The Sports Nutrition Playbook

Most parents schedule their athlete's sports physical to check a box before the season starts—but Scott Galloway, an athletic trainer who's worked with high school athletes and hospital sports medicine systems, reveals why that's a missed opportunity. A sports physical isn't just paperwork; it's your chance to identify potential injury risks, uncover medical concerns, ask...

In this episode of The Sports Nutrition Playbook Podcast, Amy tackles a challenge every summer athlete faces: how to fuel your body when the heat kills your appetite. Amy breaks down why staying properly nourished matters even when you don't feel hungry, and shares practical, easy-to-implement strategies for getting the energy and recovery support your body needs through fluid-based fueling....

In this episode, Amy sits down with Michael Rodriguez, founder of the Unshaken brand, to explore how youth sports can be one of the most powerful tools for raising resilient, purpose-driven adults. Michael unpacks his philosophy that resilience is a muscle, one that gets stronger through losing, benchwarming, and getting back up, and why parents and coaches play a critical role in shaping how kids...

In this episode of The Sports Nutrition Playbook Podcast, we break down three key strategies athletes can use to prepare for summer training and maximize performance before the season even begins. This episode focuses on practical ways athletes can stay energized, recover better, and train at a higher level all summer long. We also discuss why personalized guidance from a sports dietitian can help...

In this episode of The Sports Nutrition Playbook Podcast, Chef Joshua Ingraham breaks down how elite fueling strategies used with professional MLB and NHL athletes can be adapted for student-athletes and active families. From building balanced meals and smart food pairings to prioritizing recovery and  anti-inflammatory nutrition, this conversation highlights practical ways to support performance...

In this episode of The Sports Nutrition Playbook Podcast, you’ll learn why proper planning is one of the biggest performance advantages athletes can have as May schedules fill with tournaments, travel, parties, cookouts, and rising temperatures. We break down how to strategically plan your fueling, hydration, recovery, and food choices so busy days don’t derail your performance goals. This episode...

In this episode, Christoph Merrill, known as “The Habit Freak,” breaks down why talent alone is never the differentiator, daily habits are. He challenges the idea that motivation drives performance, explaining why it consistently falls short and what athletes should rely on instead to stay consistent through busy schedules, long seasons, and real life demands. You’ll learn why athletes struggle to...

This episode breaks down why “fueling the in-between” is a critical, yet often overlooked, part of athletic performance, emphasizing that energy, focus, recovery, and strength are built during the hours between classes, practices, and competitions, not just at meals. The biggest takeaway is that preparation drives consistency, having snacks readily available makes fueling automatic, which ultimate...

In this episode, we sit down with Liz Oba, RD, PMP, REAL Food Mission Ambassador at Thomas Cuisine, to break down what it truly means to use food as medicine for athletes at every level. From fueling professional teams like the San Jose Quakes to supporting young athletes and their families, Liz shares how simple, practical nutrition strategies can drive performance, recovery, and long-term health...

Protein and fiber may not be the trendiest topics in sports nutrition, but they are two of the most impactful nutrients athletes can focus on for better performance and recovery. In this episode, you will learn why protein is essential for muscle repair, recovery, immune function, and maintaining lean mass, and why spreading protein across meals and snacks helps stabilize energy and support muscle...

In this episode, Coach Tony Esprit of Pro 7 Sports Recruiting breaks down what the recruiting process actually looks like for middle and high school athletes and their families, cutting through the noise of common myths and unrealistic expectations. Listeners will gain clarity on when athletes should start paying attention to recruiting, what truly matters at each stage, and the biggest mistakes t...

In this episode, Amy challenges the common belief that heart health only matters later in life and break down why it’s a performance priority for athletes right now. Listeners will learn how everyday nutrition choices directly affect training capacity, recovery, and long-term cardiovascular health, even in youth and teen athletes. We highlight three key nutrition levers, omega-3 fats, smarter satu...

In Episode 72,  Dr. Shaun Garff breaks down what youth and teen athletes truly need to perform, stay healthy, and recover well, starting with the fundamentals that are often overlooked. Listeners will gain clarity on the most common nutrition- and injury-related issues seen in young athletes, how to communicate about nutrition in a way that supports performance and long-term development, and why h...

In this episode of the podcast, Amy explores how athletes can use habit stacking to build powerful routines that actually stick during busy school days, training schedules, and competitive seasons without feeling overwhelmed. You will learn what habit stacking is, why it works so well for athletes, and how attaching small performance-focused habits to existing daily routines can improve hydration,...

In this episode, Amy sits down with Dr. Kate Lund, licensed clinical psychologist, performance coach, and host of The Optimized Mind , to explore what true mental resilience really looks like for athletes and the families who support them. You’ll learn why burnout and perfectionism are so common in today’s sports culture, how parents and coaches can shift from pushing to genuinely supporting, and...

This episode breaks down how red and green superfoods can elevate an athlete’s performance, recovery, and immune resilience during the busy holiday season. You’ll learn why these colors signal powerful nutrients and how they help reduce soreness, boost energy, improve sleep, support oxygen transport, and strengthen overall recovery. Amy highlights the top five red and top five green foods to inclu...

In this episode, Amy sits down with Karen E. Todd, VP of Global Brand Marketing at Kyowa Hakko USA, to explore the powerful intersection of nutrition, cognitive health, and performance, especially for youth athletes. Together, they dive into how fueling strategies impact both the body and the mind, from optimizing recovery and focus to preventing burnout and building resilience. Listeners will lea...

In this episode, we’re serving up the ultimate guide to fueling your pickleball game, from peewee players to seasoned pros. Amy breaks down her top 10 performance nutrition tips to help you boost endurance, sharpen focus, and recover faster on and off the court. You’ll learn what to eat before, during, and after a match, how to stay properly hydrated, and the key nutrients that support energy, joi...

In this episode, Amy is joined by Missy Mitchell-McBeth, strength coach and author of Developmental to Division 1: Strength & Conditioning for the Volleyball Athlete , to break down how volleyball players can train smarter, get stronger, and stay healthy at every level. They discuss how to build a solid foundation of strength, prevent overuse injuries, and develop explosive power safely, while...

In this festive episode of The Sports Nutrition Playbook Podcast , Amy breaks down how athletes can enjoy Halloween without sabotaging their performance goals. From mindful indulgence strategies and creative ways to work candy into balanced snacks to surrounding sweets with nutrient-dense foods, Amy shares practical, guilt-free tips for navigating the holiday. Listeners will walk away with easy, a...

In this episode of The Sports Nutrition Playbook Podcast , Mental Performance Coach Gary Chupik shares a playbook for the mind designed to help youth and college athletes thrive. From building focus, resilience, and confidence to navigating identity shifts and setbacks, Gary unpacks the practical routines and mindset strategies that athletes, coaches, and parents can use right now to strengthen th...

In this episode, Amy breaks down how nutrition and hydration directly impact an athlete’s focus both in the classroom and on the court. With practical examples, from what to eat at breakfast to how much water to drink before and during practice, this episode equips athletes with clear, actionable strategies to keep their mind as strong as their body. To learn more visit @thesportsnutritionplaybook...

Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the U.S., yet most people don’t realize how unprepared they are to handle it. In this episode, we talk with the founder of Project H.E.A.T. (Heat Education Awareness Team), Lexi Engelbart , about why heat safety matters, the warning signs of heat-related illness, and what steps you can take to stay safe and protect others. You’ll walk away with pract...

As an athlete, your performance isn’t just about fueling your body—it’s about fueling your brain too. In this episode, we dig into the powerful connection between nutrition, stress management, and peak performance. You’ll learn how the right foods can calm nerves and improve focus, why cutting back on ultra-processed foods gives you a competitive edge, and how to build balanced meals and snacks th...

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Swales—a physiotherapist, strength coach, and creator of the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification—for a powerful conversation on redefining rehabilitation and performance in teen athletes. We explore the evolution of rehab, why movement must come before treatment, and how nervous system regulation plays a critical role in recovery and performance. W...