Logo
UDIM charts show fractionally what food groups should make up each meal.

Coaches Guide to Nutrition: What are Macros?

Planning your meals and snacks shouldn’t be challenging.

Break foods down into three categories: Carbs (energy), Protein (build and repair muscles), and Color (vitamins, minerals).

Adjust your plate based on your level of activity that day. Remember that your body needs carbohydrates like grains, fruits and vegetables for muscle fuel.

On hard training days, up to half of your plate should be carbs. On a recovery or rest day, make a quarter of your plate carbs. 

Plan your meal

Check out these examples for your day’s main meals:

Milk Means More logoBreakfast

  • Overnight oats with fruit
  • Egg wrap with spinach, cheese and salsa
  • Cereal with fruit and milk topped with nuts
  • Smoothie made with milk, fruit, spinach and oats
  • Don’t forget about school breakfast!

Lunch

  • Turkey roll-up with cheese, tomato and lettuce, fruit and milk
  • Grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, small salad, milk and pear
  • Large salad with your choice of berries, grilled chicken, cheese and vinaigrette dressing, garlic bread and milk
  • School lunches are made with student nutrition in mind!

Dinner

  • Pasta with chicken, pesto, tomatoes and peas with milk
  • Shrimp or tofu fajita bowl with brown rice, peppers, onions and shredded cheese. Add guacamole and plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
  • Cheeseburger made with 90 percent lean beef or turkey on a whole grain bun with lettuce and tomato and a glass of milk. Add baked sweet potato fries on the side.

Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.

A graphic explains that the majority of a smoothie should be split into carbs and protein, like milk and yogurt, and fruits and vegetables. The extras like seeds, nut butters, honey spices and oats fill in the small top portion and are optional.

Coaches Guide to Nutrition: Snack on a Smoothie

A smoothie is a perfect pre- or post-exercise snack.

Milk Means More logo

Making a smoothie can be an easy way to get a serving of dairy, fruit and vegetables. Add milk, yogurt, berries, bananas, avocado, spinach, and kale to the blender and let the magic happen.

Along with protein and carbohydrates, it will provide vitamins, minerals and fiber.    

Snacking can be detrimental when done out of boredom or in place of regular, balanced meals. But, for an athlete, healthy snacks can aid performance and recovery.

Having a snack in the hour or two before practice and in the “window of opportunity” following practice can help maintain energy levels and ensure proper recovery.

Snacks are important to maintain energy between meals, before exercise and after workouts. Snacks before and after exercise help performance as well as aid optimal recovery.

Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.