March is National Athletic Training Month and here at Delbarton, we have two of the best athletic trainers in the state, Kevin Nasse and Matt Beneszewki.  Recently Nasse spoke to many of our student athletes regarding sports nutrition.

In a packed Spada Commons on February 27th, student athletes at our school were treated to an enlightening session on sports nutrition by our athletic trainer, Kevin Nasse. This marked the beginning of a series of bi-monthly sessions, led by Kevin Nasse and his counterpart Matt Beneszewski, aimed at delving into various aspects of athletic performance, from nutrition to recovery and sports psychology.

With over 140 eager students in attendance during homeroom, Kevin wasted no time in diving into the fundamentals of sports nutrition. His presentation centered around the pivotal concept that food serves as fuel for athletes, emphasizing the importance of consuming the right balance of macronutrients for optimal performance and recovery.

Nasse shed light on the significance of carbohydrates and healthy fats in an athlete's diet, stressing the role they play in providing sustained energy levels and supporting overall health. "A sustainable diet," as Nasse put it, is not just about what you eat but also about how it fuels your body for the demands of athletic competition.

Nasse provided insights into meeting athletes' daily nutritional needs for both fueling and recovery. He outlined various fueling strategies, including the concept of carb-loading for ultra-endurance athletes, ensuring that students left with enough knowledge to enhance their performance on the field or court.

"Proteins are also an incredibly important part of your daily nutrition," Nasse emphasized, underlining their crucial role in muscle repair and recovery post-exercise. By emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded diet that includes all essential nutrients, Nasse urged students to "eat the rainbow" - a visual reminder to incorporate a diverse range of fruits and vegetables into their daily meals.  His recommendation of consuming "one cup of every color per day" served as a simple yet effective strategy to ensure a balanced intake of essential nutrients.  Highlighting key micronutrients such as vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, and zinc, Nasse underscored their importance in supporting overall health and athletic performance.

As the session concluded, students left Spada Commons with a newfound understanding of the vital role nutrition plays in athletic success. Looking ahead, the next session will be on April 16th, which will focus on recovery post-game/events.

You can view all of the presentation here.