Tyler Oakley Explains What 'Amazing Race' Contestants Eat on the Road
The current season of The Amazing Race features fan favorites from the CBS stable of reality shows: Big Brother, Survivor, and The Amazing Race itself. But one team on the season, Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl, have the added bonus of being stars in the online sphere. From Oakley's YouTube channel to the Psychobabble podcast they host together, Oakley and Kuhl are known for their positive, hilarious content online-which is part of why their first season on Amazing Race was the social media-themed season.
TAR fans often have questions about how the everything on the show works, and when Oakley spoke with Men's Health about his experience on the show, he was open about how protein bars, hotel sinks, and sunscreen were the key to his success on this season.
What do the contestants on The Amazing Race eat?
Oakley explained that he tried to eat healthy on the show, but it was hard because "the last thing you want to do after you’ve exerted all your strength is to pick the healthy option on the menu... As soon as you’re on the race and you finish [a leg], it’s like you finish a marathon and you don’t want to go eat a salad, you want a big hearty meal. And that was like everyday I wanted a burger and pizza and whatever I could get."
But the duo was also able to use to use food to give them a boost in the game:
"A lot of our legs the first time around, we were so hungry. So this time we brought protein bars, so many of them. And not only is it perfect for travel and being active, but it also became a social currency. It was something that a lot of the teams that had never run the Race before didn’t realize that they should bring. So it was something that kind of gave us an upper hand, or a negotiation tactic, in the airport where there are people that are harvesting their money and they don’t want to spend it on anything because you might need it for a cab, so you can offer them a protein bar and it might put you in their good graces."
How do you pack for The Amazing Race?
The Amazing Race is notorious for its "12 episodes in 21 days" shooting schedule, but that fast pace can make it very hard to pack all that you'll need for three weeks in multiple countries.
"I can barely pack for a weekend away in Palm Springs, let alone every type of climate around the world, you never know what you’re going to need," Oakley said. "They don’t tell you anything! They say, 'Pack what you want, no technology. If it doesn’t go along the guidelines of the rules, we’ll take it when you check in.' But you’re kind of on your own."
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"We definitely overpacked the first time and after the very first leg our first season we threw away half of the things we brought," he said. "So packing the second time around, we knew we were definitely going to need layers and options but we didn't overpack or double anything up, because while you think you might need multiple pairs of shirts and shorts, you have a sink that you can wash things in and we definitely did that the first time around. The less you can carry the more advantage you have."
When do the contestants on Amazing Race shower?
As season 21 winners Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell previously explained to Men's Health, being on The Amazing Race means that you're probably going to have to deal with some less than ideal hygiene situations, with Oakley explaining that they showered "whenever they could."
"It’s sometimes a little bit few and far in between, sometimes you’re doing the classic airport shower where you sneak away for one second from your camera crew and say 'I’ll be right back, I’m going to go to the bathroom' and rinse wherever you can," he said.
As for skincare, Oakley said that sunscreen was key for him (and it should be for you too!).
"It was really important to bring sunscreen, I mean SPF and lotion every single day," he said. "You are facing all the elements...sometimes you’re sailing and you have the wind blowing in your face, sometimes you are in the desert and you have the sun beaming down on you. It is nonstop and always different so it was really important for us to bring lotion, SPF. If you didn’t have that you’d be burning."
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