University athletes can now stop and get something to eat at one of the three new Fueling Stations — grab-and-go style food stops — as they make their way between classes and practice.
The Fueling Stations are located at the football practice facilities, the stadium weight room and in a specially constructed room in the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.
The additional access to food comes after a long fight for the deregulation of athlete nutrition by the NCAA, said Jamie Meeks, sports nutrition coordinator. Previously, the only food items the University could offer athletes other than dining hall foods were fruit, nuts, bagels and energy bars.
Now athletes can walk through the brand new facility in the Cox Center and pick up a breakfast sandwich, yogurt or fruit slices and then fill up their water bottles with Powerade from a fountain machine. A smaller room connected to the first line has oatmeal, bagels, peanut butter and apples for them to take.
Because athletes’ caloric needs were not always being met, sports nutritionists lobbied the NCAA for three years to allow them to provide more food for athletes, Meeks said.
“The calorie needs of elite athletes are much higher than a regular person,” Meeks said. “They’ll skimp on meals throughout the day because of their busy schedules and then end up backlogging them in the evening, so we figured if we feed them throughout the day they can meet their calorie needs.”
Meeks said athletes need to refuel their bodies throughout the day because they are constantly recovering from their practices and workouts, according to sports nutrition data used in the lobbying efforts.
Food offered in the Fueling Stations is set to a rotating menu with different options available in the mornings, afternoons and at night. The station inside the Cox Center was opened at the start of the school year, along the length of a wall to provide students with food before the new facility was finished being built.
Stacey Stanfield, a kinesiology junior and member of LSU’s swimming and diving team, said the Fueling Stations help her stay energized.
“Being able to stop by between classes or practice is so convenient,” Stanfield said. “Jamie puts a lot of effort into it.”
Meeks also runs a blog with tips and information on proper nutrition for athletes.
“I tell them ‘No matter where you are on campus, you have the opportunity to come grab a snack before practice or class,’” Meeks said. “So there really is no reason they should be going hungry. They have a lot of opportunities to fuel their bodies.”

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Emily Brauner

LSU Sport's Nutrition Center opens the Fueling Station for student athletes struggling to eat healthy while dealing with time management.