HLTH 645
Overview: This assignment will give you a chance to apply the knowledge gained in this course. This is the practical application of sports nutrition, working with an athlete, or team of athletes, and guiding them to adopt appropriate eating behaviors that with enhance performance and health. Make sure you research information for all parts of this assignment to make it as realistic as possible. Complete all work in AMA style, citing where appropriate. The assignment is broken into 2 parts.
Part 1: Sport Selection, Description and Explanation of Nutritional Demands (worth 100 points)
Select a sport that is played on the college or professional level. Use the heading: Selected Sport and Characteristics as your heading to discuss the following talking points:
Describe the characteristics of this sport that may impact nutritional requirements including the following: the frequency, duration, and intensity of training sessions and competitions, environmental issues, injury risk, and other factors you deem pertinent. Must cite at least one credible reference for this information.
Provide information on the nutritional issues and challenges of the sport. Use the following 5-6 bolded headings to guide your talking points:
1. Preseason needs/concerns/differences
2. Energy requirements and Predominate Metabolic Pathway
3. Dehydration risk/hydration guidelines
4. Specific nutrient demands and deficiencies of concern
5. Recovery needs/concerns
6. Other challenging dietary issues particular to this sport (Gastrointestinal upset, weight classes, food availability, timing etc…)
Combined, the description and explanation should consist of 400-600 words.
It is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 5.
Part 2: Final Dietary Prescription (worth 150 points)
Centering on the sport’s various features presented in Part 1 (from week 5), create a fictious athlete. Name the athlete, provide demographic information about the athlete. Paint the picture of this athlete’s current situation as well as athletic goals. Based on your specific athlete, create a comprehensive diet plan for your athlete.
Create two days of menus for your athlete. One representing a TRAINING DAY or PRE-EVENT DAY and one the DAY OF COMPETITION.
Enter these menus into a nutrition analysis program that analyses the macronutrients and micronutrients. (ie Cronometer – https://cronometer.com/signup/)
Include these charts in you submission. Minimally charts should provide information on protein, carbohydrates, fat, calories and any micronutrient of concern – iron, calcium, vitamin D, sodium, etc…Show calculations for these two days of menus that exemplify practical application of dietary recommendations. You must explain how each fits your specific sport – this should not be based on a general macronutrient distribution such as AMDR but on what fits your sport and level. Prescribe/Recommend for your athlete in his/her specific sport/level for training and separate for competition (give references). Show calculations and recommended times of consumption.
As you work on this assignment “pretend” you are working with the athlete. If you have this mind set it will help you to better answer questions. For example, your athlete may ask, “why do I have to eat this now?” Or, “why can’t I have this later?” Why can’t I have ____ for lunch? This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your understanding of the material. You need to not only create these menus but also explain WHY they should be followed. So view this last submission in two parts.
1. The menus that will fuel your athlete properly
2. The dialog/discussion/report that will explain why it is important to follow these menus. Discuss in understandable terms to your athlete the dangers that will be avoided or minimized and the benefits that can accompany following the menus.
This is your opportunity to demonstrate your competence and understanding, so be detailed and comprehensive. Without counting charts, tables, or menus this section of your paper should consist of 1500–1800 words
Use the following 6 bolded headings to guide your discussion:
1. Review General Description of athlete and sport
2. Menu charts
3. Dietary guidelines/needs and rationale for pre, event, and post times based on workouts discussed previously (show calculations for determining calorie and protein needs)
4. Hydration guidelines/needs and rationale for pre, event, and post times.
5. Specific nutrition information and recommendations to help prevent, reduce, or alleviate issues presented in Part 1
6. Any supplements or ergogenic aids that would be beneficial . These recommendations may be included as bullet points.
Following is a breakdown of the points that can be earned (and lost) for this assignment:
Calories – 5 points for 2 menus = 10 points total
Grams carbohydrate – 5 points for 2 menus = 10 points total
Grams protein – 5 points for 2 menus = 10 points
Grams fat or % – 5 points for 2 menus = 10 points
Nutrient adequacy is addressed (supplements or how to improve menu to meet nutrient needs – 5 point
Grams of carbohydrate before, during and after training/competition and Fluids – before, during and after training/competition – 30 points
Menus closely match each of above (for example – calories should be within 50 of goal, carbohydrate should be within 15 to 30 grams of goal…) and food composition is accurate (Discuss if your totals match your goals.) – 10 points
Reports should show for each food on the menu – calories, grams carbohydrate, protein and fat (fat may be in %) plus totals for each meal and grams carbohydrate before, during, after including total grams carbohydrate before, during and after – 20 points
Nutritional challenges/issues addressed from Part 1 with couple of food examples as appropriate – 20 points
Before submitting, be sure to review the grading rubric and the above identified 6 heading guideline to guide your discussion. This will ensure you answer all necessary areas.
This section is due 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.
