LAUSR

consume below-recommended levels of carbohydrate. This may contribute to runners’ increased risk of developing low energy availability, which may disrupt growth, gonadal, thyroid, and adrenal hormone levels and increase risk of sustaining a bone stress injury. The current project aims to develop a 6-week nutrition education curriculum, for administration by a Sports Dietitian, that promotes an adequate intake of nutrient-dense, carbohydrate foods for optimizing energy availability among male and female high school cross-country runners. To facilitate behavior modifications necessary to increase carbohydrate intake, the curriculum also addressed barriers to change, motivational factors, and self-efficacy. Each 30-45 minute lesson emphasized a specific topic pertaining to nutrition dense carbohydrates This curriculum may promote adequate intake of carbohydrate and calories among this population representing increased risk.