Stream Week 1: Defining Nutrition

Main Objective This Week

Help athletes understand the difference between general nutrition and sports nutrition — and why athletes require greater precision in fueling and recovery to maximize performance and health.

Coach’s Quick Scenario

On Monday, coach opens the week by asking a few “symptom check” questions to grab attention (fatigue, light-headedness, difficulty gaining muscle, etc.). Athletes quickly realize many of these apply to them.

Throughout the week, coach uses short, daily touchpoints to explain how sports nutrition differs from general nutrition and why nutrient timing, quantity, and variety are critical for athletes.
On Friday, the team discusses personal experiences and shares one nutrition or rest change they can commit to for next week.

Monday – Introduction to Nutrition and Rest for Athletes

• Talking Point: You can’t perform your best without proper fuel and rest — and the needs of athletes go beyond general health.
• Sample Script:
• “Welcome, team! This week, we’re starting a crucial conversation on how nutrition and rest significantly impact your health, performance, and recovery. If you’ve ever felt drained, unable to focus, or not seeing the gains you expect, it’s time to look closely at your diet and rest habits. Let’s kick off by understanding the difference between general nutrition and sports nutrition. Our goal? To fuel your body and mind for peak performance both on and off the field.”
• Action:
  • Ask: “Who here has felt one of the following: tired during practice, light-headed during workouts, or unable to gain strength during the season?”
  • Explain how these can be signs of inadequate nutrition or rest.

Tuesday – Understanding General vs. Sports Nutrition

• Talking Point: Sports nutrition demands more precision than general nutrition because your body’s daily demands are much higher.
• Sample Script:
• “Today, let’s dive deeper into why sports nutrition requires greater precision than general nutrition. As athletes, your bodies demand more energy, nutrients, and recovery time to operate at peak levels. Unlike a healthy diet for the average person, your nutrition plan must adapt to your training intensity, schedule, sport, and season.”
• Action:
  • Share examples of how training load changes nutrient needs (preseason vs. off-season).
  • Have athletes name 1–2 changes they make in their eating during the season.
    Optional Open-Ended Prompts:
  • “When you increase your training load, what changes do you make to your meals or snacks
  • “Can you think of a time when your performance improved after changing your nutrition?”

Wednesday – The Importance of a Balanced Diet in Sports

• Talking Point: A balanced athletic diet is about enhancing energy, recovery, and self-image — not restricting food.
• Sample Script:
• “What does the word ‘diet’ mean to you? For athletes, it’s about making positive health choices, not restrictive eating to lose weight quickly. A balanced diet goes beyond just three meals a day; it’s about choosing the right foods at the right times to support training and recovery.”
• Action:
  • Ask athletes to list foods they think of as “performance boosters.”
  • Highlight that nutrient timing is just as important as food choice.
    Optional Open-Ended Prompts:
  • “How do you feel when you skip breakfast on a training day?”
  • “What’s one meal or snack you’ve found that helps you recover faster?”

Thursday – Committing to Sports Nutrition

• Talking Point: Athletes must commit to higher nutrient intake and better rest to handle the daily stress of training.
• Sample Script:
• “Embracing sports nutrition means understanding your body’s unique demands from daily training, practice, and competition. You need more carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals to recover and perform at your best.”
• Action:
  • Share a success story of an athlete who improved after making nutrition changes.
  • Have athletes name one nutrient (carbs, protein, fat) they think they might be lacking.
    Optional Open-Ended Prompts:
  • “What’s one thing you could add to your meals on heavy training days?”
  • “If you had to improve just one part of your diet, what would it be?”

Friday – Open Discussion on Nutrition, Rest, and Performance

Talking Point: “You can’t out-train a bad diet.” Nutrition and rest work hand-in-hand to fuel progress.
Action:

• Open floor for athletes to share one nutrition or rest change they plan to make.
• Discuss how these changes can delay fatigue, boost recovery, and get stronger.
• Reinforce the key message: 24–72 hours of proper rest and nutrition are essential for recovery.