The nutritional environment and food access of female athletes at HBCUs: a qualitative analysis

The findings suggest that while food options exist within HBCU campuses and surrounding communities, they may not fully support the unique needs of female student-athletes. Institutional stakeholders, including administrators, athletic trainers, and coaches, may consider collaborative efforts to enhance food access and nutritional support. This could include increasing awareness of community resources (e.g., SNAP, food banks), revisiting dormitory policies related to cooking, and expanding access to nutrition education. These insights underscore the importance of contextually responsive strategies to promote student-athlete well-being.