Coaches Guide to Nutrition: No Tricks, Just Smart Fuel
October 20, 2026
Halloween may bring plenty of treats, but fueling your body doesn’t have to be tricky!
For high school athletes, healthy snacks are an important way to maintain energy between meals and support performance before and after activity.
A simple formula to remember is carbohydrate + protein.
Try combinations like Greek yogurt and fruit, cheese and crackers, a fruit smoothie, or chocolate milk and almonds.
And yes, there’s still room for your favorite Halloween candy!
Rather than labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” focus on choosing nutrient-rich foods more often while enjoying foods with less nutrition occasionally.
For athletes, it’s all about finding balance while giving your body the fuel it needs for school, practice, and competition.
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.
Coach's Guide to Nutrition: Window of Opportunity
April 21, 2026
The 30 minutes following exercise, often referred to as the window of opportunity, is the best time to begin to refuel, rebuild and repair muscles.
Carbs plus protein in this window can help your students refuel and be ready to attack their next workout.
After an exercise session or game, muscles are depleted of glycogen, their primary energy source, and are in need of recovery from the stress of training. A small snack is all that is needed in this “window of opportunity.”
The focus should be on carbohydrates with some protein; the ideal snack would have more carbs than protein. Chocolate milk has both carbs and protein, along with electrolytes and fluids to rehydrate. Liquids are also more easily absorbed by the body to help refueling happen more quickly. Other refueling options could include a smoothie, yogurt and granola, or a cheese stick with fruit.
Within 2-3 hours, have a full meal to continue recovery.
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.