My approach to supporting gymnasts, parents, and coaches comes from my own experience as a high-level gymnast that struggled with food and her body. Like many of you, my career was plagued with injuries that were largely related to underfueling, though I was clueless as to the effects my nutrition had on my body and performance.
I didn’t learn to fuel and nourish my body until college, which was after my gymnastics career had ended. So much of what I write and speak about is what I wish I could have told my 16-year-old gymnast self.
As I became more involved in nutrition, I realized very quickly that a “one-size-fits-all” approach and “just do it” don’t work. Not only does this not work, but this approach often makes the food + body situation worse.
I’m a pediatric and adolescent sports dietitian nutritionist that specializes in nutrition for the gymnast.
FOUNDER & CEO of
The Gymnast Nutritionist
®
Together we can learn about the body’s energy needs and how all foods can fit. And, we can together create a way of eating that supports sports performance and a healthy relationship with food + body.
As a former competitive artistic gymnast, current Developmental Program/NCAA women’s gymnastics judge, and someone who works in the sport of gymnastics each day, I get you. I understand your struggles, the cultural challenges, and pressure that you and our gymnasts face.
To help gymnasts learn to fuel their bodies for optimal performance and longevity in the sport.
My Mission:
downloads
Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, University of Arkansas
Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
RDN Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and LD Licensed Dietitian
CSSD Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics
CSP Board Certified Pediatric & Adolescent Specialist
National Developmental Program and NCAA rated US Women’s Gymnastics Judge
Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, The Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association, USA Gymnastics, and the National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges
Nutrition Consultant to USA Gymnastics Athlete Wellness Committee
Professional Credentials
Switched from ballet to gymnastics after a friend invited me to come with her to a practice
Got invited to the competitive team, found a new level of strength, power, and flexibility
The injuries started…sprained ankles, Achilles tendon issues, fractured back, etc. Always on the comeback from an injury it seemed. Started “researching” about nutrition and healthy eating, thought I was doing all the right things but was actually underfueling. Always tired, always injured, struggling in the gym with strength power, etc.
Continued to struggle with nutrition, injuries, etc. and knew that dreams of NCAA gymnastics were gone.
Injured again fall of my senior year of high school, retired from gymnastics to focus on academics since unable to compete that season due to injuries. Still really struggling with food and how to fuel, which only got worse.
Graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Nutrition, honestly more confused than ever as still struggling with everything I’d learned about nutrition during gymnastics
Finished my training as a dietitian at Duke and was hired by the University of Oklahoma Pediatric Endocrinology. Learned how to fuel my body and realized how many mistakes I made as a gymnast, even though I ate so “healthfully”
Got married, moved to Wyoming with my husband who is an engineer in the USAF and started Christina Anderson RDN | The Gymnast Nutritionist®
Launched The Balanced Gymnast® Method, our signature framework for fueling the competitive gymnast
11 years in pediatric and adolescent nutrition, 7 as The Gymnast Nutritionist®. Today I lead a team of sports dietitians serving thousands of gymnasts each year through The Balanced Gymnast® Program, our podcast, Pre-Season Clinic and ambassador program.
Board Certified Pediatric & Adolescent Registered Dietitian Sports Nutritionist, Pediatric & Adolescent Expert | Christina, also known as The Gymnast Nutritionist®, is an expert in pediatric/adolescent sports nutrition, disordered eating/underfueling, and GI issues. She has an extensive background in gymnastics as a former competitive gymnast and is a nationally rated NCAA/USAG women's gymnastics judge for 18+ years.
MS, RDN, CSP, CSSD
Meet your Program Sports Dietitians :
DCN, RDN, CSPCC, LD
MS, RDN, CSSD, CDCES
Board Certified Pediatric & Adolescent Specialist, Registered Dietitian Sports Nutritionist, Pediatric & Adolescent Expert | Melissa is an expert in pediatric/adolescent sports nutrition, child feeding, picky eating, disordered eating, and fueling young athletes with special healthcare needs. She is the mom to two little girls, one a level 8 gymnast so she knows exactly what it's like to fuel young, growing gymnasts – especially those struggling with picky eating, neurodivergence, and other healthcare conditions.
MS, RDN
Board Certified Sports Dietitian, Board Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, Registered Dietitian Sports Nutritionist, Pediatric & Adolescent Expert | Megan is a former gymnast, current marathoner and run coach, and has worked at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia part time for 20 years as a diabetes educator and pediatric dietitian in their renowned pediatric endocrinology clinic. She also works with their sports medicine physicians to support injured athletes and those diagnosed with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport.
+ Read more
+ Read more
+ Read more
Board Certified Registered Dietitian, Pediatric & Adolescent Expert | Cecelia is a former gymnast, current marathoner and loves working with gymnasts and parents. She has extensive clinical experience with picky eating, labs, and growth concerns.
Board Certified Registered Dietitian, Pediatric & Adolescent Expert | Sarah has been a dietitian for 15+ years, is a former gymnast, now gymnast mom, and loves working with families supporting them in all aspects of feeding and fueling.
RDN
+ Read more
+ Read more
Christina speaks at gymnastics clubs, clinics, and conferences, and presented at USA Gymnastics National Congress from 2016 to 2024.
Her practice Christina Anderson RDN | The Gymnast Nutritionist® provides nutrition therapy, coaching, and support to competitive gymnasts and their families - helping them unlock optimal performance and longevity in the sport through a realistic approach to nutrition.
She loves helping families create feeding and fueling strategies that support their young athletes and are easy to continue for years to come. Melissa has spent the entirety of her career thus far working in pediatric nutrition, beginning with University of Nebraska in Sports Nutrition, their Childhood Obesity Programming, and working in pediatric inpatient rehabilitation. Melissa regularly speaks on various pediatric nutrition topics in many academic and non-academic settings, including nutrition Team Talks for gymnastics clubs. Melissa is also completing her Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition at Rutgers University. She currently serves on committees in the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group and is also a CDR Specialist and subject matter expert for the CSPCC Exam.
Cecelia is a former competitive gymnast and current marathoner, so she knows firsthand what it takes to fuel a body for sport. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Mississippi State University and her Master of Science in Nutrition and dietetic internship from the University of Florida. As a pediatric dietitian, she supports kids and teens with sports nutrition, picky eating, labs, growth concerns and a wide range of health conditions. She has published nutrition research and teaches nutrition to young dancers at a local youth ballet company. She loves partnering with gymnasts and their parents to build fueling habits that support performance, healthy growth and a positive relationship with food.
Megan has been a registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN) since 1994 and has worked at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia since 2001. She is a Board Certified Specialist Sports Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, specializing in sports nutrition, cardiovascular health, and diabetes education. Megan is a prolific writer for Runnerclick, an online running training program, and has been published in numerous nutrition journals and books. She received her Bachelors of Science in Dietetics at the University of Vermont and Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology at West Chester University. She’s the mom of two boys and loves working with families of youth and adolescent athletes.
Sarah is a registered and licensed dietitian (RDN, LD) with 15 years of experience in child nutrition, helping families with picky eating, food allergies, growth concerns and more. A former gymnast who is now a wife and mom to two gymnast daughters, she knows firsthand how hard feeding kids can be, especially with so many mixed messages out there. She uses the latest research and practical, real-life strategies to help parents feed their kids with confidence and help gymnasts fuel for performance and longevity in the sport.
GYMNASTICS NUTRITION
Learn to fuel the gymnast for optimal performance and longevity in the sport.
For Gymnast Clubs, Camps,
and Conferences:
+ Support your gymnasts and parents in learning to fuel
+ Create a pro-fueling culture to improve performance and increase longevity
Team Talks
For gymnasts and parents:
+ Female level 5-10/elite
+ Gymnasts with big goals and dreams
+ Who want 1:1 support
The Balanced
Gymnast® Program
For gymnasts and parents:
+ Want to fast-track their learning
+ Compulsory Gymnasts (L2-4, Xcel)
+ Option for self-paced course (DIY) or 1:1 coaching