Growing up in central IL, I was involved in athletics from a young age. I ran cross country and track for seven years, resulting in several state medals. I continued my career at the collegiate level, where I was an all-conference athlete and qualifier for the NAIA national indoor track and field meet. I know all too well what it is like to show up every day training hard for the competition you love.
I also know what it is like to face obstacles during training. Underfueling, GI issues, iron deficiency… all of those problems plagued me at some point in my career, and I saw many of my teammates suffer from nutrition-related problems as well. Most concerning was the prevalence of disordered eating I saw during my eleven years of sport. I started Midwest Performance Nutrition because I saw a need in the athletic community to prioritize non-diet, weight-inclusive nutrition education. My approach is informed by Health at Every Size (HAES), Intuitive Eating, and evidence-based sports nutrition principles.
I also have experience working at multiple levels of care treating eating disorder patients of all ages, though I have a special interest in working with adolescents and their families.
Education wise - I have a B.S. in Dietetics from Olivet Nazarene University, where I was a member of the track team. I went on to complete my M.S. in Applied Exercise Science at Concordia University Chicago and my dietetic internship at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. I am a licensed dietitian in 4 states and a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics.
