A Sports Dietitian for high school athletes, I am often about how I can help an athlete improve their performance. The truth is, there are a ton of ways sports dietitians can help you improve your game!

I this post I am going to break down the different reasons you may want to work with a Registered Sports Dietitian. 

Why Should High School Athletes Focus on Nutrition?

You spend a lot of time training and building the skills and tools that will make you an elite athlete. On top of that, you have invested in your coaches, gear, and uniforms. You are likely also working on your mental game – confidence, focus, and communication with your teammates.

You can use nutrition as another tool in your athlete toolbox. The foods you eat, when you eat them, and hydration help you energize your training. A strong nutrition foundation will help you stay one step ahead of your competition.

How can a Sports Dietitian help a high school athlete?

Building your confidence in nutrition. How soon should you eat before practice? What is a strong meal for lunch? What snacks should you bring to school? How much water should you drink? A Sports Dietitian can help you to create a personalized plan that adapts to your training and competition schedule.

Helping you fuel around your school schedule. You are a student athlete. Your brain uses a lot of energy during the day while you are in class. On top of that, you may have lunch really early in the day or towards the end of the day. You may find eating enough to be a challenge. Fine tuning your meal and snack plan for school days is an essential part of your success.

Correcting Nutrient deficiencies. Did you have recent lab work done? Did your doctor say your iron or vitamin D were low? A Registered Sports Dietitian can help you add nutrient rich foods to every meal and add a supplement if needed.

Game day, meets, and tournament fueling guides. All of your hard work and dedication to training show up on game day. A strong competition day fueling plan will help you perform at your best! This is especially important when you have several races or games in one day. Check out my FREE Game Day Nutrition Checklist to help you plan out your meals and snacks.

Hydration support and testing. Hydration is the cornerstone of your nutrition. Knowing how to hydrate is a skill because it is more than just water. You have to balance carbohydrates, electrolytes, and fluids throughout the day.

There are many important reasons to work with a Sports Dietitian

Putting an end to under-fueling and low energy. You are a growing teen AND an athlete. Your body needs a significant amount of fuel. It can be hard to eat everything you need in a day. Unfortunately, if you are not eating enough you increase your risk for under-fueling and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). REDs is a topic I cover often on my podcast because you have a much greater risk of injuries and other health impacts. We can work together to add strategic snacks, meals, and fun fuel to keep your muscles strong, your energy up, and to reduce your injury risk.

Supporting athletes who have an eating disorder. My goal for clients who are working through the challenges of disordered eating is simple. I want to help them feel comfortable fueling their health and performance. If you are struggling with disordered eating, please reach out. Let’s start building your support team for your recovery journey – Registered dietitian, therapist / psychologist, and a doctor.

Plant based nutrition. A plant based fueling plan can work for athletes. It takes dedication and a bit of strategy to ensure you have enough fuel and nutrients to thrive!

Maximizing fuel with an allergy or food intolerance. Your special diet shouldn’t limit your performance. I work with athletes to help them create a fueling plan that is safe and energizing with strong meals and fun snacks. For more information on food allergies please visit FARE.

Safe supplement strategy: As an athlete, food should be your foundation and supplements should be added with a strategy. Supplements are not all created equally. Meaning that regulations on quality and ingredients are not strictly followed or enforced. One of the first things I teach the athletes I work with is about third party certification from NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport. Then, we talk about the best supplements to compliment their nutrition and performance goals.

Honestly, there are a million reasons for high school athletes to work with a Sports Dietitian.

If you thought yes or even maybe to any of the things I talked about, then now is a great time to focus on your nutrition. I would love to help you build your fueling plan! Work with me in my Elite Fuel 1:1 coaching program or join me in the Academy, my online course designed for high school athletes and their families. Learn more here!