Why We Write a Meal Plan for All of Our Cedar Park & Leander Athletes

At Barbell Coalition, we don’t just coach strength and speed — we coach complete athletic development. And one piece of that puzzle that often gets ignored, rushed, or misunderstood by most athletes is nutrition.

That’s why every athlete in our Cedar Park and Leander program gets a personalized meal plan.

Not just a generic handout — but a tailored plan based on their age, goals, bodyweight, and training schedule.

Here’s why we take nutrition seriously — and why our athletes (and their parents) are glad we do:

Training Without Fuel Is Like Racing on an Empty Tank

Imagine having the best engine in the world, but forgetting to put gas in it. That’s exactly what happens when athletes train hard but under-eat (which most do without even realizing it).

We see this all the time:

• Athletes trying to get faster while skipping breakfast

• Athletes lifting 3x a week but eating one real meal a day

• Athletes trying to gain muscle but barely hitting 1,200 calories

  
  

A solid meal plan fuels performance, improves energy levels, supports recovery, and helps athletes hit their goals faster — whether that’s getting stronger, leaner, or heavier for their sport.

High School Athletes Are Still Growing

Between school, practice, and lifting, most athletes burn a lot more than they eat. And if they’re still growing (which most are), nutrition becomes even more important.

Our meal plans make sure athletes are getting enough:

• Protein to recover and build lean muscle

• Carbs to perform and refuel

• Fats for healthy hormones and joint health

• Micronutrients to support growth and overall health

  
  

This is especially critical for female athletes, who are more prone to under-fueling, energy deficiency, and injuries when nutrition is off.

It Holds Athletes Accountable Outside the Gym

What athletes do outside the gym is just as important as what they do inside it.

We’ve seen great athletes get average results because they never built good habits outside of training — poor sleep, skipped meals, zero hydration.

Giving them a written meal plan gives them structure and clarity. It also gives parents a game plan they can support and help reinforce at home. Everyone’s on the same page.

We’re Teaching Lifelong Habits

We’re not here to babysit athletes. We’re here to build habits that stick.

That’s why our meal plans are:

• Simple and repeatable

• Full of everyday foods (no weird diets or gimmicks)

• Focused on consistency, not perfection

• Adjustable based on goals, sport seasons, and progress

  
  

Most athletes never learn how to eat for performance until it’s too late. We help them build that skill early — and it pays off for years to come.

Better Nutrition = Better Results

At the end of the day, athletes (and parents) want to see results. Faster sprints. Higher jumps. More muscle. Less body fat. Improved recovery. More confidence.

Nutrition is the X-factor that accelerates every bit of that progress. When athletes follow their meal plan and show up consistently, results aren’t just possible — they’re inevitable.

Cedar Park & Leander Parents: We Will Make Your Child a Better Athlete!

If you’re a parent in Cedar Park or Leander, and your athlete is serious about reaching their full potential — strength training is just one piece. Nutrition is the other.

At Barbell Coalition, every athlete gets a meal plan, no matter their sport or goals. Because when both training and nutrition are dialed in, the results speak for themselves.