Pros and Cons of Meal Plans

Meal plans can be an excellent tool for coaches to use with inexperienced competitors. If an athlete is unsure about how many calories they consume, what their maintenance/surplus/deficit calories are or are generally inconsistent, a meal plan can help streamline their diet and be able to figure out these numbers moving forward. Once the athlete becomes more aware of how many calories they should consume and what they should eat for their goals, the coach can teach them how to track their macronutrients and move towards a more flexible approach.

Meal plans are simple to follow since you are eating the same foods everyday. Some athletes prefer this and excel with consistency. During a contest prep meal plans are commonly used as athletes are required to diet down to low body fat levels.

The downside of meal plans are that they may get “boring” over time and are very strict without room for substitutions. A rigid plan may create excess stress and a negative relationship with food. Coaches should determine on a case-by-case basis if an athlete should or should not be on a meal plan based on their goals and history.