CALDWELL, N.J. -- With the pressures of games, practices and other team responsibilities on top of the rigors of academic life, proper nutrition for collegiate student-athletes can easily get lost in the shuffle. Grabbing a burger, candy bar or energy drink may be easy and the norm for athletes as they get through their day, but that can lead to nutritional issues that can affect performance on the playing field and in the classroom.

Caldwell University Athletics is proud to have begun a service to its student-athletes that it hopes can improve this situation. The new Sports Nutrition Counseling program soft-launched in January, and already numerous students have taken advantage of free sessions with RDN Amanda Fischer, who guides them individually in such areas as:

• Fueling Fundamentals
• Recovery & Wellness
• Custom Fueling Plan
• Nutrition Inquiries
• Fun Food Facts
• and more.

The goal, according to Amanda, is empowering student-athletes for food freedom.

"We want to give them the tools and the knowledge of nutrition to be able to do it on their own," she explained recently after a student session, which are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Cougar Enrichment Center, by appointment. "The idea to get the individual into the mindset of wanting to add something rather than taking away. Adding to their knowledge instead of focusing on what he or she is losing."

The program is the result of the efforts of Caldwell University Head Athletic Trainer and Senior Woman Administrator Heather Arabitg, and Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark A. Corino, who recognized that the use of a nutritionist isn't something student-athletes might think of on their own.

"We began to offer the Sports Nutrition sessions as a way to help our student-athletes learn more about how what they eat and drink affect all aspects of their life," said Arabitg. "It's such a tremendous opportunity for them, and while we're pleased that several have already participated, we wanted to make sure all of our nearly 400 student-athletes know it is available and seriously consider it."

Amanda's plan is to first get to know the student-athletes independent of their eating habits. What sport do they play? What do they like to do outside of school and their sport? Then she can get at a nutrition plan that would be a good fit.

"A success is helping them avoid the extremes, which are the number one issue for athletes," she added. "Extremes in calories, water intake, proteins. Getting consistency, in season and out of season, is key."

Amanda gives an example of a high-level cyclist she worked with who experienced those extremes, some days taking in 800 calories and others 2500. His experience, she notes, is not uncommon among collegiate student-athletes, who may also be prone to overthinking or perfectionist tendencies that can make that consistency at meals difficult to achieve.

"The goal is to find a sustainable balance—a nutrition plan that supports health of the student-athlete for practice, competition, and classes," she added, "while also recognizing that it needs to be sustainable and allow for the realities of being a college student."

Interested student-athletes can set up times with Amanda through the athletic training staff.