by Jenna Laborde, BU Athletic Communications

While staying healthy has taken on a new meaning during the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition remains an integral piece of the puzzle for doing just that.
 
To make sure BU student-athletes have all the nutrition resources they need, Athletics has partnered with the Sargent Choice Nutrition Center (SCNC) to provide tools such as individual counseling, group workshops and expert care in sports nutrition, and overall healthy meal planning.

Sarah Gilbert, registered dietitian and nutritionist for BU Athletics, along with her team of volunteers and interns, has been working hard to service student-athletes during this unprecedented time. From navigating the new setup of dining halls to holding seminars on how to shop at the grocery store, Gilbert remains an essential resource for Terrier student-athletes.
 
The Terrier Fueling Station

Because student-athletes have busy class and training schedules, they may benefit from supplemental items to enhance their performance, replenish their energy, and kick-start recovery. The Terrier Fueling Station provides strategic products for both before and after strength training. This is especially helpful when athletes have a strength training session and practice back-to-back, or cannot make it to the dining hall for any other reason. 
 
"Our goal with the Terrier Fueling Station is to provide food to student-athletes right when they need it and right where they need it," Gilbert said.
 
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, student-athletes cannot just drop into the fueling station like they normally would. The nutrition team has adapted by formulating workout-specific snacks that are designed to optimize performance and recovery for each team. The team has also surveyed athletes whenever possible to gather information on product and flavor preferences.  
 
"If people are lifting earlier in the morning, we're assuming that it was hard for them to get breakfast before they came in, so we give them extra pre-workout items to help with that," said Gilbert. "For athletes that are coming in the late afternoon or evening, we're thinking that it might have been hard for them to get lunch before they came in or they might not be able to go to the dining hall right after this, so we give them more of those post-workout items to help support their recovery."
 
To adapt to safety restrictions, the nutrition team has put out tables in the weight room at 300 Babcock Street for the student-athletes to grab their food quickly with as little contact as possible. The Fueling Station has also expanded to Agganis Arena, where many teams have conducted strength training this fall.
 
BU Dining Services
 
Similar to a normal semester, the SCNC collaborates with BU Dining Services to create flavorful, health-promoting Sargent Choice meals, help students navigate the dining halls, and support students with food allergies and other food-related medical conditions. However, adjustments have been made for the pandemic. While social distancing and sanitation measures are making it more difficult for students to go to the dining halls and customize their meals, as everything now comes prepackaged, the University is working hard to ensure that a variety of options are still available.
 
"Dining definitely looks different this year, but they've done a really great job of expanding options and trying to make as much as possible available to all of our students so that they can not only meet their needs, but find things that meet their preferences," said Gilbert.
 
If students are looking for more customized dining hall meals, Gilbert recommends trying Rhetty To Go, which are meals that students can order online in advance and pick up at the time of their choosing. Students can customize their own sandwich, salad, or reheatable entree with a variety of side and drink options.
 
"For those of our students who feel like they might not find exactly what they are looking for in the dining hall, Rhetty To Go is a nice way to get something different," said Gilbert.
 
Services for BU Athletic Teams

In a normal year, teams are offered a variety of in-person team talks and workshops. With COVID-19, all of the same great content is now available through a convenient, online platform. Team talks cover everything from fueling for training, hydration, supplements, and sleep, to bone health, immune health and eating on the road. A workshop series includes activities designed to help athletes customize meals and snacks to maximize performance, balance nutrition goals and favorite foods, and build meals and snacks around individual practice and class schedules.  
 
In addition to team talks and workshops, underclassmen typically get tours of the dining halls, while upperclassmen get tours and advice on how to navigate the grocery store. This semester, both of those options have been converted into virtual workshops. For those looking for more specific guidance, Gilbert and the SCNC team also offer individual nutrition counseling through a secure Zoom platform.
 
Post-COVID, Gilbert plans to continue virtual workshops, as she has been able to increase the support she provides to student-athletes.
 
"These workshops are a nice alternative during the offseason or when people might not be here or might have other things going on," said Gilbert. "Again, we've actually found that people really like virtual counseling. We thought it might feel impersonal, but it's really convenient for people who live off-campus and it's sometimes easier for us to meet with people than if we were in person."
 
In a year full of adjustment and adaptation, Gilbert and the SCNC team have gone above and beyond to help Terriers enjoy a successful fall semester.