The Gymnast Nutritionist® Podcast
Welcome to The Gymnast Nutritionist® podcast, a free resource for gymnast, parents, and coaches to learn to fuel the gymnast optimal performance and longevity int he sport. Christina Anderson MS, RDN, CSP, CSSD is a board certified pediatric/adolescent registered dietitian nutritionist, former gymnast, and current nationally rated gymnastics judge. She helps gymnasts and their parents take a proactive approach to fueling, without the stress or overwhelm. This podcast is all #realtalk where she tackles tough subjects about nutrition, body image, and more in the sport of gymnastics.
Episodes
142 episodes
Episode 142: What to do when a gymnastics coach makes a comment about your gymnast's weight
Hopefully this is never something you encounter as a gymnastics parent. But, what do you when a gymnastics coach makes a comment about your gymnast's weight to you? Or worse, directly to them?But, it's 2025 and we're STILL having issues ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 142
•
26:05
Episode 141- How do we prevent disordered eating in gymnastics?
TW: This is geared more towards parents + coachesIf you are a gymnastics coach, health care provider, parent, etc today's podcast is crucial because I'm talking about a question that runs rampant in our sport. Specifically, how do we pre...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 141
•
56:05
Episode 140: What is the "best" type of school for fueling your gymnast?
When it comes to fueling your gymnast, is there an advantage based on what type of school they attend?Here at The Gymnast Nutritionist®, we have clients from all walks of school life: private, public, hybrid, homeschool, you name it. And...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 140
•
29:58
Episode 139: Acute vs Chronic Underfueling in Gymnasts [Competition Season Edition]
This biggest mistake we’re seeing high level gymnasts make right now is…Only eating WHEN and IF they “feel hungry enough”… “my gymnast eats well” is 100% subjectiveThis can lead to "acute" underfueling....
•
Season 1
•
Episode 139
•
16:24
Episode 138: Gymnast Labs, Endurance, and Iron Deficiency/Anemia
It's a significant topic in sports nutrition, particularly for endurance athletes, so today's podcast episode is all about understanding iron deficiency in gymnasts. In the sports nutrition world we’re super keen on screening for ir...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 138
•
38:57
Episode 137: Will working on nutrition give your gymnast a “complex”
I hear it from parents all the time. They KNOW their gymnast isn't fueling enough for their training...BUT they worry if they bring up nutrition, they'll either give their gymnast a complex OR it'll just turn into another battle. And they just ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 137
•
29:12
Episode 136: 5 Mistakes gymnasts are making with their nutrition in 2025
Meet season is in full swing and we're already seeing the same five mistakes gymnasts are making with their nutrition. I know competition season is already stressful enough with nerves, travel, weird session times etc. BUT too ofte...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 136
•
28:29
Episode 135: How to Support Your Gymnast's Nutrition When it’s a Rebuilding Season
Is it a rebuilding season for your gymnast this year? It’s hard to sit on the sidelines when everyone else is competing.We have a LOT of gymnasts in this situation right now, and honestly I am so grateful we get to support them. They are...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 135
•
33:36
Episode 134: Did you watch a real-time implosion with your gymnast this weekend?
Did you watch a real-time implosion this weekend at one of your gymnast's first big meets this competition season? If so...You're not alone! :)Comp season is just kicking off for most gymnasts so it's totally normal for first meet jitter...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 134
•
23:50
Episode 133: Is it too late to start working on nutrition during competition season? [MINDSET]
Is it “too late” to start working on your gymnast’s nutrition this competition season?Short answer: “NO”SO MUCH can happen in just a few weeks of proper, adequate fueling to support your gymnast’s health, recovery, and performance...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 133
•
29:09
Episode 132: Competition Nutrition Strategies from Level 6 through Elite/NCAA gymnastics
With the 2025 competition season upon us, today's episode focuses on the varying needs for competition nutrition strategies for gymnastics at the different levels. Every new level brings with it new challenges and opportunities. It'...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 132
•
18:47
Episode 131: If You're Team “No Days Off”, here's why your gymnast might be stuck + struggling (or will be)
Have you fallen victim to the mentality of "team no days off for your gymnast? Believe it or not, this could be what's keeping your gymnast stuck + struggling. And is the fastest way to ruin your kids gymnastics career.A lot of the young...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 131
•
17:12
Episode 130: Origin Story- TGN® Team Megan Robinson, MS, RD, CSSD CDCES, LDN
To wrap up our introduction to the team podcast series, today I'm pumped to chat with Megan Robinson. She is our final dietitian on team TGN® and one of our pediatric/adolescent sports dietitians who supports our gymnasts + parents inside The B...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 130
•
50:27
Episode 129: Why gymnast growth charts are so important to success in the sport
In today's episode, I'm sharing why its critically important for your gymnast to be plotted on their growth chart multiple times a year. And how things can go sideways when they aren't.I know parents spend so much time seeing specialists...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 129
•
20:12
Episode 128: Does your injured gymnast need to "manage her weight"?
Injury and time off is by nature stressful for the athlete and parent. But unfortunately, in an aesthetic sport like gymnastics that is steeped in backwards thinking, navigating weight gain or management in injured gymnasts takes it to a whole ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 128
•
27:45
Episode 127: Origin Story- TGN® Team Ryann Mayer MPS, RDN, LDN
I'm so excited to introduce you all to the next dietitian on team TGN®, Ryann Mayer. She is another one of our pediatric/adolescent sports dietitians who supports our gymnasts + parents inside The Balanced Gymnast® Program. And she's making lif...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 127
•
56:05
Episode 126: Origin Story- TGN® Team Melissa Wallinga DCN, MS, RDN, CSPCC
A LONG overdue episode, on the podcast today I'm introducing you all to dietitian Melissa Wallinga. One of The Gymnast Nutritionist® team pediatric/adolescent sports dietitians who supports our gymnasts + parents inside The Balanced Gymnast® Pr...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 126
•
56:37
Episode 125: [Fueled Gymnast Fall] How to help your gymnast with nutrition if they’re stuck, struggling, or injured
At this point of the year, parents ask if nutrition is something their gymnast should focus on while they're injured.A lot of gymnasts are injured right now and won’t even have a competition season. Or some are in the process of coming ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 124
•
20:21
Episode 124: [Fueled Gymnast Fall] How to keep your gymnast from imploding this competition season
Is your gymnast ready to crush it? Or will your gymnast implode part way through this competition season? Is there a way to predict or prevent it from happening?Preparing for competition season begins the day after the last season ended,...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 124
•
20:42
Episode 123: [Fueled Gymnast Fall] How to navigate the holiday sweets + treats
How your gymnast consumes and behaves around the sweets and treats on the holidays is indicative of their relationship with these foods the other 364 days a year.I know that's a big statement, but stay with me. For example, if on Hallow...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 123
•
20:51
Episode 122: [Fueled Gymnast Fall] 3 Sneaky Ways Your Gymnast is Underfueled
Could your gymnast be underfueled and you just not know it? What does that look like and what signs should parents be on the lookout for?Welcome to the first episode of our series, Fueled Gymnast Fall. I'm so excited to ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 122
•
23:46
Episode 121: How nutrition will impact a gymnast in college recruiting
Today's episode is all about NCAA recruiting and how nutrition will impact a gymnast in the college recruiting journey. This is a huge topic for my junior and senior gymnasts who are actively going through recruiting. I hear a lot ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 121
•
33:51
Episode 120: What age does your gymnast need nutrition support?
If you've been listening to the podcast for awhile but have been wondering at what age does your gymnast need nutrition support, then this episode is for you!There's definitely no one hard rule when it comes to what age gymnasts should s...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 120
•
24:49
Episode 119: Spilling the Tea with Gymnast Parents who went All In with Nutrition
We have a super special episode on the podcast for you today with some of our alumni parents who went all in with nutrition for their gymnasts. We asked parents who were once in your shoes all about how they've seen nutrition work ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 119
•
1:02:34
Episode 118: When denial gets in the way of nutrition for gymnasts
Today's podcast topic is all about how sometimes parents and athletes are in denial when it comes to their gymnast's nutrition. It's not a unique state as we all engage in it. But what's normal isn't always what's best; especially when it comes...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 118
•
24:58