How to Fuel Yourself as a Teen Athlete (Plus Sample Meal Plan)

BY: LCWNS TEAM

Now that you’ve used the Sports Plan Pro nutrition calculator, you might be wondering how to turn your macro targets into real meals and snacks.

This plan shows how those targets can fit into a day of eating around practices, games, and school, while still meeting the nutrition needs of growing teen athletes. Meals and snacks provide energy for training, support recovery, and include carbohydrates, protein, and fats timed to fuel performance. Portions can be adjusted based on appetite, schedule, and training load.

Here’s an example of what the dietitians at Sports Plan Pro recommended for teen athlete, Joe.

Age: 15 years old

Ht: 6’1″

Wt: 185 lb

Goal: weight gain

Sport: basketball

For Weight Gain

3588-4245 kcal

Carb: 420-503 g/day

Carb calories/day (calculator): 1678-2014 kcal

Protein: 117-151 g/day

Protein calories/day (calculator): 470-604 kcal

Fat: 104-125 g/day

Fat kcal/day (calculator): 939-1127 kcal

 

Sample Day- approx. 4000 kcal

Breakfast = Bagel with eggs and cheese and avocado and glass of OJ

100 grams Carb: 1 bagel (60) with 12-ounce orange juice (36)

30 grams Protein: 3 eggs with 1 slice cheese

25 grams Fat: ¾ to 1 whole avocado

 

AM Snack= 3 Energy balls (see recipe below)

45 grams Carb

25 grams Fat

 

High-Calorie Energy Balls (Approx. 45g Carbs / 25g Fat)

This recipe makes roughly 10–12 large, dense balls (2-3 balls equals 1 serving).

1 cup Old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup Creamy peanut butter (or almond butter)

1/2 cup Ground flaxseed (or chia seeds/hemp seeds)

1/3 cup Honey or maple syrup

1/2 cup Mini semisweet chocolate chips

1 tsp Vanilla extract

Optional: ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans for extra fat

 

Instructions

1. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, ground flaxseed, peanut butter,

honey, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips.

2. Chill: Place the mixture in the refrigerator for 15–30 minutes to make it easier to roll (optional, but

recommended).

3. Form Balls: Scoop the mixture and roll into 1-to-2-inch balls.

4. Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

 

Lunch= Pasta salad with chicken and spinach

100 grams Carb

4 oz dry pasta (90 grams carb)

35 grams Protein: 5 ounces grilled chicken

25 grams Fat: 2 tbspn olive oil

½ cup cooked spinach

Water with Liquid IV (11 grams carb)

 

After-School/Pre-Workout # 1 Snack= Banana with 1 slice toast and 2 tsp honey

60 grams Carb: Banana with 1 slice toast and 2 tsp honey

 

Post-Workout # 1/Pre Workout #2 Snack= Pretzel roll with 4 slices turkey

45 grams Carb: pretzel roll

14 grams Protein: 4 slices turkey

 

Dinner = Filet mignon with 2.5 cups rice mixed with ¼ cup craisins, ¼ cup toasted walnuts or almonds,

with 2 tbspn butter/olive oil

110 grams Carb: 2.5 cups rice

64 grams Protein: 8 ounces filet mignon

25 grams Fat: 2 tbspn butter

 

Snack= Fage 5 % Greek yogurt with 2 tbspn nut butter and ¾ cup frozen blueberries

15 grams Carb

12 grams Protein

15 grams Fat

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