SPAN Athletics

01/15/2026

🎙️ We’re excited to share that SPAN Athletics Founder, Stacy Bates, MS, RDN, was recently featured on the Nutrition Connection Podcast: Science. Storytelling. The People Powering Nutrition.

In this conversation with host Dr. Kristen Hicks-Roof, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND, FNAP, Stacy discusses the evolving landscape of food and nutrition, sharing insights on the power of social capital, the future of nutrition and the food system, and the importance of mentors in shaping meaningful careers.

The episode dives into:
• Building authentic connections that create opportunity and impact
• The next generation of nutrition leadership and innovation
• Lessons learned from mentorship and community in professional growth
• How SPAN Athletics is empowering athletes through performance nutrition

It’s an inspiring, forward-thinking conversation for anyone passionate about where the nutrition field is headed.

🎧 Listen here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-5-stacy-bates-ms-rdn-cde-strategy-retail/id1864646969?i=1000744002498
Spotify:
Episode 5: Stacy Bates MS, RDN, CDE- STRATEGY/RETAIL
YouTube: https://youtu.be/5jtL4C4y6wo

The conversation begins with an introduction to the Stacy Bates and discussion on the inspiration to become a nutrition professional. The conversation then d...

01/13/2026

What comes to mind when you hear the term “ultra-processed foods”?

Last week, the USDA and HHS released the updated 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, and like many of you, my feed has been flooded with opinions from every angle.

If you’re anything like me, the dietary guidelines debate can start to feel…well, exhausting.

This week, I want to shift the focus. Not on the guidelines themselves, but on one of the hottest topics surrounding them: ultra-processed foods.

There’s no question that a growing body of research shows regular consumption of highly processed foods, especially those loaded with added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats, can negatively impact health. Most health professionals agree these foods shouldn’t be a staple in a balanced diet.

But defining exactly what counts as “ultra-processed” remains tricky. There’s still no clear consensus, and I believe integrating elements of nutrient density scoring could help bring more clarity to this conversation.

I had the pleasure of discussing this complex and timely topic on this week’s episode of “Focus, Faith & Fueling:The Winning Edge” Podcast with guest, Richard Black, a nutrition scientist with deep experience across the food industry.

His perspective on where the science meets real-world food innovation is one you don’t want to miss.

As sensational headlines continue to dominate the food conversation, I think it’s time to challenge statistics like “60% of Americans’ diets come from ultra-processed foods.”

Having worked within one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, I’ve seen firsthand that while our overall dietary patterns need improvement, yet the story is far more nuanced.

I hope you’ll tune in and join the conversation. It’s time we move beyond perpetuating fear and focus on solutions, creating better products, improving consumer education, creating access to informed healthcare, and incentivizing change that benefits both health and business.

The future of our health depends on it.

🎙️ Listen here →
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/g7KxcEa4
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gKbNpcGr
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gNJeHfBR



Stacy Bates Lindsay Werkhoven Patrick

01/11/2026

Registered Dietitian take on the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans that came out last week. Nutrition Is personal and competitive athletes need diets that arent low carb.

Be sure to Personalize your nutrition approach to meet your goals!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTRVJI5D1fM/?igsh=MTVsbHExYjkxc2VnMw==w ssr

12/20/2025

Youth sports are supposed to be training grounds for life, not testing grounds for Wall Street’s latest business model.

When private money takes over kids’ fields and rinks, the focus shifts from character, courage, and connection to revenue, rights, and return on investment, and families feel it in both access and pressure.

At SPAN Athletics, the mission is to raise young athletes who are prepared for life beyond sports. Young men and women who are anchored in faith, fueled by solid nutrition, and supported by coaches and communities who value their whole person more than their stat line.

Question Is…. Will you join us In this mission?

https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2001264632275910887?s=46no sssu e

12/16/2025

May we continue to raise young athletes who challenge the status quo of what winning looks like from
*A kingdom perspective. Lindsay Werkhoven Patrick

BREAKING NEWS: Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar just delivered a powerful message that left some of the world’s richest and most influential people stunned, and then he backed it up with action.
Full story 👉 https://energywave.live/posts/breaking-news-tennessee-volunteers-quarterback-joey-aguilar-just-delivered-powerful-message-left-richestbts-baouyen123-cwfi
At a star-studded black-tie charity gala in Knoxville, surrounded by Fortune 500 CEOs, SEC boosters, and celebrities dripping in designer gowns and tuxedos, Aguilar took the stage to accept the Walter Camp Foundation’s National Community Impact Award, but instead of the safe, rehearsed speech everyone expected from a breakout college quarterback, the 24-year-old spoke straight from the soul.

He didn’t thank boosters by name or brag about the SEC title. Instead, he looked out at a room packed with millionaires and billionaires and said:

“If you are blessed with success, use it to lift others. No man should celebrate victories while children have no chances. If you have more than you need, it is not truly yours; it belongs to those who need hope.”

The ballroom went dead silent.

According to guests, several high-profile donors froze; no polite applause, no smiles; just stunned stillness as the words of a kid from California who just beat Alabama hung in the air.

Of course they didn’t clap right away. Truth hits different when it’s delivered by someone who actually lives it.

Because Joey wasn’t talking envy. He was talking responsibility.

And he didn’t stop at words. That same night, Aguilar announced he is personally donating his entire $1.7 million in NIL earnings from this season to fund after-school programs, tutoring centers, and college scholarship funds for underserved kids in his hometown and across Tennessee, proving leadership isn’t just spoken; it’s lived.

Aguilar’s message was simple, timeless, and undeniably human:

“Success means nothing if it doesn’t serve others.”

While boosters chase rings and headlines, a quarterback who just won the SEC reminded the world that true greatness isn’t measured by what you keep; but by what you give.

In an era where college athletes are called mercenaries, Joey Aguilar didn’t just speak tonight.

He made the world listen.

12/12/2025

🎁 One of the perks of being a sports dietitian this time of year? Getting surprise holiday boxes from some of my favorite partners, like the Texas Beef Council and the Pear Bureau 🍐🥩

These fresh food gifts are more than delicious, they’re a reminder of what truly fuels athletes at every level.

Whether it’s high-quality protein to support muscle recovery, or naturally sweet fruit packed with hydration and antioxidants, real food always wins. 🏋️‍♂️⚾️🏃‍♀️

As we head into the holidays (and the off season for many young athletes!), it’s the perfect time to celebrate local producers, seasonal eating, and the power of fresh in building healthy, strong, and motivated bodies and minds.

Here’s to fueling with purpose, eating with gratitude, and supporting the farms and food producers that keep us moving! 💪🌟

12/04/2025

🥚💪 What if the problem isn’t that we’re “over” consuming protein, it’s that most of us aren’t consuming it “correctly” or in the “right packages”.

Timing, type, and quality matter 🔑
Grabbing a giant dose once a day doesn’t do as much good as spacing it out. Fueling your muscles, metabolism, and recovery all day long.

Think of protein as your body’s construction crew:
If they all show up for one hour a day, progress is slow. But if they’re on-site for every shift: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, your body can actually build and repair efficiently. 💥

Prioritize lean, high-quality sources (like eggs, fish, poultry, beef, pork, dairy, beans, nuts, seeds, or complete grains like quinoa) in the right amounts throughout the day… not just a protein shake after a workout.

Smart distribution, not restriction or indulgence all at once is the real secret.