years of Trav’s?
Ed admitted he “got tired of correcting people” but urged his son to “do whatever you want.”
As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share a heartwarming story about the significance of the jersey number 87 in the NFL. Over the course of his career, Travis has chosen to honor his lifelong friend, Jason, who was born in the same year as this special number – 1987. This choice is a testament to their shared history and enduring friendship.
Travis noted to NFL Films before the 2023 Super Bowl matchup between his Chiefs and Jason’s Eagles, if there is a Kelce legacy in the NFL, it can be traced back to 1987, as that was the year their football journey began, since he was born in 1987.
11. For quite some time, Travis’ foundation, in collaboration with Running, has been a generous donor to Operation Breakthrough, a nonprofit educational center located in Kansas City. Since his initial visit in 2015, the athlete has been actively involved with this organization, having read “The Cat in the Hat” to the children there on that occasion.
Yes, reader, he wore the hat.
Afterward, Travis decided to back the Smart Lab project and purchase the old muffler shop adjacent for further growth. This led to the establishment of the Ignition Lab, a space where young scholars transform old automobiles destined for the scrapyard into functional electric vehicles.
12. As a lifestyle expert, I affectionately refer to my audience members as “92 Percenters,” reminiscing on a time when I mentioned that a successful play, known as a quarterback sneak, was effective “92 percent of the time” – a clear testament to its success, considering you only need one yard to score a touchdown.
As a lifestyle connoisseur, I must share an intriguing revelation. The audience seems to have playfully dubbed themselves the “92 percenters”, a title that echoes throughout the podcast’s online platform. This term, much like a hidden code among fellow enthusiasts, serves as their unique identifier, yet in words instead of gestures.
Who were the Kelce brothers to argue with that?
13. Travis is accompanied by his three trainers – Alex Skacel, Andrew Spruill, and Laurence Justin Ng – who go with him wherever he travels. As reported by The Athletic, one of them typically stays with him to maintain his fitness level suitable for football throughout the entire year.
Alex, who is additionally a physical therapist, remembered Travis expressing his desire for an evening jog following the completion of numerous fashion shows at Paris Fashion Week, as he had not exercised that particular day due to being preoccupied.
At midnight, the coach was leading us through sprints across the bridges over the river, as reported by the New York Times in April. This man, regardless of his location, always makes time to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.
14. As a lifestylist, I’m fortunate to have Kumar Ferguson, my longtime buddy from our days together in the fourth grade in Cleveland Heights, by my side as my personal chef.
In 2016, I was juggling my passion for cooking with driving trucks, little did I know that fate had something extraordinary in store for me. One day, out of the blue, I got a call from none other than Travis himself, extending an offer that would change my life forever.
In 2023, Kumar stated to Vanity Fair, “He said something like, ‘Hey buddy, I want to intensify my diet regimen,'” and my response was, “Wow, let’s get started. A few days after that, I found myself in Kansas City.
He takes care of various tasks, ranging from filling up Travis’ refrigerator to providing nutritious meals at the Chiefs’ training center.
15. Travis has been scrutinizing his facial hair more than usual lately, so he discussed on New Heights that he shaved off his off-season beard last year and only kept the mustache as a tribute to Andy Reid’s walrus look in 2023. He plans to continue this tribute in 2024 as well.
16. In April 2024, Travis secured a two-year deal worth $34.25 million, making him the NFL’s top-earning tight end for the first time throughout his professional career.
Which finally put an end to years of chatter about how much money he wasn’t making.
In 2023, Travis joked to Vanity Fair that his superiors and representatives often remind him of being underpaid. Whenever he brings up the topic of higher pay, their response is always something along the lines of, “Perhaps you should approach the Chiefs about it.
However, as other revenue streams became available, his focus shifted from the size of his paycheck to the overall atmosphere or ambiance instead.
He clarified, “The free market seems exciting until you find yourself not succeeding, which isn’t my cup of tea. I enjoy triumphs; I appreciate the position I currently hold.
As a lifestyle expert, I can relate when I witness others receiving substantial rewards, it’s hard not to feel a pang in the heart. It’s natural to question if you’re undervalued or underappreciated. Yet, despite these doubts, I always find joy in returning to that workspace each day because I love what I do.
17. Travis developed an interest in fashion from a young age while living in Cleveland Heights. As he explained to Vanity Fair in 2023, his high school was like a daily fashion show.
Consequently, he transformed the room into a wardrobe, providing ample space for his designer clothes and over 300 sneakers, including a pair of size-13 Nike Air Mags which he bought using a significant part of his first year’s earnings, even though they were a size too small.
Previously, during the early stages of his profession, before there were numerous sneaker applications available, he told the Wall Street Journal, he would simply purchase the shoe size that was available to him.
Although Nike sneakers are his primary choice (due to the brand’s endorsement), there’s also a special place in his heart for Chuck Taylors, as they evoke memories of fictional baseball star Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from The Sandlot.
18. Among his dozens of investments, Travis co-owns Ohio-brewed Garage Beer with Jason.
Travis expressed in a June statement that it’s no secret he enjoys having a few beers occasionally. He’s thrilled, he added, about being the owner of Garage Beer and being deeply involved in crafting top-notch light beer. In his view, there’s nothing quite as effective at bringing folks together than an icy cold brew, and for him and Jason, that’s what beer symbolizes – camaraderie, kinship, and good times.
19. We’re sensing a theme when it comes to Travis’ guilty pleasure TV choices.
In the past, it was known as “Gossip Girl”: “You know, it’s fantastic,” he expressed on “New Heights”. “It’s essentially a New York high school series filled with a great deal of drama, and everyone seems to be gossiping and speaking negatively about each other.
His new favorite show? Peacock’s Emmy-winning backstab-a-ganza The Traitors.
20. Recently, Travis, who’s in his 12th season in the NFL and is 35 years old, has become more forthcoming regarding the physical strain football imposes on a player’s body.
However, he has faced numerous setbacks from the very beginning. For instance, during his rookie season, he underwent a microfracture surgery on his knee due to an injury, marking the start of the 10 surgical procedures he’s endured throughout his professional career.
21. Travis openly discussed an unsuccessful effort he made to present Taylor Swift with a friendship bracelet and his phone number during her Eras Tour stop in Kansas City, as he chatted on the New Heights podcast.
After learning from mutual acquaintances that he had expressed a desire to meet her, she reached out to him.
In my conversation with WSJ. Magazine, I shared that she clearly explained the situation to me, and I felt fortunate when she contacted me.
For as long as he can remember, a dish that Travis particularly enjoys is French toast, which he typically adorns with whipped cream and various syrups.
But more recently he’s become a fan of his girlfriend’s homemade Pop-Tarts and cinnamon rolls.
Among the various tones I have set for my phone, one of them is a clip featuring Chris Farley exclaiming “Good God!” from the movie “Tommy Boy,” which I’ve chosen as one of my personal ringtones.
He shared with WSJ. The Magazine that he had introduced his girlfriend to his favorite comedians – Farley, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell. Essentially, he was expressing his love for their comedy to her. In his words, “This is my thing, this is what I’m into.
24. Overwhelmed with excitement after shouting “You’ve got to fight for your right to party!” following their AFC Championship win over the Bengals in 2019, I found myself emulating Travis by blasting the Beastie Boys anthem of the same name after every touchdown at Arrowhead Stadium during home games.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “Travis Kelce is like a power booster for our team. It’s tough to measure just how crucial that is, but in our locker room, everyone seems to gravitate towards him. His character, charisma, and passion are infectious, lifting the spirits of everyone around him. He manages to make work feel less like work, keeping us focused, attentive, and motivated. And at the end of the day, he still knows how to have a good time.
However, it turned out that the lively host who introduced the tune into their lives hadn’t memorized all the lyrics to the 1986 hit until he was asked to perform it alongside Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in February 2023.
Regarding his preferred tunes, by May 2024, Travis listed his top three Taylor Swift songs as “Blank Space,” “The Alchemy,” and “So High School.
Inquired about it back in September, but when asked again, he responded that he loves them all equally – every single one of them.
26. Early in his career, comparisons were drawn between Travis and the esteemed Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, who hung up his cleats in 2013 following a 17-year stint in the NFL.
2015 found me caught up in the buzz surrounding speculation about whether he could indeed surpass Tony’s feats, and the dismay such a failure might bring. However, amid all that chatter, I, being a dedicated fan, chose to tune it out as Travis confidently forged his own path.
He shared with Complex, “There’s no one who sets higher goals for me than I do. I strive to achieve the most statistically impressive season any tight end has ever seen.
On September 29th, Travis overtook Tony as the Kansas City Chiefs’ record holder for most receptions, with his 917th catch making history.
Travis remarked on New Heights, “It’s amazing how things often return to where they started.” Being at the forefront with the Kansas City Chiefs, an organization established in the ’60s and one of the original teams that have endured until now, is quite something. A significant portion of this success can be attributed to their long history and a figure like Tony Gonzalez, who has been a guiding force for me. I truly admire him.
27. Of Travis’ many accomplishments, keeping his house in order on his own isn’t one of them.
“He can’t clean,” mom Donna Kelce told Extra in September. “He can’t cook.”
Perhaps the prospect of welcoming a special guest while she’s in town has provided an additional incentive for me to tidy up and organize my place.
“He’s getting a little better,” Donna acknowledged. “I think he’s getting some help.”
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2025-02-01 14:25