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Key Takeaway: 64% of HS coaches lack adequate nutrition knowledge, but 93.6% give nutrition advice anyway. You don't have to be a dietitian — but you DO have influence, and the words you use matter.
Research from Torres-McGehee et al. (2024) found that:
You're already talking to your athletes about food. The question isn't whether you should — it's whether you're doing it well.
You see your athletes every day. You're with them at meets, on bus rides, after tough losses. Parents might have one conversation about food per week. You have the opportunity to shape their relationship with food every single day.
Research from Kirby, Rodriguez et al. (2025, ISCJ) found that coach comments about weight and body composition are a significant predictor of disordered eating in athletes.
That means your words can cause harm — but they can also be incredibly powerful for good.
| ❌ Don't Say | ✅ Do Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "You look lean/fit" | "You look strong/fueled" | Disconnects appearance from performance |
| "Lose weight to get faster" | "Fuel to train harder" | Focuses on building, not restricting |
| "Be careful what you eat" | "Make sure you're eating enough" | Removes fear, adds permission |
| "Watch your weight" | "Let's make sure you're recovering" | Performance framing, not body framing |
From surveys of 40+ HS distance coaches, the top questions are:
"Lunch is such a failure point for kids"
"Nutrition during a track meet when events are spread far between"
"Timing of nutrition, what to eat for breakfast, before workout and race"
"Immune system stuff which is helpful, especially since kids are gross"
"Simple, relatively cheap, easy"
"Iron. How to get tested, ideal levels, recommended supplements"
Good news: every one of these questions is answered in this course.
Before Module 2, do one thing: audit your own language. This week at practice, catch yourself. Did you say something about an athlete's appearance? Did you frame food as "good" or "bad"? Write down one phrase you used and one you'd swap it for.
Citations:
Subscribe to unlock all 7 modules, plus 24 coach toolkit items and 300 nutrition guides.
View plans & pricing0 of 7 modules complete
Key Takeaway: 64% of HS coaches lack adequate nutrition knowledge, but 93.6% give nutrition advice anyway. You don't have to be a dietitian — but you DO have influence, and the words you use matter.
Research from Torres-McGehee et al. (2024) found that:
You're already talking to your athletes about food. The question isn't whether you should — it's whether you're doing it well.
You see your athletes every day. You're with them at meets, on bus rides, after tough losses. Parents might have one conversation about food per week. You have the opportunity to shape their relationship with food every single day.
Research from Kirby, Rodriguez et al. (2025, ISCJ) found that coach comments about weight and body composition are a significant predictor of disordered eating in athletes.
That means your words can cause harm — but they can also be incredibly powerful for good.
| ❌ Don't Say | ✅ Do Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "You look lean/fit" | "You look strong/fueled" | Disconnects appearance from performance |
| "Lose weight to get faster" | "Fuel to train harder" | Focuses on building, not restricting |
| "Be careful what you eat" | "Make sure you're eating enough" | Removes fear, adds permission |
| "Watch your weight" | "Let's make sure you're recovering" | Performance framing, not body framing |
From surveys of 40+ HS distance coaches, the top questions are:
"Lunch is such a failure point for kids"
"Nutrition during a track meet when events are spread far between"
"Timing of nutrition, what to eat for breakfast, before workout and race"
"Immune system stuff which is helpful, especially since kids are gross"
"Simple, relatively cheap, easy"
"Iron. How to get tested, ideal levels, recommended supplements"
Good news: every one of these questions is answered in this course.
Before Module 2, do one thing: audit your own language. This week at practice, catch yourself. Did you say something about an athlete's appearance? Did you frame food as "good" or "bad"? Write down one phrase you used and one you'd swap it for.
Citations:
Subscribe to unlock all 7 modules, plus 24 coach toolkit items and 300 nutrition guides.
View plans & pricing