Acting Like an Athlete - On and Off the Court: Angie's Story
10.1.25
By: Emiah Soto from the University of St. Joseph
Angie plays volleyball for Special Olympics Cheshire. She had a setback when she got injured and was challenged to work her way back to where she wanted to be on the court. She mentioned that she finds joy in the sport and what she enjoys most is when she and her teammates score. Spending time with her teammates, which are her friends, is a positive memory she has from Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT). Angie has a positive spirit and attitude, even while talking about the challenging times she’s faced. Angie's growth mindset got her curious about ways to stay healthy and strong through her injury. Through a cooking class led through a collaboration between SOCT and the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Angie learned about ways to care for her body as an athlete with healthy eating, even when she is sidelined with an injury.
The cooking class was led by Grace Duffy, a graduate student in the Nutrition program. She taught a group of engaged SOCT athletes how to make fiber and protein-rich oatmeal cups that can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack to support lasting energy. She demonstrated how simple the recipe was to prepare and also educated the SOCT athletes on the importance of complex carbohydrates to support sports performance. Angie was very involved in the conversation, sharing some of her favorite breakfast and snack choices and asking great questions about ways to alter the recipe. Grace shared that the oatmeal cups could be made sweet with chocolate chips or fruit, or savory with nuts and seeds and vegetables.
Angie enjoyed the recipe demonstration and noted that the oatmeal cups looked appetizing. She was happy to learn how to make a snack she could eat to fuel her before or after volleyball matches and something both nutritious and tasty that she could eat in the morning for breakfast. She now has another performance tool in her tool belt both to perform at her best in volleyball and stay energized throughout the day. What a great way to take care of herself both on and off the court!