
Fuel up: Power-Packed Meal Ideas for Athletes
My favorite meals for athletes! Refuel your energy with this list below.
Licensed dietitian specializing in sports nutrition and eating disorders
Amy Stephens, MS, RD, CSSD, CEDS is an experienced sports dietitian specializing in performance nutrition and eating disorders in competitive athletes. With over 20 years of expertise, she provides both in-person and virtual counseling through her private practice based in the West Village of New York City.
Amy currently serves as the sports dietitian for NYU Athletics while also running her private practice. She focuses on helping athletes fuel effectively to reach peak performance, using science-backed strategies tailored to each individual. In addition, she supports professional runners on the Empire Elite Track Club, a team of athletes training to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.
She holds advanced credentials as a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS), underscoring her expertise in both performance and the psychological aspects of nutrition.
With degrees from Syracuse University (BA) and New York University (MS in Clinical Nutrition), Amy combines academic knowledge with real-life experience.
Whether working with high school, collegiate, or professional athletes, Amy takes a practical, personalized approach to support clients through training, competition, and recovery. She emphasizes real food, flexible thinking, and sustainable habits—helping athletes build confidence and health that lasts well beyond their sport.
Amy has supported athletes at national competitions and Olympic trials. Most recently, she traveled with the NYU Track and Field team to Nationals, where nine athletes competed in events ranging from the 800 meters to the 10K—the largest group the school has ever qualified for the meet.
Her insights have been featured in Runner’s World, The New York Times Running Newsletter, The Washington Post, and Insider, where she’s shared expert advice on topics like recovery snacks and hydration strategies.
Outside of work, you’ll find Amy running trails near her home in Westchester, spending time with her four kids and two dogs, or testing new recipes in the kitchen. She’s completed ten marathons—including two Boston Qualifiers—and two ultramarathons.
My favorite meals for athletes! Refuel your energy with this list below.
Written by Kate Cochran, Nutrition Intern
Fueling properly for your sport can feel both straightforward and surprisingly complex. For endurance runners, a solid baseline is three balanced meals focused on carbs for energy, protein for recovery, and fats for satiety, with snacks in between.
By Amy Stephens and Kate Cochran, Nutrition Intern
Many endurance athletes avoid fueling during long runs or rides because it feels uncomfortable or causes gastrointestinal (GI) issues. But often, that discomfort isn’t due to fueling itself—it’s because the gut hasn’t been properly trained. Being able to ingest carbohydrates during an endurance event will improve performance. It will enable you to exercise at a higher intensity for longer without running out of energy.
Licensed dietitian Specializing in sports nutrition and eating disorders
© Amy Stephens Nutrition
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