Making waves in collegiate sports and NFL with Jamie Meeks - Ep. #141

Jamie Meeks, Head Sports Dietitian for the New Orleans Saints joins us for a fun conversation to talk about her experiences in becoming the first Sports Dietitian to work with Louisiana State University Athletics and insights into her current role with the Saints.  We also discuss: Cabbage ball – say what?  The origin story for how Jamie got into the field of nutrition and dietetics  Her experiences at LSU with the various athletic teams How she made the move to NFL and the New Orleans Saints and an overview of changes that have occurred along the way How she coordinates with the Food Service staff for the Saints (and some special foods they regularly serve!) More about our guest: Since 2015, Jamie Meeks has served as the Director of Sports Nutrition of the New Orleans Saints, utilizing her experience and expertise as a Registered Dietitian (RD) and a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). A prominent graduate of Louisiana State University, Meeks obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Sciences/Dietetics in 2009 and Master’s Degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Physiology in 2011. She completed her Dietetic Internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. During her university tenure, Meeks distinguished herself through her leadership role as the captain of the LSU Cheerleading squad for three consecutive years. She represented the university across multiple platforms and supported LSU's major athletic accomplishments, including the 2007 National Championship Football team. Following her academic achievements, Meeks marked a historic milestone at LSU Athletics by becoming the program's first full-time dietitian. In this capacity, she played a crucial role in developing a comprehensive sports nutrition program, primarily aimed at managing athletes' diets and providing education to enhance health and performance. She was a pivotal force behind the inception of Athletic Fueling Stations and played a significant role in planning for a state-of-the-art athletic dining facility. Meeks also launched the Undergraduate Sports Nutrition Internship program at LSU, opening doors for dietetic undergraduates to gain firsthand experience in sports nutrition. In her capacity with the Saints, Meeks is dedicated to assisting the team achieve optimal nutritional health and crafting effective strategies for fueling, hydration, and supplementation to promote peak athletic performance. Her role extends to providing medical nutritional therapy while closely collaborating with the team's athletic trainers, strength coaches, and medical team. Additionally, she serves as the Director of Finance & Administration for the Professional Football Registered Dietitian Society, while her professional affiliations include membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Louisiana Dietetic Association, the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association, and the Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. --- Connect with the podcast on Instagram @isnpodcast and on Facebook @insidesportsnutrition This episode is brought to you by All Around Snack Co. which features tasty snacks that are low in added sugars, contain zero dyes, colorings or additives and help control blood sugar for steady energy levels throughout the day.  Use code ISNPODCAST24 to save 15% on your purchase. Want to try the deltaG products to provide your brain another fuel source? Check out their products and save 10% by using the code ISNPODCAST and you’ll also help support our podcast!  We’d love to connect with you on social! Follow Dina on Instagram at @nutritionmechanic and Bob at @enrgperformance. You can learn more about Bob’s services at www.enrgperformance.com and Dina’s services at www.nutritionmechanic.com.