Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling reveals his game-day breakfast — and the sweet treats he just can’t resist

Marquez Valdes-Scantling is doing pretty well for himself on the football field.

The sixth-year NFL wide receiver is one of Patrick Mahomes’ go-to targets on the Kansas City Chiefs. He ranks top-five on the team in receiving yards this season and, during the Chiefs’ run to the 2022 Super Bowl, racked up more receiving yards than every Kansas City player besides superstar tight end Travis Kelce.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling catches a pass against the Denver Broncos.AP Photo/Bart Young

But unlike other stars who factor nutrition into their recipe for success in the NFL, Valdes-Scantling’s strong performances on the gridiron come in spite of his eating habits.

“I eat terrible,” Valdes-Scantling told Insider. “Yeah, I have the worst diet ever.”

“But I work out so much that it doesn’t even matter,” he added.

The University of South Florida product says sweets are his ultimate vice, and that those who know him know he’s “eating candy regularly.”

Marquez Valdes-Scantling runs for a touchdown during an October matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.AP Photo/Peter Aiken

“If you see my pantry, you would think it was Halloween,” Valdes-Scantling said.

When reminded that this conversation was taking place the day before Halloween, the Kansas City star insisted that his pantry is brimming with sugary treats year-round. Much like Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf — who went viral this summer for his coffee and candy-heavy diet — Valdes-Scantling is particularly fond of “anything that’s gummy related.”

Valdes-Scantling manages to prioritize a nutritious, filling game-day breakfast despite his sweet tooth

Unlike Metcalf, who almost exclusively ingests candy and caffeine, the Super Bowl champion opts for something a bit more substantial ahead of Chiefs games.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling makes a diving catch for a touchdown against the Houston Texans.Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

“I usually just go three eggs with some sausage and ham, scramble it, English muffin and some potatoes,” Valdes-Scantling told Insider. “That’s how I go about it every morning before game day.”

Sticking to his routines is crucial to preparing himself for a strong performance

Valdes-Scantling says his penchant for keeping his “routines the same no matter what” is less about superstition than it is about controlling what he can and conserving the “energy that I have to exert during the game.”

That task becomes considerably harder when he and his Kansas City teammates hit the road. This week, as the Chiefs head across the Atlantic for Sunday’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany, Valdes-Scantling will look stay the course with his usual routines despite traveling somewhere he’s never been before; he’ll try to normalize his sleep schedule, recreate his usual pre-game breakfast, and, perhaps, even stash a bag or two of candy in his luggage.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling looks to carry the ball past Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson after making a catch.AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

He’ll also come prepared with his preferred toilet paper, courtesy of Charmin. Yes, you read that correctly.

The brand — whose parent company, Proctor & Gamble, is a longtime sponsor of the NFL — sent its new line of toilet paper to the team’s facilities to help players feel at home during their trip to Europe.

“Being able to go on the road all the way to Germany, you kind of never know what you’re going to be getting into, what kind of toilet paper that you’re going to have,” Valdes-Scantling told Insider.

Valdes-Scantling and the Chiefs will take on the Dolphins Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET, or 3 p.m. local time, at Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park.

Read the original article on Insider