Nutritional periodization has developed from a relatively narrow focus on manipulating carbohydrate availability into a broader concept in which energy, carbohydrate, protein, hydration and selected micronutrient strategies are adjusted according to training demand, recovery requirements and competition goals. This descriptive thematic review examines contemporary concepts of nutritional periodization in team-sport athletes, with particular emphasis on training-load–responsive fuelling, recovery and training adaptation. Literature was narratively organised into major themes: training-load and fuelling demand, carbohydrate periodization, protein and tissue remodelling, energy availability, pre-, during- and post-exercise nutrition, match-day and congested-schedule recovery, body-composition management, individualisation, digital monitoring, and future research. Recent consensus and review evidence indicates that no single nutritional strategy is appropriate for all athletes and that carbohydrate availability should generally be high when repeated high-intensity performance is required, while nutritional strategies should be individualised according to sport, training phase and athlete context. The review also highlights an important distinction between nutritional adequacy and nutritional alignment: an athlete may meet average weekly targets while still being poorly fuelled for a particular high-load session. A practical thematic framework, the FUEL–RECOVER–ADAPT model, is proposed to connect training demand with nutritional decisions and subsequent recovery and adaptation. The review concludes that nutritional periodization should be viewed as a dynamic support system integrated with training periodization rather than as a fixed diet plan.