BOONE, N.C. — Are carbohydrates the best source of energy? How can water help with muscle recovery? What’s considered a good type of fat?
Answers to these questions and more, along with other interesting nutritional facts, were shared this spring with a group of 43 middle school student-athletes from six local schools who took part in Appalachian State University’s Fuel Your Game Watauga — a nutrition education outreach program designed to enhance performance and reduce injuries among middle and high school student-athletes.
“This initiative has provided service-learning opportunities and capstone projects for many of our nutrition graduate students for several years and gives them the experience of sharing their knowledge with others,” said Dr. Melissa Gutschall, director of App State’s graduate nutrition program. “This represents a win-win collaboration with our local schools.”
Middle school student-athletes choose from a selection of healthy snacks during App State’s Fuel Your Game Watauga program, held this spring at Hardin Park School in Boone. Fuel Your Game Watauga is a nutrition education outreach program designed to enhance performance and reduce injuries among middle and high school student-athletes. It is a partnership between App State’s graduate nutrition program and Watauga County Schools. Photo by Chase Reynolds
During the program’s interactive class, held at Hardin Park School in Boone, graduate students in App State’s Master of Science in nutrition program led discussions on food groups and their impact on performance and answered questions from the middle school athletes. The athletes participate in various sports at Blowing Rock, Green Valley, Cove Creek, Parkway, Valle Crucis and Hardin Park schools.
After sampling pre-workout snacks such as granola bars, pickles and applesauce, the students competed in an interactive quiz to demonstrate their mastery of the nutrition facts they had just learned.
“Early education about proper nutrition can build a foundation that equips young athletes to perform well, whether their goal is to play in high school or college, pursue a professional career or engage in physical activities throughout their lifespan,” said Maggie Emmons ’24, of Carthage, one of the App State nutrition graduate students who led the Fuel Your Game Watauga class.
Emmons, who served as a graduate assistant in the nutrition program for App State’s football team, said her passion for working with sports nutrition began when she saw a teammate’s performance decline after not eating enough food to fuel the high level of performance required on the field.
Graduate and undergraduate students in App State’s nutrition and foods degree programs are pictured at Hardin Park School this spring, where they presented information on how proper nutrition can help boost athletic performance to local middle school student-athletes during the university’s Fuel Your Game Watauga program. Pictured, from left to right, front row to back row, are junior Anna Johnson, of Matthews; senior Lanie Stanley, of Princeton; senior Sophie Pierzala, of Ashland, Kentucky; graduate student Margaret “Maggie” Emmons ’24, of Carthage; graduate student Bria Martin, of Kirkland, Washington; senior Caitlyn Rogers, of Germanton; senior Samantha Mitchell, of Charlotte; senior Abby Baker, of Holly Springs; senior Joshua Pollard, of Wesley Chapel, Florida; graduate student and student-athlete Michael Fletcher ’24, of Flint, Michigan, who expects to graduate from App State this summer; graduate student and student-athlete Myles Farmer, of Atlanta, Georgia; and graduate student Casey Edmondson ’24, of Boone. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Amanda Combs, a registered nurse at Watauga County Schools, coordinates with the school district to help plan and organize the Fuel Your Game Watauga classes. She said she enjoyed watching the student-athletes begin to connect how nutrition can help, or hinder, their physical and mental performance.
“I think many of the students were surprised to learn that breakfast means that you are breaking your fast from sleeping,” Combs said. “Many of them skip breakfast, so for the athletes in attendance, I could see them thinking about why eating breakfast could be important.”
Emmons said during the class, some of the middle school students were surprised to learn that carbohydrates and a snack eaten about 30 to 45 minutes before a workout can provide quick fuel.
“One of the students mentioned she typically avoided eating oats and other carbohydrates before a workout because she thought they were not healthy, but after the presentation, said she was going to try some oats before her next practice,” said Emmons. “We also talked about how to make healthier choices when eating convenience or fast foods. Hearing about what the students learned brings me so much joy, and I hope what they learned helps them perform at their best!”
App State student-athletes and nutrition graduate students Myles Farmer, of Atlanta, Georgia, left, and Michael Fletcher ’24, of Flint, Michigan, right, are pictured with App State associate professor Dr. Alisha Farris, a registered dietitian nutritionist, at Hardin Park School in Boone this spring. Under Farris’ direction, Farmer, Fletcher and other App State nutrition graduate students presented information on how proper nutrition can help boost athletic performance to local middle school student-athletes during the university’s Fuel Your Game Watauga program, which was held at the school. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Fuel Your Game Watauga is typically offered twice during the school year, to align with fall and spring sports programs. Initially supported with grant funding awarded to the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness (App Well), housed in App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences, the program is a partnership between App State’s graduate nutrition program and Watauga County Schools.
“I think the impact of this program is profound,” said Combs. “We want to encourage our middle school athletes to embrace healthier lifestyles and improve their academic and athletic performance.”
For more information or questions about the Fuel Your Game Watauga program, contact Gutschall at [email protected] or Mary Sheryl Horine, App Well director of outreach and education, at [email protected].
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About the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management
The Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management in Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences provides graduate and undergraduate programs. The undergraduate health care management program prepares students for entry-level management positions, while the online Master of Health Administration degree is designed for working professionals who desire to advance their careers. The undergraduate nutrition and foods program prepares students for careers in dietetics or food systems management in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, nursing homes and food banks. The highly competitive master’s degree in nutrition provides a pathway for students to become registered dietitians. Learn more at https://nhm.appstate.edu.
About the Beaver College of Health Sciences
Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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