Key Points

• In this exclusive interview, Tony Hawk shares his recent collaboration with Pilgrim's Chicken to inspire healthy snacking habits.
• The skateboarder revealed the high-protein snacks and meals that keep him fueled during training.
• He also opens up about his new role as a grandfather and how his nutrition and health habits have changed over the years.

Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk has made a lasting impression on the skateboarding world that extends beyond the skate park. He’s been skateboarding professionally since he was a teenager, and his skills have earned him a slew of awards. 

These days, Hawk is still dedicated to the sport of skateboarding, with some practical updates to better suit his lifestyle at age 56. And he recently partnered with Pilgrim’s Chicken to create a series of videos to encourage healthy snacking, inspired by his iconic skateboard tricks. 

When asked about the most rewarding part of the collaboration, Hawk explains how creative the campaign is. “I customized some of my signature tricks to be snacking tricks, including the ‘Bawk n’ Roll’, the ‘Freehand Nugget,’ and the ‘Trippy Dippy,’ which will all be shared on video soon,” he shared. “I love incorporating skating into other aspects of my life, including eating. Why not make snacking fun and also show the world how far skateboarding has come in the process?”

We got a chance to chat with Hawk about the protein-packed snacks and meals he eats while training, how he prioritizes staying in shape and how food plays a role in his life today as a father and grandfather. 

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EatingWell: Which is your favorite meal to eat while training?

Tony Hawk: Probably lunch. Even though it doesn't require the most preparation, I feel like that's when I'm the hungriest during the day, because it's usually after I skate. My go-to lunch is almost always chicken. It really is, in various forms. I love shawarma, teriyaki, green chili, chicken katsu and obviously chicken nuggets. I'm thinking about all the food I have in my fridge right now, and I’m getting really hungry. 

EW: What motivated you to partner with Pilgrim Chicken? 

Hawk: Well, they hit me up and asked if I wanted to be part of their pro snacking campaign, meaning that you find new and creative ways to snack on their chicken nuggets, and I thought that would be fun to incorporate them in some of my signature moves. So, I signed on right away, and we came up with a few ideas.

EW: A bit of a throwback, but what was your go-to snack while you were a part of the Bones Brigade (a skateboarding team that started in 1979 and launched the popularity of the sport)? 

Hawk: Shoot, that's hard. That's a long time ago. I've honestly been a fan of chicken nuggets for a long time, so I probably would have gotten them as a bigger snack somewhere at a fast food place. Yeah, I mean, I was still pretty young and kind of green and naive in terms of healthy eating and trying different cuisines. So my snack was usually your standard fast food meal of chicken nuggets, fries and a drink.

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EW: What has been the most rewarding part of being a new grandfather?

Hawk: Right now, he just started eating solid foods. Well, I'm not gonna say solid foods, but pureed foods. And that's been fun because sometimes we're the ones who introduce him to a new flavor. So we literally pureed some pears the other day for the first time, and he made a pretty funny face. I love that we get to introduce him to new foods and new cuisines. 

EW: How do you incorporate food and exercise into your daily life today, as opposed to when you were skating more competitively?

Hawk: It's hugely important to what I do, especially at my age. I definitely watch what I eat. Yes, I am a pro snacker, but I make sure that I don't overindulge and that I'm keeping a good balance of healthy foods and snacking foods. I honestly never thought I'd be working out at this age. That was the antithesis of what I did when I was young. When we were skating, we were doing it because it set us apart, because it was different, and it wasn't popular. So when we're looking at true athletes who train consistently, that wasn’t what we wanted to do at all. When you get to be my age and you want to do something as demanding as skateboarding, you have to do other things to keep yourself in shape. So that involves making smart eating choices and moving your body to stay flexible. 

EW: What does “eating well” mean to you?

Hawk: I think eating well is having a healthy balance of all the different foods. Things that are good for you, but also things that you truly enjoy.  And having an appreciation for all of it, for what it gives you and the experience of enjoying new foods. It's really hard to get outside your comfort zone, especially when you're a kid, when you kind of get stuck in these modes, so I say just try everything. You know, what's the worst thing that’s gonna happen? You're not gonna like it, fine. You won't eat it again. But you might find something you truly enjoy, and it'll just stick with the rest of your life.

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Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.