Validation of the Athlete’s Plate Nutrition Educational Tool: Phase I

Abstract

Nutrition education visual tools are designed to help the general population translate science into practice. The purpose of this study was to validate the Athlete’s Plate (AP) to ensure that it meets the current sport nutrition recommendations for athletes. Twelve registered dietitians (RDs; 10 female and 2 male) volunteered for the study. Each registered dietitian was asked to create three real and virtual plates at three different times corresponding to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the three different AP training loads, easy (E), moderate (M), and hard (H), divided into two weight categories (male 75 kg and female 60 kg). Data of the real and virtual plates were evaluated using Computrition software (v. 18.1; Computrition, Chatsworth, CA). Statistical analyses were conducted by SPSS (version 23.0; IBM, Armonk, NY) to compare the difference between each training load category (E, M, and H) and the recommendations. No statistically significant differences were found among the created plates and the recommendations for energy, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber for E, M, and H. Protein relative to body mass (BM) was higher than recommended for E (1.9 ± 0.3 g·kg−1 BM·day−1, p = .003), M (2.3 ± 0.3 g·kg−1 BM·day−1, p < .001), and H (2.9+0.5 g·kg−1 BM·day−1, p < .001). No differences were found for the macronutrient distribution by gender when correcting for kilograms of body mass. The authors conclude that the AP meets the nutrition recommendations for athletes at different training intensities for energy, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber, but exceeds the recommendations for protein. Further research should consider this protein discrepancy and develop an AP model that meets, besides health and performance goals, contemporary guidelines for sustainability.

The Environmental Impact of the Athlete’s Plate Nutrition Education Tool

“…This study assessed the EnvI of the AP created during the validation of the AP (see more detail described elsewhere [ 35 ]). Briefly, for the validation of the AP, 216 plates were analyzed.…”

“…Life cycle assessment is a standardized methodology regulated by ISO 14040:2006, which includes four different phases to systematically evaluate the EnvI of a product or a service system through all stages of its life cycle [ 24 , 45 ]. To evaluate the EnvI of the plates created during the validation of the AP [ 35 ], an LCA was conducted. The food contents of each plate and detailed recipes were obtained from the AP validation [ 35 ].…”

“…The AP supports the concept of nutrition periodization based on changes in training load throughout the annual training and competition plan. Following the concept of training load and nutrition periodization, three plates were designed: easy (E), moderate (M) and hard (H) training, and validated to ensure they meet international sports nutrition guidelines (see Reguant-Closa et al 2019 for the details on the AP validation [ 35 ]).…”

“…Very little research exists on single or combined plant protein sources and their effect on muscle protein synthesis [ 41 , 42 ]. Hence, it is not surprising that a higher than recommended amount of protein, and especially animal protein, was also found when the AP was validated [ 35 ]. Knowing that animal proteins have a higher EnvI than plant proteins [ 1 , 6 ], it appears a prudent next step to investigate EnvI, alongside the health and performance effects, of athletes’ diets.…”

Sports nutrition for the recreational athlete

“…4 Consumer resources to support a 'food first' approach to matching energy intakes with increased training loads have been developed (Figure 1). 5 These freely available resources encourage manipulation of 'plate real estate' to better align daily carbohydrate and energy intake with expenditure, a concept known more recently as 'fuel for the work required'. 6 Such resources may be particularly valuable for education of several groups of recreational athletes (eg endurance athletes, athletes in aesthetic sports, athletes in weight-making sports, adolescent athletes) at risk of consuming an inadequate dietary intake to meet the demands of daily training, health and wellbeing.…”