Sports Nutrition

Sports nutrition incorporates knowledge of the connection between human physiology and nutrition. We provide highly individualized interventions to meet the fueling demands of athletes (including youth, high school and adult athletes) and active individuals.

Our sports nutrition program is one of just a few in the Kansas City area. Our sports dietitian is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics (CSSD), which is the highest standard of professional credentialing within the field of sports nutrition.

Sports dietitians focus on nutrition care that is specific to the athlete and their activity requirements. They provide nutrition counseling at the individual and team level to enhance the performance of competitive and recreational athletes. They work to assess, educate and counsel athletes, as well as design, implement and manage safe and effective nutrition strategies that enhance lifelong health, fitness and optimal performance.

A sports dietitian can assist athletes in reaching their goals faster and more effectively. These goals may include:

• Maximizing performance
• Addressing medical concerns
• Improving energy levels and fatigue
• Sport-related injury prevention
• Safely returning to sport after surgery
• Optimizing bone health
• Body composition changes
• Developing a healthier relationship with food, exercise and body image
• Working with a provider that takes a patient-centered approach and promotes inclusive and flexible eating rather than restriction and exclusion

Performance-related interventions that a sports dietitian can address include:

• Helping elite and everyday athletes reach their full performance potential
• Resting metabolic rate testing
• Medical nutrition therapy
• Sport-specific nutrition
• Recovery nutrition
• Injury prevention nutrition
• Optimizing nutrition in weight class and aesthetic sports (wrestling, cycling, running, gymnastics and tumbling, dancing and cheerleading, bodybuilding, etc.)
• Micronutrient deficiencies
• Dietary supplement evaluation
• Race or competition day-planning
• Fueling during training
• Nutrient timing
• Gastrointestinal issues around training, including food allergies
• Hydration and electrolytes
• Disordered eating support
• Fostering a healthy relationship with food