How Do Athletes Fuel Their Body? - Nutrition Storyline

Students will be introduced to the phenomenon of why athletes eat different diets and how food intake and quality can affect their athletic performance. As students discuss personal experiences with food and exercise, they will create a driving question board (DQB) to begin to understand the inputs and outputs that may affect athletes’ performance. 

Students will learn how to better understand nutritional labels and the information they provide. Their goal will be to compare the nutritional value and caloric content of different breakfasts from various athletes depending on their level of activity. Moreover, they will gain an understanding of what dietitians do as part of their careers.

To keep the athletes’ bodies functioning their bodies utilize energy found in foods in the form of calories and macronutrients for physical activity. Students will determine the number of calories in a product using calorimetry to learn where energy comes from. Furthermore, they will evaluate the sensory properties of food such as, flavor, color, and texture, and how these relate to product formulation. 

Food provides energy for the body, which allows athletes to perform physical activity. Carbohydrates in food are the main source of fuel and their energy comes from the chemical bonds between the carbons in glucose molecules. In this lesson, students will balance the aerobic respiration equation to understand how energy is released and stored in the body.

In aerobic respiration, glucose reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water; while the energy released in harvested in the form of ATP - the body's energy currency. In this lesson, students will revisit aerobic respiration and learn how ATP contributes to the movement of fibers and the contraction of muscles.

Foods can also provide protein, which is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in our bodies. Athletes should be concerned about protein quality and obtaining essential amino acids through foods. Students will learn about essential amino acids, protein denaturation and how protein is digested and absorbed in the body.

Students will learn about daily protein requirements to maintain health and understand why athletes require more protein in their diets than average individuals. Furthermore, they will recognize protein ingestion and exercise as the main drivers to muscle synthesis.

The product development process requires the collaboration of many experts to create a successful product. The final project will require students to combine their knowledge of food science and nutrition to create a high protein product for athletes.