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Sports Nutrition

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There is no question that nutrition plays a key role in improving sports performance. A good sports performance diet can be a powerful solution for safely and naturally improving your energy, endurance, speed, reaction time, and recovery. 

In the world of competitive sports, where winning and losing may come down to milliseconds, athletes need to examine all areas to see where they can improve. Research is in agreement that certain nutrition strategies – whether it is starting the day with breakfast or grabbing the right combination of foods for recovery, have tangible performance benefits.

In 2016, Menlo School has hired its first ever Sports Nutritionist as a consultant, to help guide our students on fueling for academic and athletic success. Sterling launched her Sports Nutrition Curriculum that September, and holds lectures every season. All Upper School teams participate. The curriculum includes the following topics:

  1. Building Your Nutritional Foundation: fueling throughout the day, quality of food, balance, matching energy needs
  2.  Pre- and post-workout Recommendations and Strategies
  3. Additional Nutritional Considerations: Hydration, Electrolytes, Breakfast, Supplements, and Sleep
  4. Nutrition Wrap Up: Summary of key recommendations, and interactive goal setting
Sports Nutrition Resources: Handouts, presentation slides, assessments
About Wendy Sterling

Wendy Sterling, MS, RD, CSSD is a Registered Dietitian and a board-certified sports dietitian. 

Sterling is currently a Nutrition Consultant for the Golden State Warriors. She was the Team Nutritionist for the New York Jets from 2006-2013 where she worked directly with players to improve endurance, speed and explosiveness. She is a Sports Performance Nutrition Consultant for Pro Hoops, helping athletes achieve peak performance prior to the NBA draft, and has consulted for the NY Islanders, and Hofstra University’s Women’s Lacrosse and Volleyball teams. Sterling is part of the United States Olympic Committee Sports Dietitian Registry. She works closely with competitive athletes in order to enhance sports performance and gain a competitive edge.

Sterling, who maintains a private practice in Menlo Park,  also specializes in eating disorders, and weight management. She is currently a nutritionist for The Healthy Teen Project, where she works as part of multi-disciplinary team to provide treatment for teenagers struggling with eating disorders. Sterling is a  co-founder and co-owner of FOODWIZE, a company that specializes in menus that are kid friendly, nutritionally sound, and parent approved.

Sterling received her B.S. in dietetics/nutritional sciences from Cornell University. She earned her Master’s Degree in Nutrition Education at Teacher’s College at Columbia University, where she also completed her dietetic internship.