Fuelling For Performance: Common Challenges And Practical Approaches When Working with Youth Athletes

Recording now available

Live event is approved for 1.0 CPEU by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Recording and mandatory self-assessment quiz are approved for 1.25 CPEUs by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), until January 27, 2028.
Free
CPEUs: 1.25

Does this sound familiar? “They won’t listen to me.” 

Parents often get caught up in all the noise from society and culture about “healthy eating,” and don’t realize that their youth athlete has completely different needs. 

The good news? Things are starting to change. Coaches are becoming more aware of the risks of eating disorders among young athletes and are paying closer attention to making sure they are eating enough to stay healthy and perform their best. 

Webinar Rating & Reviews

People love our Webinar on Fuelling Young Athletes!

“I liked learning about the macro nutrient distribution and how to calculate and provide suggestions for meeting those needs.”

“Information about supplements and commonly asked questions. I also loved her input on approaching concerns regarding eating disorders. Love the food first approach while validating/ensuring athlete feels heard.”

“She was really intentional about providing helpful information that a practitioner could easily use or easily find out more if needed.”

“Calculating needs for the teenage athlete and tips on presenting the information to families who are interested in fueling their teenage athlete in a way that does not focus on calorie intake.”

In this webinar, our guest speaker, Cara Kasdorf, will show you how to help parents shift their mindset and approach feeding their young athletes with confidence. She will guide you through the distinct nutrient needs of youth athletes compared to non-athletes, offering actionable insights to support their unique demands. 

She will address four key challenges that youth athletes face and provide practical strategies you can apply immediately: 

Challenge #1: Time Constraints 

Balancing intense training schedules with high nutrient and energy demands can be overwhelming. Cara will highlight the critical role of sleep, discuss effective planning strategies that go beyond the typical “eat a balanced meal” advice, and help you develop realistic solutions to fit busy lifestyles. 

Challenge #2: Influential Factors 

From parents and coaches to social media, youth athletes are constantly influenced by external factors. Cara will explore their impact, share techniques to navigate these influences, and provide tools to dispel myths in a way that builds trust between athletes and their support networks. 

Challenge #3: Picky Eating 

Is it picky eating or an eating disorder? Cara will equip you with proven screening questions to differentiate between the two. She will also share practical strategies to meet nutrient needs, even with selective eaters, helping you tailor your approach effectively. 

Challenge #4: Helping Without Harming 

Learn how to provide nutrition education that fosters positive outcomes while reducing the risk of eating disorders and disordered eating. Cara will share strategies to deliver education that promotes a healthy relationship with food and facilitates lasting, positive change. 

Are you tired of second-guessing yourself?

  • Are youth athletes’ nutrition needs really that high?
  • Should they be drinking sports drinks—or is that just too much sugar?
  • What about supplements? Can you recommend products like creatine?
  • How do you screen for picky eating or an eating disorder? And how do you lower the risks in this vulnerable group—or support them in recovery?
  • Most importantly, how do you help parents understand that youth athletes have unique needs, completely different from other kids?

If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone! 

This course is for you if...

  • ionicons-v5-e

    You’re tired of second-guessing yourself and want clear, confident answers to parents’ and athletes’ questions

  • ionicons-v5-e

    You work with youth athletes in your practice or would like to start seeing them

  • ionicons-v5-e

    You’re looking for proven concrete screening questions to uncover picky eating or disordered eating in youth athletes to better support them

Speaker(s)

Cara Kasdorf

Cara Kasdorf has 17 years of experience as a dietitian, and has worked in a diverse range of settings including in sport nutrition, clinical, primary care, and academic roles.

She has worked in the field of sport nutrition in some capacity, her entire career. She provides nutrition coaching and counseling to athletes of all ages and abilities, ranging from recreational to national level and professional athletes.

In addition to her training in sport nutrition, Cara has completed additional training in the areas of eating disorder prevention and treatment and body image.

Cara has a special interest in supporting athletes to have a healthy relationship with food and body, including working in the area of eating disorder and RED-s treatment and prevention, and helping athletes achieve their goals in a healthy and sustainable way.

Cara is co-owner of Blueprint Nutrition and lead of their Sport Nutrition division, where she continues to work with athletes and teams across Canada through 1:1 coaching and online group programs. Cara also manages their team of sport dietitians.