Daemen Athletics Teams Up with Local Nutritionist

3/16/2023 2:38:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Tom McDermott, Director of Athletics Communications | tmcdermo@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. - There are many challenges that go along with being a student-athlete, and the Daemen University athletic department is taking a proactive approach when it comes to proper nutrition.

The University has teamed up with Mindy Yoder, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and certified dietitian nutritionist (CDN) who specializes in weight management and sports nutrition. Yoder will work with the athletics department to educate student athletes regarding nutrition choices and timing to optimize athletic performance and help manage weight.

The partnership came about after student athletes expressed an interest in gaining more information about the subject.

"Through end of season surveys, we asked our student athletes to identify areas that they would like more focus and education on and nutrition was a popular choice," said Karen Roehling, Assistant Athletic Trainer and Senior Woman Administrator at Daemen. "I have seen first hand that our student athletes struggle with making good choices and fueling their bodies for sport, so this past summer our administration decided to make the commitment to partner with a nutritionist."

Roehling and Yoder have made it a point to make sure that everyone has access to the program. They have meet with teams and have also offered programs to the entire department. They have also focused on first-year students since being away from home and making food choices and scheduling is new to them.

Reception to the program by the student athletes was positive last semester. This semester they are offering two programs, one focusing on Food Preparation and another on Sports Nutrition.

"The team meetings have been great, and if someone wants more information Mindy is more than willing to meet individually with them," said Roehling.

"The athletes have been very engaged in the team and food prep sessions," said Yoder. "They have many questions and a genuine interest in not only performing well as an athlete but understanding how the foods they choose impact their health, energy levels, and performance as a student athlete."

While the partnership is new for Daemen, having access to a nutritionist is becoming popular throughout the world of the collegiate athletics and many Division I athletic departments have a nutritionist on staff.

"Nutrition can make a difference in performance, and being educated about nutrition can help with injury prevention and recovery," explained Roehling.

Student athletes are encouraged to follow an Instagram account (@wildcatsfuel) that Yoder developed to make her teachings more accessible and allow the student athletes to ask questions when needed.

Roehling explained that the short-term goals of the partnership were to simply start some programs and educate the student athletes, while the long-term goals are to offer individual consultation through office hours and move towards a fueling station for the student athletes.

"The goals of our relationship are to introduce student athletes to the foundational knowledge of how to eat healthy, budget their time and money and learn to incorporate a fueling and hydration strategy to benefit their overall health, both physical and mental," explained Yoder. "Additional guidance can be provided regarding sport and position specific recommendations for fueling and hydration, in-season and off-season strategy, nutrition during travel, managing body composition, and risks of under fueling."

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams.

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