Performance Nutrition

The Performance Nutrition department of San Jose State University Athletics is committed to providing our student-athletes with the most up to date evidence-based nutrition education in order to optimize sports performance. Our Registered Dietitian is a specialist in Sports Dietetics and utilizes her expertise to assess, educate, and counsel our student-athletes on proper hydration, nutrient intake, and calorie consumption for their unique goals. We provide appropriate nutritional interventions for student-athletes including, but not limited to, weight/body composition management, anemia, eating disorders and disordered eating, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, food allergies and intolerances, reducing inflammation, injury prevention and healing. 

Nutrition Education
We collaborate with sport specific coaches and sports performance staff to develop and implement nutrition education materials including team talk presentations, fueling station education, and individualized athlete nutrition profiles. 

Supplementation
We assess and counsel student-athletes and staff regarding appropriate and legal use of dietary supplements, regularly banned drugs, and restricted substances in compliance with sport governing bodies; e.g., NCAA, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, World Anti-Doping Agency and SJSU policies.

Sports Nutrition Internships
Our interns are an invaluable part of the SJSU Performance Nutrition Department. We are fortunate to collaborate with the SJSU Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging Department to offer nutrition students hands on experience in Sports Nutrition while receiving class credit and/or volunteer hours.
 
Sports Dietitian:
Shannon Mendez MS, RD, CSCS
Email: Shannon.Mendez@sjsu.edu
Instagram: sjsu_performance_nutrition