Unlock Peak Performance: 5 ways nutritionists can transform student athletes' health and success.

An easy 5 minute read today.

Would your student athletes benefit from the support of a nutritionist? Take the quiz!

In the intricate tapestry of a student athlete's journey, the profound impact of proper nutrition cannot be overstated.

It is not merely the fuel for their bodies but the compass guiding their physical and mental fortitude. Just as a coach refines their technique or a mentor shapes their character, a nutritionist is the silent architect of their vitality.?

Unfortunately, the addition of nutritionists and dieticians to athlete support networks and coaching staff is still a missing component in many youth sport and post secondary sport programs.?

Learn how we are helping sport programs address their nutrition gap.

While strength and conditioning coaches and sport psychologists have become the norm in sport programs, nutritionists are not. If student athletes are lucky, they might have the opportunity to attend a workshop or two with a nutrition specialist. But seldom do they have the opportunity to see that specialist more than once or twice.

Nutrition learning and application is absolutely enhanced when student athletes are allowed to build a relationship with their nutrition expert.

See how we are building meaningful relationships with student athletes so they can learn, practice and refine effective nutrition strategies with ongoing support.

It's a paradoxical expectation that student athletes will grasp everything about nutrition in a single session, considering the contrast to the years of dedicated practice required to hone their athletic skills.

Akin to perfecting a jump shot or a backhand, understanding nutrition is an ongoing process that unfolds gradually, requiring consistent education and practical application throughout an athlete's development.

Learn more about how we coach student athletes in nutrition.

Because of this gap, student athletes absolutely are lacking the fundamental knowledge and skills they need to use nutrition to support their physical and mental health and performance.?

And it’s impacting them later in life too.?

Providing student athletes the opportunity to work with a nutritionist is an investment not just in their immediate performance but in sculpting lifelong habits that transcend the playing field, ensuring a robust foundation for their journey through both youth and post-secondary sports.

Wondering how to help your student athletes with nutrition? Let's chat.

Here are five game-changing ways nutritionists can skyrocket the student athlete journey through sport.?

1. Personalized Nutrition Plans:?

Get a free 7 day meal plan to share with your athletes.

Nutrition looks different for every single athlete and helping student athletes understand and meet their unique fuelling needs is key to making nutrition effective and enjoyable.?

Nutritionists are trained to create personalized meal plans based on an athlete's specific needs, including their training schedule, body composition, and performance goals.?

Do your student athletes need some help with meal planning? Message me.

A nutritionist can ensure that student athletes are consuming the right balance of macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) to support their energy needs and promote muscle recovery and growth.

In particular, when it comes to athletes with dietary restrictions or particular health challenges, meeting their energy needs can be a struggle and can add significant stress to the athletes and their families. A nutritionist can be an invaluable resource and support for these athletes; helping them to stay energized and? reduce stress around eating.?

Ask us about one on one support for athletes with unique needs.

2. Optimal Performance and Recovery:?

Working with a nutritionist can help student athletes optimize their performance and recovery. By understanding the nutritional requirements for their sport and individual needs, athletes can fuel their bodies effectively before, during, and after training sessions and competitions.?

See how we are helping student athletes hit their performance goals faster.

Buy-in can often be a challenge when working with student athletes. Nutrition is new for most of them and at a first glance it seems to be fairly boring and restrictive.?

And for many young athletes, it’s not really that ‘cool’.

But a nutrition expert, especially one who understands sport and coaching, can present? ‘nutrition’ as a strategy for performance and not as a diet or lifestyle that involves cutting out foods they love, athletes are more likely to get on board.?

Find out how we are helping young athletes improve their endurance, strength, and overall athletic performance.

3. Managing Weight and Body Composition:

This is always a touchy subject for student athletes. How they feel about their body impacts their confidence which has huge implications on how they play.?

Nutritionists can assist student athletes in managing their weight and body composition in a healthy and sustainable manner. Whether an athlete needs to gain muscle mass, lose body fat, or maintain their current weight, a nutritionist can provide guidance on proper nutrition strategies to support their goals without compromising their overall health and well-being.

Nutritionists can also be a much needed ear and outlet for those athletes who are struggling with their weight and/or simply how they feel about their body. In addition they can be a key player in early identification of athletes who are struggling more deeply with how they feel about themselves and help them to find additional support they need.?

If you have athletes struggling with body image, we can help them feel more empowered.

4. Injury Prevention and Healing:?

Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in injury prevention and healing for student athletes. A nutritionist can recommend foods and potentially supplements that support joint health, reduce inflammation, and enhance recovery from injuries. Additionally, a well-balanced diet can help strengthen the immune system, reducing the risk of illness and enabling athletes to maintain consistent training schedules.

Find out how we are helping post secondary programs enhance recovery and reduce injuries.?

5. Education and Long-Term Health:

Working with a nutritionist provides student athletes with invaluable education about nutrition and its impact on athletic performance and overall health.?

By learning about the importance of nutrient timing, hydration, and proper fueling strategies, athletes can develop lifelong habits that support their athletic endeavours and contribute to their long-term health and well-being.

We help athletes understand how to leverage the timing of their meals and snacks for performance?

While most of the discussion here has been focussed on the athletes themselves, the truth is that each of the above scenarios also benefits coaches.?

Healthier athletes who get injured less, who are more confident and who understand how to fuel their body consistently for performance and recovery means coaches are less stressed, can spend less time trouble shooting and can spend more time utilizing the strengths of their well high performing athletes.?

If your atheltes are struggling with nutrition and you are their coach, let's chat about to help them.

Overall, the expertise of a nutritionist can be instrumental in helping student athletes achieve their performance and health-related goals while promoting a balanced and sustainable approach to nutrition and wellness.

When you are ready, there are a few ways that I help people like you everyday.

• If you are a Coach looking for resources to help your student athletes with nutrition check out 'The Coaches' Easy Nutrition Playbook' .Use the Promo Code GUTS50 for our 50% off Black Friday Special.
• If you are a student athlete who is tired of feeling like nutrition is always a struggle, message me . It doesn't have to be.
• If you are a post secondary program or sport academy looking to help your student athletes understand and use nutrition as a powerful strategy to feel more energized, stay healthier and injury free and enhance their performance, email meat [email protected]

~Until next week.

Diane