Meal Planning for Student Athletes? Here are 20 Meal Ideas They Will Love.

When it comes to creating nutrition plans for student athletes, choosing simple, delicious, nutrient-dense recipes that are easy to make will be a major key to their success.

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Tabitha Wills, CNE Tabitha Wills, CNE
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When it comes to creating nutrition plans for student athletes, choosing simple, delicious, nutrient-dense recipes that are easy to make will be a major key to their success.

Today we are rounding up meal ideas that are perfect for student athletes. Log in to That Clean Life to add these recipes to a meal plan, or use them to create a recipe book that your student athlete clients will love!

1. Toast with Nut Butter, Banana & Hemp Seeds

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Toast with Nut Butter, Banana & Hemp Seeds

This recipe takes your classic toast and peanut butter and elevates the protein and energy levels with a hemp seed addition. This recipe also contains nearly 30% of your client’s daily recommended iron, which is a critical micronutrient for athletes because of its role in energy metabolism, oxygen transport, and acid-base balance.

Click here to add Toast with Nut Butter, Banana & Hemp Seeds to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

2. Creamy Tuna on Oat Crackers

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Creamy Tuna on Oat Crackers

Leaning on pantry staples, like tuna, is a great way to maximize protein intake without asking your clients to cook over a hot plate, stove, or oven, which they may have limited access to in dorm rooms.

Click here to add Creamy Tuna on Oat Crackers to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

3. Chopped Salad Pitas

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Chopped Salad Pitas

This simple pita pocket recipe uses canned chickpeas for easy protein and fiber access. It’s chopped with some simple vegetables and can easily be packed for those on the go.

Click here to add Chopped Salad Pitas to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

4. Vanilla Protein Yogurt Parfait

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Vanilla Protein Yogurt Parfait

With over 600mg of calcium, this recipe comes together in no time and is an easy, filling, and delicious way for your clients to get their macro and micronutrients in! Calcium is important for bone health, helps normal enzyme activity, and muscle contraction.

Click here to add Vanilla Protein Yogurt Parfait to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

5. Avocado Toast with Cottage Cheese & Tomato

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Avocado Toast with Cottage Cheese & Tomato

Adding cottage cheese and tomato to this student favorite is a great way to pack a major protein punch for your student athletes. This recipe has 10g of protein per slice of toast!

Click here to add Avocado Toast with Cottage Cheese & Tomato to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

6. Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta

Everyone loves pasta, and it’s such a classic student staple. This recipe is incredibly creamy and easy to make by adding hummus to the finished pasta. Trust us on this one - it’s a great way to increase the protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber in a simple staple recipe.

Click here to add Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

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7. Salmon Salad Lettuce Wraps

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Salmon Salad Lettuce Wraps

Canned salmon is great way to maximize time and energy for your student-athlete clients. This simple recipe packs 38g of protein per serving and comes together in five minutes! It can also be served on crackers, pita bread, or cucumbers.

Click here to add Salmon Salad Lettuce Wraps to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

8. Trail Mix with Banana

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Trail Mix with Banana

Don’t overestimate simplicity when it comes to nutrition planning. Your student-athletes will love how easy it is to grab-n-go with this recipe, and it’s sure to keep them full in between meals.

Click here to add Trail Mix with Banana to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

9. Apple & Swiss Cheese Toast

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Apple & Swiss Cheese Toast

If your student-athlete clients love sweet and savory, this is the breakfast for them! This recipe is packed with protein without breaking out a pot or pan.

Click here to add Apple & Swiss Cheese Toast to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

10. Blueberry Protein Smoothie

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Blueberry Protein Smoothie

Smoothies are the ultimate student snack or meal. Hydration is an important part of an athlete’s recovery, so a smoothie is a great way to check that box while grabbing nourishing macro and micronutrients to balance recovery.

Click here to add Blueberry Protein Smoothie to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

11. Cherries, Banana & Cottage Cheese

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Cherries, Banana & Cottage Cheese

This simple snack also doubles as a great on-the-go breakfast. It has just three ingredients and contains 25g of protein per serving! If your client isn’t a cottage cheese fan, it can easily be replaced for Greek or coconut yogurt.

Click here to add Cherries, Banana & Cottage Cheese to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

12. Curried Chicken Wrap

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Curried Chicken Wrap

This tasty wrap comes together in minutes using cooked chicken. This is a great way to repurpose leftovers, or your clients can leverage premade items, like rotisserie chickens, to make this a nutrient and flavor-packed meal.

Click here to add Curried Chicken Wrap to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

13. Tuna Salad Plate

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Tuna Salad Plate

This simple lunch and/or snack is exactly what every student needs. It’s like tuna salad but without any of the mixing involved. With 35g of protein, this is easy to take on the go and is sure to keep your student-athletes full until their next meal.

Click here to add Tuna Salad Plate to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

14. Peanut Butter & Raspberry Sandwich

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Peanut Butter & Raspberry Sandwich

A fresh take on peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Mashing the raspberries allows your clients to benefit from all of the fiber this berry contains without any of the sugar jam or jelly contains. Also, the nostalgia and convenience of a PB&J sandwich is always a hit.

Click here to add Peanut Butter & Raspberry Sandwich to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

15. Turkey Wraps with Almonds, Cucumbers & Blueberries

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Turkey Wraps with Almonds, Cucumbers & Blueberries

This perfectly balanced snack is like the student version of a lunchable. Have your clients pack the ingredients in to-go containers so they can enjoy on-the-go or in between classes.

Click here to add Turkey Wraps with Almonds, Cucumbers & Blueberries to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

16. Tuna & Cucumber Sandwich

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Tuna & Cucumber Sandwich

Tuna between two slices of bread is a classic! Your student-athletes will love how easy this one is to pack up and go. They can also swap the sprouts for any lettuce or tomatoes they have on hand.

Click here to add Tuna & Cucumber Sandwich to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

17. Pesto Shrimp Pasta

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Pesto Shrimp Pasta

Just four ingredients and 20 minutes makes this pasta night a success! This recipe packs 45g of carbs, 11g of fat, and 29g of protein, which makes it a full meal. Your clients can even add extra veggies or top with cheese to make it their own.

Click here to add Pesto Shrimp Pasta to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

18. English Muffin with Peanut Butter & Berries

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: English Muffin with Peanut Butter & Berries

Adding a hearty side of berries to a classic breakfast, like an English muffin with peanut butter, will really help your clients stay fuller longer. The berries add an additional 3g of fiber per serving, along with antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Click here to add English Muffin with Peanut Butter & Berries to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

19. Yogurt & Granola

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Yogurt & Granola

Yogurt topped with granola is a very simple go-to for any student. And for good reason! One serving of Greek yogurt packs in 28g of protein. If you’re working with a client who needs to be dairy-free, simply swap out Greek yogurt for coconut yogurt or another dairy-free alternative.

Click here to add Yogurt & Granola to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

20. Carrot, Hummus & Arugula Wrap

20 Meal Ideas to Support Student-Athletes: Carrot, Hummus & Arugula Wrap

This wrap contains just four ingredients and is still packed full of flavor. These pantry and fridge staples make this wrap high in vitamin A, calcium, iron, and phosphorus.

Click here to add Carrot, Hummus & Arugula Wrap to your client’s That Clean Life meal plan.

Need even more ideas for your student-athletes? Check out our Student-Athlete Program and Plant-Based Student-Athlete Program. Both come with a 7-day meal plan, grocery list, prep guide, recipes, and evidence.