National Tour Nutrition At a recent national tour tennis event, I initiated a simple suggestion in our team expectation discussion at the start of the week: no chocolate or sweets for players or coaches during the tournament days. We agreed that we would prioritise focusing on proper nutrition, effective fuelling and recovery, and demonstrating discipline; we would then come together as a team to enjoy dessert after a quality dinner each evening. It was rooted in accountabil

As a sports nutritionist, I often work behind the scenes, advising on fuelling plans, recovery strategies, and aiming to mould behaviour in order to optimise performance through food. Spending nine days at a Category 1 Tennis Europe event in Nice offered far more than just lessons in tennis, it revealed how deeply nutrition habits can impact performance, mood, energy, and recovery.

Teenage years are a time of rapid growth, especially for female athletes who are balancing the demands of high-level sport, school, and social life. For these young athletes, this stage brings an extra layer of complexity; it is vital that they consistently fuel their bodies to support both natural development and optimal athletic performance.

So, while you're recovering from the physical and mental demands of the day, remember meals that promote optimum recovery are your allies.