As the strength and conditioning coach for Football, Wrestling, Girls Basketball, and Baseball at Okeechobee High School, Melissa Tomlinson understands the importance of post-workout recovery. As part of her post-workout meal plan for her student athletes, Melissa encourages her student athletes to drink chocolate milk. "We work to tear their muscles down in the workout, so milk helps to build their muscles back up after the workout."
Melissa discovered the benefits of recovering with chocolate milk as an athlete herself. As a runner, she needed to find a recovery beverage that was cost-effective, which led her to choose milk. Melissa says she knows for both herself and her athletes that other drinks like Gatorade or Muscle Milk "don't provide as much for you that milk does." Melissa loves that milk is natural and has the nutrients her athletes needs, like proteins and carbohydrates.
Currently, Melissa's athletes drink chocolate milk for both breakfast and lunch at school. Because of her efforts in educating students on the health and recovery benefits of milk, Melissa has noticed that the student's cafeteria trays have changed from having Gatorade on them to having milk. "We make it accessible," Melissa said, "so they can just drink it and go."
But, Melissa wants to bring even more chocolate milk to her students. She is teaming up with her School Foodservice Team and local processor to develop a program to provide chocolate milk to her athletes after practices during the summer. Melissa has also partnered with the Florida Dairy Council to get a cooler to hold the chocolate milk. "With this cooler, I can track and regulate how much chocolate milk my athlete's are getting. I can better see how chocolate milk is working and can prove my point about the benefits of recovering with chocolate milk," Melissa said.
Melissa's nutritional plan for her athletes also includes them eating peanut butter sandwiches. "They used to have a Gatorade and bag of chips to sustain themselves throughout practice - not so good. I just tell my kids that if what they eat and drink is good, it will work good." Melissa has noticed the shapes of her athletes changing for the better, especially her football players.
Finally, Melissa said, "Milk keeps the athletes at Okeechobee High School MOOOving!"
For her efforts, Coach Tomlinson was selected as a monthly Spotlight On winner and her school received a visit from NBA Legend Kenny Anderson.
