Blog
Can I Trust AI for My Athlete's Nutrition Advice?
More teens now ask a chatbot what to eat before they ask a person. AI can be a useful starting point, but research shows its sports nutrition answers are inconsistent. Here's how to help your athlete use it wisely.
What Is Food as Medicine? A Guide for Food & Health Leaders
Food as Medicine is moving from pilot projects to strategy for health systems, health plans and grocers. Here's a plain-language guide to what it means, the main program types, what the evidence shows, and what to plan for first.
Why Health Tech Startups Need Nutrition Strategy Early
More health tech products touch food, from grocery scoring apps to GLP-1 support tools. Here’s why clinical credibility, retail fluency and a realistic path to revenue need to be part of the plan from the start.
What Emerging Food Brands Should Look For in a Nutrition and Commercialization Consultant
Formulation, claims, positioning and retail strategy all depend on each other. Here are five things emerging food brands should look for in a consultant who can connect nutrition science with commercialization, plus the questions to ask before you hire.
How Food Brands Win With Retailers: Positioning and Communications That Land
A great product doesn’t guarantee shelf space. Drawing on years on the retailer side, Stacy Bates, MS, RDN, explains how food brands can sharpen their health story, check their claims and make it easy for buyers to say yes.
Food as Medicine Consulting for Health Systems and Health Plans
Most health systems and health plans agree food affects health outcomes. Fewer know how to deliver food-based care at scale, pay for it and prove it works. Here’s how to design Food as Medicine programs that connect clinical care, retail partners and measurable results.
How GLP-1 Medications Are Changing Grocery Shopping
11% of U.S. adults now take a GLP-1 for weight loss, and their grocery baskets are changing. A registered dietitian and former diabetes educator explains what these shoppers buy, what they skip and how grocers and brands should respond.
How Grocery Retailers Can Build and Monetize Food as Medicine Programs
In the produce aisle, health becomes real. Stacy Bates, MS, RDN, former San Antonio Spurs player Bruce Bowen and Stacy’s son, Luke, used MyPlate to help shoppers connect the food in their carts to their health and well-being. That kind of everyday moment is where Food as Medicine starts, and here’s how grocery retailers can build programs around it that last.
RED-S What is it & How is it treated?
Many young athletes are eating plenty of protein and still not eating enough. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, or RED-S, happens when an athlete takes in too little energy to support both training and normal body function. It can affect growth, bone health, hormones, mood and performance. Stacy Bates, MS, RDN, explains why she’s seeing more RED-S in young male athletes, how a heavy focus on protein can crowd out the carbohydrates they need, and the warning signs parents and coaches should watch for.
Empowering Young Athletes: The SPAN Athletics Approach to Performance Mindset and Nutrition
Empowered athletes don’t just follow instructions. They understand how to fuel their bodies, manage pressure and lead their teammates. Stacy Bates, MS, RDN, shares practical ways parents and coaches can help young athletes build the habits and confidence to own their performance, on and off the field. This is the foundation of education at SPAN Athletics and the SPAN Athletics Foundation.
Who Are You?
In today's social media driven world it is easy for young athletes to get caught up in who society says they should be and forget who He tells us to be.
Meal & Snack Timing For Young Athletes
The timing of nutrient intake plays a crucial role in maximizing athletic performance, supporting recovery, and maintaining consistent energy levels throughout practice sessions and competitions.
Why Does Mindset & Nutrition Matter?
Athletes grasp the power of the combination of proper nutrition, a strong foundation, and a state of mental readiness can transform themselves from good athletes into outstanding performers who consistently achieve the goals and push beyond their perceived limitations.