Union College Athletics

What is Sports Nutrition?
Sports nutrition is the use of the diet to positively impact athletic training, performance, and recovery. It is foundational to athletic success. Athletes will perform optimally when they provide their bodies with the right amount of energy and types of food, nutrients, and fluids. Sports nutrition differs from regular nutrition because when compared to non-athletes, athletes will require different levels of energy intake and nutrients based on the demand of their sport and individual goals.

At Union College, we are committed to providing student athletes with scientifically based nutrition resources and knowledge to help them excel in their training, performance, and recovery through a foods first philosophy. When an athlete is empowered to make nourishing food choices and experience the benefits of proper fueling, they gain confidence in themselves, their sport, and their ability to achieve their goals.
 
Union College offers sports nutrition services to all its athletes through a licensed Registered Dietitian. As part of the athletics teams, the dietitian who works closely with our trainers, strength coaches, primary care providers, and mental health professionals to assure quality and continuity in the care of our student-athletes.
 
Sports Nutrition Program Offerings
 
One-on-One Nutrition Counseling
Athletes are assessed on their current dietary patterns, body composition, and energy balance relative to their specific sport and training and performance goals. Athletes receive an individualized fuel plan with recommendations on how to achieve optimal nutrition for training, competition, recovery from exercise, weight management, hydration, immunity, disordered eating, travel, and supplementation, special concerns such as disordered eating, vegetarianism, diabetes, etc. The goal is to educate athletes on realistic, safe, and maintainable fueling strategies in order to better their performance and overall health today, tomorrow, and beyond their collegiate years.
 
Team Talks: Team Nutrition Education
Education for all teams is provided regarding nutritional demands specific to their sport. Team talks are interactive and topics include (but are not limited to) building performance plates, pre/post workout fuel, hydration, eating on the road, supplement safety, RED-S/female triad, disordered eating, nutrition for muscle building, and off-season weight management.
 
Cooking Classes
Cooking demos/classes are held for athletes to have the opportunity to gain confidence in the kitchen. Athletes will learn how to cook and prepare easy to make recipes in their apartments or dorm rooms. Recipes with health and performance benefits are provided to athletes during the duration of the class. Athletes will also receive samples of each dish featured.
 
Dining Hall Tours/Performance Plate Coaching
Dining Hall tours will are offered to incoming freshman (or any interested student) to help familiarize athletes with the food options available to them on a daily basis. Athletes will also learn plate-building techniques based on their training and sport goals. These tours can help athletes better understand how to fuel around a busy training and class schedule.
 
Nutrition Education via Social Media
Downloadable sports-nutrition informational handouts are provided below for review by athletes and parents/guardians. Sports nutrition education on a variety of topics is also frequently posted on the Wicker Wellness Instagram (@unioncollege_wickerwellness) throughout the week.
 
Grocery Store Tours
Individual/team tours are taken to educate athletes on how to navigate the grocery store to assist them in meeting their nutritional needs and performance goals. Throughout the duration of the tour, athletes will discover easy to make meal ideas for apartment and dorms and healthy snack options for study and travel. Athletes will also learn how to read nutrition labels to better understand how to select products based on specific nutritional needs and body composition goals.

Sports Nutrition Resources
Understanding Macronutrients
The Athlete's Plate - Easy Training Day
The Athlete's Plate - Moderate Training Day
The Athlete's Plate - Hard Training Day
Recovery Nutrition
Travel Nutrition
Hydration
Fueling for Competition
Fueling during Exercise
Alcohol and Athletic Performance

Contact Info:
Anna Ipsen, MS, RDN, CDN
Registered Dietitian and Certified Health Coach
Wicker Wellness Center
518-487-1524
ipsena@union.edu
 
Page last updated: 2/28/23