New Fueling Station for Student Athletes

Toasting the new healthy food station for BU athletes last week were Christopher Moore, dean of Sargent College (from left), Drew Marrochello, BU Athletics director, and Sargent senior nutritionist Lauren O’Brien, who helped design the station. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

As a miler on BU’s cross country team and a competitor in 1,500- and 3,000-meter races, Ally Schlosser burns the calories in long runs. Her off-the-course life requires her to shift to sprint mode when she’s rushing from class to practice, and she needs to grab a healthy snack before workouts.

Schlosser (Sargent’20) now enjoys her favorites—plant-based protein shakes and Honey Stinger waffles—on the third floor of the Strength and Conditioning Center, where BU Athletics recently unveiled its new Terrier Fueling Station.

A collaboration between Athletics and Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, and paid for with an NCAA grant, the station unofficially opened this past summer, converting what had been storage space into a 500-square-foot area with three refrigerators filled with free, grab-and-go yogurt, protein drinks, and smoothies. The service counter is flanked with energy bars at one end and 10-pound bags of protein mix on the other for made-to-order drinks (allergen-free, vegetarian, and vegan refreshment available).

The station is reserved for BU’s 575 varsity athletes.

“I have a difficult class schedule, which means I don’t always have time for a full lunch,” says Schlosser. “The nutrition station is a reliable place to stop for a healthy snack that will give me energy for a grueling workout.”

Considering that practice puts her through her running paces (between 5 and 11 miles a day) and then sends her straight to the weight room, she says the availability of nutritious snacks “allows us to get through these long practices without feeling tired or shaky.”

Nutritious refueling for all athletes “is vital to enabling a proper and timely recovery immediately following their workouts, practices, and games,” says Drew Marrochello, assistant vice president and director of athletics. “Just as car engines need the proper fuel to run effectively, student-athletes who regularly consume the proper products will enhance their ability to perform well when representing the Terriers.”

The station’s menu is the product of careful planning.

“We check each product for safety and quality of ingredients,” says Lauren O’Brien (Sargent’10,’12), a Sargent Choice Nutrition Center senior nutritionist and a certified sports specialist dietitian, who helped design the station. “There are a variety of pre-workout bars that are rich in carbohydrates to support muscle function during workouts. There are also yogurt drinks that provide a balance of carbohydrates and protein.

“For post-workout fuel, our athletes can choose a fresh smoothie made with frozen fruit and protein; if they would like something else, there are protein-rich bars, yogurts and granolas, and ready-to-drink protein shakes.”

O’Brien and Glenn Harris, head strength and conditioning coach, began brainstorming the idea for the station about five years ago as a chance to provide sustenance to athletes while leveraging Sargent’s nutrition expertise.

O’Brien helped design the station’s layout, storage capacity, and allergen-free area and now oversees the facility, spending 15 hours a week there to ensure it’s staffed and stocked and running smoothly.

If athletes are happy with the station, so are their coaches. “It’s a wonderful and convenient addition,” says Bill Smyth, head swimming and diving coach. “Having the refueling station allows us to get stronger.” He hopes to have some hard numbers to demonstrate that improvement come December, when his athletes measure improvements in their weight room performance.

One thing is clear now, says men’s soccer player T. J. Butzke (COM’19): “Nutrition is a detail that often gets left to the students. The refuel center sends the message that nutrition should be a priority for top athletes.…We practice in the mornings, and we usually have little time to cool down, shower, and then get food before running to class.

“We also have night games that end after the dining hall closes,” Butzke says. “It’s essential to eat in a short window following competition.” The refueling station allows “peace of mind” in that regard.