When parents hear “fueling,” they often assume their gymnast is doing okay—but our recent gymnast fueling audits revealed a very different story.

Here’s what we found:

• 2 out of 3 gymnasts had already fallen off their growth curve.
• Most were missing 25% or more of their daily nutrition needs.
• Many were already at moderate to high risk for RED-S, not because they were training 30 hours a week like elites—most averaging closer to 20 hours per week.

And the scary part? A lot of these gymnasts already had serious injuries—stress fractures, overuse injuries, elbow pain requiring an OCD rule-out. These are not just “random bad luck” injuries. They’re a direct reflection of inadequate fueling.

Some of the families we worked with have followed us for years. A few were doing okay but still had blind spots. Others really needed more support than they realized—and would be better served by investing in a comprehensive program rather than piecing things together with every bootcamp, challenge, or workshop they see.

I get it—sometimes it really isn’t in the budget. But I’ll also challenge you to look at where your money is going…because if your gymnast isn’t getting the nutrition she needs, none of that will keep her healthy or performing at her best.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through exactly what we learned from our gymnast fueling audits—and how you can start identifying the red flags before your gymnast ends up injured, stuck, or sidelined.

Because fueling is the foundation. Without it, nothing else matters.

👉 Listen in to learn what these audits revealed—and what steps you can take now to protect your gymnast’s health, growth, and performance.

Links & Resources

• Enrollment for Gymnast Fueling Audit
• Episode 04: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and Gymnastics
• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

Sign up here for our FINAL workshop of 2025-- The PreSeason Gymnast Nutrition Clinic

There’s a lot in gymnastics that frustrates parents—but truthfully, much of it is out of your control. You can’t control the judging. Or the coaching. You can’t control every practice or every skill. So as a parent of a gymnast, what can you actually control?

Gymnastics is a roller coaster of a ride. There are so many factors outside a parent's control along the way. But one thing I’ve learned in 6+ years of working with gymnastics parents…most wait too late.

January is our biggest cohort of the year which is great but also frustrating because there are truly a few nutrition situations that improve within days to weeks. A lot of them take weeks + months (or even years) and waiting until the START of competition season might mean its too late for that particular season.

But here’s the good news: there are some powerful things you can control that directly impact your gymnast’s health, performance, and longevity in the sport. If you’re wondering what you actually have control over as a parent in this sport, this episode will help you redirect your energy to the things that matter most.

✨I’m sharing three key areas that will make a huge difference this competition season:

✅ Making sure your gymnast is eating enough to grow, develop, heal, repair, and recover.
✅ Teaching your gymnast how to fuel her body—understanding food’s role in energy, performance plates, and smart snack choices.
✅ Involving your gymnast in the process of food prep and planning so she’s confident and capable when it comes to fueling herself. The key differences between “healthy” and “adequate” fueling for gymnasts

Links & Resources

• Episode 164: Holding the Boundary Around Safety + Nutrition for your Gymnast
• Episode 165: What to Do When Your Gymnast’s Lunch Comes Home Uneaten?
• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

Sign up here for our FINAL workshop of 2025-- The PreSeason Gymnast Nutrition Clinic

When it comes to gymnast nutrition, “healthy” and “adequate” are not the same thing. And confusing the two can keep your gymnast stuck in frustration, struggling with performance, and at higher risk of injury.

So many parents tell me, “But Christina, my gymnast eats so healthy!” And while that’s absolutely important, the real question is—is she eating enough?

Here’s the truth. A gymnast can eat the cleanest, most nutrient-dense diet in the world, but if it’s not adequate—meaning enough total energy, protein, carbs, and fats—her body is still underfueled.

And that underfueling leads to stalled progress, poor recovery, and increased injury risk (even when everything looks “healthy” on the plate).

Gymnasts need adequacy to meet the high demands of training and competition so "healthy nutrition" doesn’t automatically equal “performance nutrition.” If your gymnast is serious about her goals, nutrition has to go beyond “healthy.” Adequate fueling is the foundation for strength, energy, growth, and keeping her body safe from injuries.

✨ This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever wondered why your gymnast is doing all the right things with her food but still seems tired, stuck, or sidelined by nagging injuries. You might have that "ah-ha" moment...

In this episode you'll learn:

• The key differences between “healthy” and “adequate” fueling for gymnasts
• Why just focusing on clean eating can actually backfire for gymnasts
• Meeting energy needs is non-negotiable if your gymnast wants to stay strong, healthy, and progressing in the sport.

Links & Resources

• Episode 64: Is your gymnast overtrained or underfueled?
• Episode 04: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and Gymnastics
• The Balanced Gymnast® Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or christinaandersonrdn.com

Sign up here for our FINAL workshop of 2025-- The PreSeason Gymnast Nutrition Clinic