Athletics Nutrition
Nutrition is vital for both athletic performance and injury prevention and care. It is also essential for athletes because it provides the energy to perform as well as supports muscle growth and repair. Proper fueling through a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats is crucial for recovery, injury prevention, and overall health, while inadequate nutrition can lead to underfueling, illness, and decreased performance.
The WSU Athletics Fueling Station, overseen by the Sports Medicine Department, was established with two goals in mind: 1) to provide supplemental calories that fall within an evidence-based macro-nutrient ratio that supports muscle growth, recovery, and repair; and 2) to educate student-athletes on the importance of nutrition and how student-athletes can use nutrition to improve their health and simultaneously boost performance.
Fueling Station in the Weight Room: WSU student-athletes are able to receive 1 peanut butter and jelly sandwich and 1 chocolate milk following their team lift; items will be available in the weight room following their lift, while supplies last.
- On average, a PB & J sandwich contains 390 calories (15g protein and 45g carbs); the provided chocolate milk contains 140 calories (9g protein and 22g carbs)
Fueling Station Byte Coolers: WSU student-athletes may use their One Card once per day, Monday through Friday, at any of the Athletics Byte Coolers to receive a single Power Pack. Each Power Pack contains a minimum of 20g protein and 30g carbohydrate, though specific macro-nutrient breakdown varies
- In Matthaei: Three (3) Byte Coolers are available in the southwest corner of the Matthaei Building, near the hallway to the weight room and by the volleyball concession stand area.
- In the WSU Fieldhouse: One (1) Byte Cooler is available near the fieldhouse Athletic Training Facility, on the event level.
- Power Packs
- Wake Up Power Pack: vanilla Greek yogurt, hard boiled egg, strawberries, mini bagel.
- Breakfast Power Pack: cottage cheese, pineapple, blueberry morning bread.
- Morning Power Pack: vanilla Greek yogurt, strawberries, hard boiled egg, crunchy granola, raisins.
- Trail Hugger Power Pack: turkey, cheddar cheese cubes, trail mix, carrot sticks.
- Afternoon Power Pack: tuna salad, hard boiled egg, grapes, apple slices, club crackers.
Athletics Nutrition Student Assistants
See more about WSU's Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition and Food Science program HERE.
Manar Chebli-Haj-Hassan
Tijana Lis
Dwayne Sanders
Tasfia Shahid
Jada Tillman
Avery Wilson
Athletics Nutrition Dietetic Internship
See more about WSU's Master of Science Coordinate Program in Dietetics HERE.
Amany Abdallah
Gwyneth Drabek
Batul Idris
Alex TonnIf you are interested in applying to be an Athletics Nutrition Student Assistant, please contact Assistant Athletic Trainer Lydia Lee, and/or review our application HERE.
Nutrition and Athletics Performance Lab/Research (coming soon):
- DEXA scan
- Heart rate monitors/heart rate variability
- Hydration status monitoring/MX3
- Ferritin and Vitamin D testing
Faculty Liaisons and Internship Coordinators
Dr. Diane Cress, PhD, RD - Associate Professor, Department Chair
Mary Width, MS, RD - Professor, Teaching; Director, Coordinated Program in Dietetics
