“Work hard, play hard.”
That’s a common mantra for student athletes at colleges and universities across Parkhurst’s 11-state footprint.
But according to Parkhurst dietitian, Melissa Lustic-Long, it can be hard for students to adhere to proper sports nutrition and adequate fueling on a collegiate athletic team, leading to fatigue, poor recovery, and decreased performance both athletically and academically.
“As an athletic trainer, I have experienced the wild schedules, the travel, the late nights and early mornings, and have seen how this can impact the athletes in their athletic performance,” says Parkhurst Dietitian, Sports and Performance Nutrition, Melissa Lustic-Long MS, RDN, LDN, LAT, ATC, CSCS. “I try to help cut through that noise with sustainable, realistic, evidence-based suggestions using our dining and retail spaces to make the nutrition piece of performance easier.”
For all students, Parkhurst Dining likes to be proactive when addressing fueling challenges and tackles common struggles in many ways. These nutritional solutions not only provide student athletes with training success but a foundation for lifelong performance.
Expanded Accessibility
Skipping meals or experiencing long gaps between meals are common food challenges for student athletes. Parkhurst approaches this problem by expanding accessibility. Since student athletes’ schedules are forever changing and unpredictable, we provide reliable food sources for athletes in locations they frequent most, like gyms, stadiums, and other athletic centers.
At many Parkhurst collegiate sites, Byte vending machines provide fresh, healthy, and convenient nutrition for student athletes in a variety of locations. Students simply swipe a payment method to unlock the machine, select their items, and the system automatically charges them based on RFID technology that tracks what was taken. Byte machines offer round-the-clock access to nutritious options while requiring minimal staff involvement, making them a cost-effective solution.
Along with Byte machines, take-home meals and extended dining hall hours are two other ways Parkhurst meets athletes where they are. Access to the dining areas provides student athletes with the ability to add a starch, protein, and color to each meal, something Lustic-Long encourages.
Better Hydration Opportunities
According to Lustic-Long, inadequate hydration and relying on caffeine instead of food are two ways students create an energy deficit before training.
Since many guests, including athletes, avoid drinks with added sugars, Parkhurst equips dining halls with hydration stations for filling their water bottles, featuring water-infusion towers filled with naturally flavored blends like lemon thyme, cucumber mint, and strawberry basil.
“For athletes to stay properly fueled, practical strategies include packing or purchasing quick snacks between classes, carrying a water bottle, and choosing foods that are easy on the go,” said Lustic-Long.
First-Class Fueling for Every Student
As a contract dining provider, Parkhurst Dining has extensive experience catering to a variety of different clients, including professional and collegiate teams at their practice facilities.
Our chefs collaborate closely with team nutritionists to develop custom menus that enhance athletic performance. We often host special events or workshops led by our chefs to educate students on how food fuels performance and helps them achieve their fitness goals.
“We not only use these tools for student athletes but for major league professional athletes,” said Lustic-Long. “The challenges are similar, and we utilize our expertise with professional athletes to help support our student athletes.”
Offering One-On-One Coaching Sessions with Students
In addition to visits to campus for special educational events and wellness fairs, Parkhurst dietitians are available for one-on-one coaching sessions for all students. Whether they are navigating an allergy, adjusting to a new dietary lifestyle, looking to fuel their body for athletic performance, or just generally interested in nutrition, Parkhurst offers students personalized attention and recommendations.
“I’ve worked in several aspects of athletics in my career and have seen how difficult it can be for student athletes to not only adequately fuel, but to remember to build time into their schedules for eating and drinking in general,” said Lustic-Long. “That makes it much easier to end up in an energy deficit, which makes injuries, illness, and overtraining far more likely — and this isn’t even speaking to the performance piece of athletics.”
Parkhurst is happy to support top-notch athletic performances with customizable strategies for every location and accessibility to help students excel on and off the field.
Stay connected to Parkhurst’s wellness initiatives and sports performance tips by following our Well On Your Way Instagram page, which tracks events, pop-ups, and meals across our footprint.
