Athletes often overlook one of the most critical components of performance: nutrition. Yet a well-balanced fueling plan can make a measurable difference in strength, recovery, and overall success. That’s where Build Your Base comes in, a comprehensive sports nutrition program that utilizes beef as its premier protein.
Designed to support athletes and their families year-round, this initiative provides practical tools to help athletes perform at their best while building lifelong healthy habits.
“We’ve partnered with strength and conditioning programs at high school and collegiate levels to fuel and educate student athletes,” says Erin Good, Registered Dietitian and Director of Nutrition and Health at the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC). “Not only was this a great opportunity to feature beef as a high-quality protein source, it also allowed beef’s nine other essential nutrients to shine, including iron.”
Iron plays a critical role in oxygen transport and energy levels, and iron deficiency is especially common among female athletes. Regularly eating iron-rich foods like beef can help support optimal iron status and performance.
To help meet this need, IBIC established partnerships with the University of Northern Iowa, Drake University, and Simpson College. These collaborations provided coaches and athletes access to a toolkit of free resources, including:
- Student-friendly posters with pre- and post-workout fueling tips
- Beef-focused, nutrient-dense recipes
- The Game Changer video series featuring quick, practical nutrition lessons
IBIC’s impact extended beyond school programs and into community events as well. At the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile, runners of all ages stopped by the IBIC recovery zone to refuel with beef sticks. Reactions like, “This is the reason I run this race,” and “Yay, beef jerky! I go crazy for this!” reflected a growing enthusiasm for beef as a convenient recovery option.
Whether on the field, court, or in the classroom, high-quality protein like beef supported performance, recovery, and helped give athletes the fuel to succeed.
Schools interested in getting involved were encouraged to apply at buildyourbase.org/application.
