Fueling Through the Season: Planning, Habits, and Performance Nutrition for Volleyball Athletes (Part 2)

In part two of our conversation with registered dietitian Alyssum Reno-Smith, we zoom out and tackle what fueling looks like across an entire volleyball season - especially from a parent’s perspective.

Through real tournament scenarios, age-specific examples, and audience-submitted questions, Alyssum breaks down how families can plan ahead, build healthy habits, and support athletes without creating restriction or pressure. This episode goes beyond food lists and focuses on preparation, consistency, and setting athletes up for success both on and off the court.

Whether you’re navigating early-morning matches, multi-day qualifiers, or the influence of social media nutrition advice, this episode offers practical guidance you can actually use.

What you’ll hear in Part 2:

• How to fuel a 12U athlete during early-morning, multi-day tournaments
• Adjusting nutrition needs for older athletes competing at qualifiers
• Why planning ahead matters more than “perfect” meals
• How parents can support fueling without creating restriction or food shame
• Signs an athlete may be under-fueling - physically and hormonally
• Why hydration needs to be proactive, not reactive
• How different volleyball positions may influence fueling needs
• A realistic “stair-step” approach to improving nutrition habits
• How to navigate nutrition misinformation on social media
• Myth vs. fact: common beliefs about nerves, fruit, and protein bars
• Alyssum’s advice for parents supporting long-term athlete health and confidence
• What it truly means to be better together when it comes to fueling athletes

If you missed Part 1, go back and listen as we explore how nutrition impacts nerves, focus, hydration, and mental performance during competition.