Coaches Guide to Nutrition: Exercise Fueling
September 16, 2025
Fueling your body is just as important as training your skills when it comes to athletic performance.
Eating every 3–4 hours — including three balanced meals and three strategic snacks — helps keep your muscles energized, your focus sharp, and your mood steady throughout the day.
This consistent fueling not only supports performance on the field but also helps you succeed in the classroom.
Snacks play a key role, especially before and after workouts.
Knowing what to eat — and when — can boost performance, speed up recovery, and keep energy levels high.
In this edition (above), we’ll cover smart snack choices, pre- and post-exercise fueling tips, and strategies to stay prepared throughout the day.
Just like packing your gym bag, planning your food ahead of time is essential for success!
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.
Coaches Guide to Nutrition: What are Macros?
February 18, 2025
Planning your meals and snacks shouldn’t be challenging.
Break foods down into three categories: Carbs (energy), Protein (build and repair muscles), and Color (vitamins, minerals).
Adjust your plate based on your level of activity that day. Remember that your body needs carbohydrates like grains, fruits and vegetables for muscle fuel.
On hard training days, up to half of your plate should be carbs. On a recovery or rest day, make a quarter of your plate carbs.
Plan your meal
Check out these examples for your day’s main meals:
Breakfast
- Overnight oats with fruit
- Egg wrap with spinach, cheese and salsa
- Cereal with fruit and milk topped with nuts
- Smoothie made with milk, fruit, spinach and oats
- Don’t forget about school breakfast!
Lunch
- Turkey roll-up with cheese, tomato and lettuce, fruit and milk
- Grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, small salad, milk and pear
- Large salad with your choice of berries, grilled chicken, cheese and vinaigrette dressing, garlic bread and milk
- School lunches are made with student nutrition in mind!
Dinner
- Pasta with chicken, pesto, tomatoes and peas with milk
- Shrimp or tofu fajita bowl with brown rice, peppers, onions and shredded cheese. Add guacamole and plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Cheeseburger made with 90 percent lean beef or turkey on a whole grain bun with lettuce and tomato and a glass of milk. Add baked sweet potato fries on the side.
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.