Under-Fueled Athletes? Simple Nutrition Fixes Every Coach Should Know

Under-fueled athletes drag in games. Fix it fast with simple athlete nutrition tips that help your athletes with peak performance! Want more coaching tips?Head to https://coachfreetraining.com Tired legs, moody practices, nagging injuries…sometimes it’s not “just being a teen.” ⚠️ In this coach-to-coach breakdown, we show high school and middle school coaches how to spot under-fueled athletes and apply simple, realistic athlete nutrition tips that boost energy, consistency, and peak performance without calorie counting or complicated meal prep. Then we connect fueling to the mental game, so your team plays with confidence under pressure. 💥 I’m Coach Bre, a mental performance coach for girl athletes, Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor, and a long-time head volleyball coach & 4× state champion. Today’s guest: Lindsay Cortez, MS, RD, CSSD is a registered sports dietitian specializing in nutrition for girl athletes and host of the Female Athlete Nutrition podcast. She’s part of our Dream Team expert staff and breaks down what coaches need to know about RED-S, puberty, periods, breakfast refusals, and practical pre-/post-practice fueling that fits real schedules. 🍎🥯 What you’ll learn 👇 • Red flags of under-fueling (and why they look like “attitude” or “laziness”)  • Coach-friendly fixes: easy carb + protein combos athletes will actually eat  • How often to fuel (simple schedule for teen athletes in season)  • Pre-practice snack cart ideas your parents can stock at Costco  • Why better fueling = fewer injuries + stronger mental game and focus  • How to talk to athletes who “aren’t hungry” at breakfast (and build the habit)  • Female-specific must-knows: periods, bone health, and long-term development 🕓 Key Moments00:00 Introduction to Athlete Nutrition 01:34 Meet Lindsay Cortez: Sports Dietician 03:54 Understanding Female Athlete Nutrition 05:59 Common Nutritional Challenges 11:49 Practical Tips for Coaches and Parents 19:16 Understanding the Importance of Nutrition for Female Athletes 19:35 Meal and Snack Guidelines for Young Athletes 20:51 Pre and Post-Practice Nutrition Strategies 28:16 Addressing Common Nutrition Challenges 31:30 Introducing the Dream Team Program Coaches — comment below: what’s one fueling red flag you’ve noticed in your athletes lately? 💬 📌 Build your team’s mental game confidently: 🔹 Grab our in-depth FREE training → https://coachfreetraining.com 🔹 Follow us on IG → @elitecompetitorcoach 🔹 Follow us on TikTok→ @coachhergame  🔹 Follow and hear more from Lindsay on the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast: https://www.femaleathletenutritionpodcast.com/ 🔔 Subscribe for More → Never miss an episode of Coach Her Game! Head to coachfreetraining.com to grab our free training for coaches to quickly level-up your team's mental game!