When Aaron and Kelly Dell met six years ago they were in their second and first years studying at the University of North Dakota.

Fast forward and the couple have been married four years and are working on their complementary dreams during the off-season at Dell’s childhood home in the Canals in Airdrie.

Kelly—a student of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Minnesota, which is near where she grew up—is applying her knowledge with her pro hockey goalie husband.

“I kind of get some practical experience outside of school, and it’s not a job, it’s how we live,” she said. “I get so excited about it.”

Aaron is evidence of the power of healthy eating as the athlete seeks to make his 6-foot, 205-pound frame leaner and more agile.

“Five years ago I had no idea what I should be eating,” said Aaron, 27, between bites of a homemade chicken and bean chili with a side salad of mixed vegetables topped with an olive oil dressing Kelly whipped up.

With a recently renewed contract, the “World’s Okayest Goalie” as he is referred to on social media due to the script on one of his favourite T-shirts, is vying for the number two role to San Jose Sharks’ starter Martin Jones this fall.

Aaron played with the NHL team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate San Jose Barracuda last season and is on the cusp of making his NHL debut.

In the meantime, ridding body fat is on the agenda, something the two have been learning more about in recent years.

Sometimes a guinea pig, Aaron was one of the subjects of Kelly’s 10-page research paper about body fat loss for athletes for a class last summer.

Kelly explains she incorporates protein and vegetables into every meal, and fruit is easy for Aaron to eat as snacks.

Beans are a go-to carbohydrate as Aaron cuts out most grains and starches (ie: bread and pasta) in the off-season in the quest to trim fat.

“I didn’t realize how big of a part the nutrition aspect was in being in shape,” said Aaron. “It turns out it’s like 70 per cent of it, and then the working out part is more like 30 per cent.”

Kelly said this was the couple’s largest lesson.

“That’s probably the biggest thing where [he] went from being in shape but not having a low body fat to finally being able to reach the goals they want him to reach,” said the 24-year-old who aspires to have a business in nutrition, particularly for athletes, following graduation next spring.

Aaron said the goal, handed to him by the Sharks, is to be between eight to 12 per cent body fat.

“You can’t get below 12 [per cent] without eating properly,” he said.

The team equipped him with a regular training regimen, but his diet is in his hands.

The couple approached the Sharks’ strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Potenza who added some more tips.

Potenza suggested meals such as the chili, made with chicken broth from scratch, which has the added bonus of containing gelatin which is good for joints.

Good fats, like olive oil in salad dressings and half an avocado a day, have also been added to the couple’s grocery list. Kelly said the goal is to balance the three main macronutrients of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

For young aspiring athletes, Aaron’s advice is to the point.

“Just try to learn about nutrition as early as possible,” he said.

Kelly keeps it fun.

“He’s going to burn out if it doesn’t taste good,” she said.

As Aaron’s friends see his good results, they’ve asked Kelly for dietary guidance.

“It will be nice when you actually get paid to do it,” he said to his wife. “You just do it for free now and you already love it.”