Hawkins was the subject of an "Everything An NFL Dietitian Does On Game Day" [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcH1BHyi-a8) shared one month ago by the Chargers, and in it disclosed L.A. coach Jim Harbaugh's halftime meal: a plain hot dog.
The video gives a glimpse of Hawkins' former role, which involved coordinating and executing nutrition operations, managing day-to-day nutrition logistics, including menu development and meal planning, as well as implementing nutrition injury recovery protocols and creating educational resources for players.
Before entering the professional ranks, Hawkins earned bachelor's degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics and Nutrition, Fitness and Health at Purdue. He gained hands-on experience with Purdue Sports Nutrition, assisting the operations of student-athlete fueling stations across campus from 2019-21, and progressed his career by serving as a dietetic intern for Duke University Sports Nutrition in the 2021 football season.
In February 2024, the Chargers digital team [spotlighted Hawkins](https://www.chargers.com/news/celebrate-black-history-month-ben-hawkins-2024) as part of Black History Month.
The most rewarding part of his job, he said, is aiding athletes' goals through optimal nutrition.
"I work with the players to help maximize their health, development and sports performance," Hawkins explained, adding he was inspired in college to pursue becoming a sports dietitian. "I got started by being an athlete, myself, and noticing the difference in my energy levels and performance depending on what I ate. I decided to study nutrition and exercise science at Purdue University, and the rest is history!"