In this episode, we cover…
(0:00) Maddie introduces her background, growing up playing multiple sports and developing a perfectionist mindset as an athlete
(4:00) Shares her experience with dieting in high school, chasing performance through weight loss, and receiving mixed messaging
(8:00) Explains developing an eating disorder in college while running cross country and the impact on her health and career
(12:00) Talks about lack of nutrition resources for athletes and how it led her to pursue sports nutrition
(16:00) Describes her career working with college athletes and focusing on both physical and mental health
(20:00) Explains common nutrition mistakes, including under-eating and misunderstanding calorie needs for athletes
(25:00) Discusses individualized nutrition, avoiding comparison, and focusing on performance over weight
(30:00) Shares advice for parents on fueling athletes properly with whole foods and balanced meals
(35:00) Talks about handling nutrition on the road and making better choices even in fast food situations
(40:00) Final advice: don’t tie identity to sport, fuel your body properly, and focus on long-term health and performance
Why Sports Nutrition Is the Missing Piece for Many Athletes
For many young athletes, training, practice, and competition take center stage—but Maddie Troyer explains that nutrition is often the most overlooked factor in performance. In this episode with Athletes Untapped, Maddie—a former collegiate cross country runner turned sports dietitian at SMU in Texas—shares how proper fueling can make or break an athlete’s career.
Her journey highlights a major issue in youth and college sports: athletes are often under-fueled, misinformed, and influenced by outdated dieting advice that can negatively impact both performance and long-term health.
Growing Up as a Multi-Sport Athlete
Maddie Troyer grew up playing a wide variety of sports, including gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, and more. From a young age, she showed natural athletic ability and a strong drive to improve.
However, along with that drive came a perfectionist mindset. As she progressed into high school athletics, she began to tie her identity closely to performance. Like many athletes, she felt pressure to be the best—not just for success, but for acceptance and recognition.
The Dangers of Diet Culture in Youth Sports
During Maddie’s high school years, she was heavily influenced by diet culture—messaging that emphasized being leaner, eating less, and cutting out carbs for better performance.
Without access to proper guidance, she turned to online research and misinformation. This led her to restrict calories and try to become as lean as possible, believing it would make her a better athlete.
Initially, her performance improved, which reinforced these habits. But this short-term success came at a cost that would soon impact her health.
When Performance Comes at a Cost
After walking onto a college cross country team and earning a scholarship, Maddie continued her restrictive eating habits. Over time, this led to the development of an eating disorder known as orthorexia—an unhealthy obsession with “perfect” eating.
She lost a significant amount of weight and initially saw performance gains, but eventually began experiencing constant injuries and health issues.
Without access to sports dietitians or proper nutrition resources at the time, she struggled to understand what was happening. Eventually, her parents intervened and pulled her from the team to protect her health.
Looking back, she believes her athletic career could have been much different if she had understood how to properly fuel her body.
Turning a Setback into a Purpose
After recovering from her eating disorder, Maddie decided to become the resource she never had. She pursued a master’s degree in nutrition and began working with athletes at the collegiate level.
Throughout her career, she has worked with football, volleyball, and field hockey teams, helping athletes not only improve performance but also build a healthier relationship with food.
Her approach goes beyond meal plans—she focuses on educating athletes about why nutrition matters and how it impacts both physical and mental performance.
The Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Athletes Make
One of the most common issues Maddie sees is athletes not eating enough. Many underestimate how many calories they burn daily, especially when training multiple hours per day.
She explains that high-level athletes may need thousands more calories than the average person, yet many are still following general guidelines like “2,000 calories per day.”
Another major mistake is avoiding carbohydrates. Maddie emphasizes that carbs are essential for energy, performance, and recovery—especially in endurance sports.
Why Nutrition Should Be Individualized
Maddie stresses that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition. Every athlete has different needs based on their body type, metabolism, and sport.
She encourages athletes to focus less on comparing themselves to others and more on understanding what works best for their own body.
Instead of chasing a specific number on the scale, athletes should prioritize how they feel, perform, and recover.
What Parents Need to Know About Fueling Athletes
Parents play a huge role in shaping an athlete’s relationship with food. Maddie encourages families to focus on whole, balanced meals that include:
- Lean protein (chicken, steak, fish)
- Complex carbohydrates (rice, potatoes, whole grains)
- Fruits and vegetables
She simplifies this with a powerful concept: protein, carb, and color at every meal.
By modeling healthy eating habits and creating structure at home, parents can set their athletes up for long-term success.
How to Stay on Track with Nutrition on the Road
For athletes traveling for games, nutrition can become more challenging. Maddie emphasizes that it’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency.
Even in fast-food situations, athletes can make better choices by selecting grilled options, adding fruits or healthier sides, and staying hydrated.
She also encourages athletes to bring their own snacks when possible and not be afraid to make different choices than their teammates.
Final Takeaway
Maddie Troyer’s message is clear: proper nutrition is essential for both performance and long-term health. Athletes who fail to fuel their bodies correctly risk injury, burnout, and lost opportunities.
From her own experience as a collegiate runner to her career as a sports dietitian, she shows that success is not about restriction—it’s about fueling your body the right way.
For athletes and parents alike, the goal should be simple: eat to perform, recover, and thrive.
About Athletes Untapped
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