In this step-by-step learning experience, you’ll be guided by pediatric & adolescent registered sports dietitian nutritionist, speaker, and founder of The Gymnast Nutritionist, Christina Anderson MS, RDN, CSSD, CSP, as she teaches you how to fuel the lower level competitive gymnast in a way that is realistic, makes sense, and actually works.
During this self-paced course, you’ll get insider access to The Balanced Gymnast® Compulsory Course trainings, plus proven tools, guides, and recipes to optimize your gymnast’s performance in six weeks.
You don’t have to keep struggling with your gymnast’s nutrition.
You don’t have to keep guessing at whether or not your feeding her enough (or she’s eating enough).
Optimizing nutrition from a young age is KEY to preventing issues with food, injury, or body image later in a gymnast’s career.
Learn exactly what the gymnast needs to fuel everyday life and health. Without a strong nutrition foundation, nothing else matter.
This nutrition strategy will ensure your gymnast is well-fueled for practice or competition, no matter what!
When life happens and your gymnast gets injured, do you know how to optimize nutrition for faster recovery?
It’s Christina. Like your gymnast and many of you, I was a competitive gymnast for 9+ years and am now a sports dietitian nutritionist who works exclusively with gymnasts.
My career as a gymnast didn’t end well. I struggled with food and my body, and my parents felt helpless. We did “all the things” in terms of physical therapy and seeing all the right doctors for my ongoing injuries, but it was my underfueling that kept me stuck.
It wasn’t until I become a dietitian nutritionist that I realized that what I had been doing with my nutrition was the complete opposite of what I needed, yet how should I have known? (Especially when that’s what everyone else was doing)
Now I have a healthy relationship with food and my body, and help high level gymnasts everyday achieve the things I wasn’t able to in my career.
Since 2017, I’ve had a private practice and worked with 100s of competitive gymnasts (compulsory through Sr Elite/National Team) and their parents —teaching them to fuel for optimal performance without the stress or overwhelm.
In 2020 I pivoted to 100% virtual practice so I could serve gymnasts all across the US and internationally, and it’s been amazing.
In April of 2020, we launched The Balanced Gymnast® Method which is an online course for parents of competitive gymnasts to make education on fueling the gymnast is accessible to all.
I believe that gymnasts need to not only learn to fuel their bodies for sport, but develop a healthy relationship with food and body (hence the donut…all foods can fit in the high level gymnast’s diet).
My program attracts gymnasts and parents who are ready to put in the time and effort to optimize nutrition and performance. They are not afraid to challenge beliefs they have about food and nutrition, and challenge cultural norms in the sport. Just because “this is how we’ve always done it” doesn’t make it right.
I’m SO excited to welcome you to The Balanced Gymnast® Compulsory Course and help you learn to optimize your gymnast’s nutrition for performance and life beyond sport in 6 weeks.
// Claudia, Level 4 gymnast Parent
I haven't seen her do a round-off, BHS, back tuck in WEEKS and she nails it with ease last night and with height that I've not seen before!!!
We LOVE Melissa and are so grateful for her support with our gymnast's nutrition.
// Katie, Mom level 5 gymnast
"We had our first 1 on 1 with Megan today! OMG! We absolutely love her. We felt so comfortable with her immediately and learned so much. We can't wait for our next sessions and are excited to continue learning. Thanks for choosing her for us, it's like it was meant to be, a perfect match!
// Julie, mom D1 NCAA gymnast
“Christina does a great job of explaining WHY it’s so important to be properly fueling gymnasts at this level and what that looks like. I WISH I had this information when Lundyn was a level 4/5 gymnast, it would have helped so much with her elite journey.
// Mom, Level 4 Gymnast
Since following the TBG® Plan and working with Ryann, her headaches are now controlled, her joint pain has disappeared, and she's regained her strength + power. Despite having to limit her training due to ankle OCD, she's making significantly more progress than she was when she was under-fueled and training at full capacity.
// Mom, Level 8 Gymnast
“The VIP program has been a game changer for my gymnast! It seems like common sense now, but I had no idea just how much of a role nutrition plays in injuries and her overall health in this sport. We've both learned so much and my gymnast has noticed a big difference in her energy levels and ability to focus both at gym and with school!”
Every gymnast NEEDS a Performance Nutrition Strategy or the intentional nutrition and hydration before, during, and after a workout to optimize performance and adaptation to training. There’s a big difference between “snacking” vs “fueling”.
Learn how to build meals + snacks anywhere, anytime that meet your young gymnast's nutrition needs. You'll learn to support optimal growth, development, and performance without feeling like a short-order cook!
Start strong! You'll deep dive into all things growth, development, nutrition needs for the gymnast and how to make sure they get what need for longevity in the sport.
During the course of our 6-weeks together we’ll walk step-by-step through the course together so that you can confidently learn everything you need to know about nutrition for your gymnast!
We’ve developed performance meal/snack guides, recipe guides, tools and more to support you and your gymnast in learning how to fuel their best performance!
Each week I’ll guide you through learning to build meals and snacks that fuel your gymnast. You’ll receive a series of handouts and guides to help you and your gymnast come up with your own custom nutrition strategies.
These trainings are designed with your gymnast in mind! They can join you to listen in and hear it from "someone else" other than mom or dad 😉
Immediately after enrolling in The Balanced Gymnast® Compulsory Course, you’ll get access to all the trainings and materials in the private course member’s area.
You can go as quickly or slowly through the course as you like.
Your gymnast is Compulsory or Xcel Platinum and below
You worry if they are getting enough of the right kind of nutrition to help them perform their best
You struggle to get your gymnast to eat a balanced diet
They have big goals and dreams and you don’t want to see them dashed because of injury
They want to do everything they can to get the most out of their training
You feel confused about nutrition and aren’t sure what the gymnast needs
You want to be proactive with nutrition
You don’t want your gymnast to struggle with food and body right now or as she gets older
Your gymnast is level 5/6-10/elite
You think nutrition doesn’t matter right now while she’s younger and can wait until she’s struggling
You’re fine with your gymnast being a “picky eating’ or “obsessed with sugar”
Your gymnast has been diagnosed with an eating disorder and needs individualized support
You are happy spending countless hours asking other gym parents for advice, “Googling” nutrition information, and second guessing yourself
You are unwilling to invest in your gymnast’s health and longevity both IN and OUT of the sport
Over the past few years, I’ve have the privilege of working with gymnasts from all over the world and connected with amazing gymnastics professionals in the sport.
In this time, I’ve also observed a huge gap in the knowledge around properly gymnastics nutrition — especially for high level gymnasts who have big goals and dreams that depend on health and longevity.
While there are a lot of great sports dietitian nutritionists out there, many just don’t “get” gymnastics. Or, they don’t understand the high rates of disordered eating and eating disorders and promote practices that worsen these issues which are not only career threatening, but life threatening.
Not only do parents and gymnasts need support that is specifically tailored to the gymnast, but also support that addresses the other issues that gymnasts are not immune from…picky eating, growth issues, difficulties with sugar and “junk food”, etc.
I believe the best nutrition education combines the power of a sustainable, realistic approach that’s rooted in science.
That’s why I decided it was time to create a easy way for parents and gymnasts to get the nutrition education they’re looking for NOW.
Sorting through the nutrition noise and changing gymnastics culture, one gymnast at a time.
This is why I created this…
A program tailed for those who are ready to learn how to figure out nutrition once and for all to achieve their highest potential in the sport.
// Mom, Level 9 Gymnast
Then the last few weeks, she was coming out of gymnastics after 2x training a day smiling and singing in the car and when I would have a little look at her in the gym she was floating around and just happy. AND THEN finally it happened, her coach told me how she noticed my daughters change in energy at gym. She wasn’t a zombie at that second practice and just had more strength to give by the end. I’m so happy with this course.
The first month of doing your course I started noticing my daughter had more energy
// Mom, Level 6 Gymnast
The aspect of the program that I loved best is that it doesn’t teach you a specific menu or diet or schedule—it teaches you tools that you can use to tailor fueling for performance to your daughter, family, and lifestyle. It taught me about flexibility as much as it taught my daughter about the importance of fueling to prevent injury and perform well. We are excited to continue to see progress as we put more and more tools to use!
We are excited to continue to see progress as we put more and more tools to use!
How to help your gymnast:
Use this loaded PDF guide to help plan your Performance Nutrition Strategy!
Do you worry about how much sugar your gymnast eats? Does she seem “obsessed”? Get deep insight into why we struggle with sugar, if it’s harmful for the gymnast, and how to handle this sweet substance that is EVERYWHERE.
Is your gymnast a “picky eater” (or some of your other family members)? Do you worry about whether or not they’re meeting their nutrition needs or feel frustrated with food refusal? If so, this bonus is for you!
This guide will show you how to talk to your gymnast (including example phrases!) about nutrition without causing a fight or getting the eye roll. You’ll learn how to talk about food and body without causing issues, yet still supportive of your gymnast.
// Mom, Level 9 Gymnast
"My daughter feels safe and connected, not afraid to speak to Christina about her food and body image struggles as a high level gymnast. We love Christina as her nutrition advice is realistic and backed up by science."
// Mom, Level 5 Gymnast
"I love Christina’s approach to nutrition for the gymnast and not focusing on ‘bad’ foods. To be able to adjust to my own gymnast and understand more about fueling for performance. I am excited to build a healthy relationship with food for her.”
// Mom, Level 10 Gymnast
“Christina does a great job of explaining WHY it’s so important to be properly fueling gymnasts at this level and what that looks like. She helped me see the gaps we needed to fill and I loved the one-on-ones and the push to get blood work done. Highly recommend.”
// Mom, Level 9 Gymnast
“Nutrition is such a game changer. When everyone is doing the same hours and same skills, the adequately fueled athlete is ahead of the rest. Christina is a true expert and she wants to see your athlete succeed."
// Mom, Level 8 Gymnast
“The VIP program has been a game changer for my gymnast! It seems like common sense now, but I had no idea just how much of a role nutrition plays in injuries and her overall health in this sport. We've both learned so much and my gymnast has noticed a big difference in her energy levels and ability to focus both at gym and with school!”
3 in-depth course modules with video trainings, handouts, and recipes
Lifetime access to all program workbooks, guides, and tools
Exclusive upgrade opportunity to upgrade into the Fueling the Growing Gymnast 1:1 Coaching package for more support
get access to:
3 in-depth course modules with video trainings, handouts, and recipes
Lifetime access to all program workbooks, guides, and tools
Exclusive upgrade opportunity to upgrade into the Fueling the Growing Gymnast 1:1 Coaching package for more support
get access to:
This program is DIY with so many resources and fabulous bonus trainings to support you. If your gymnast needs more support, 1:1 coaching can be added on through our Fueling the Growing Gymnast Package. Please contact for more info.
What if I have questions or need more help?
This course is just for parents of gymnasts, levels 2-4 or Xcel Silver-Platinum
Is this only for gymnasts and parents, or for coaches too?
This course is just for parents of gymnasts, levels 2-4 or Xcel Silver-Platinum.
This is NOT for level 5/6+ above gymnasts. The Balanced Gymnast® Program is for you.
What age is this course designed for?
Enrolling today gives you lifetime access to the course and all materials.
How long do I have to complete the course?
YES! Because the course does not provide individualized 1:1 support (medical nutrition therapy), anyone can take the course since it provides nutrition education.
We live in Australia/UK/Europe, etc? Can we still take the course?
No! Even though we LOVE pink, this course is also appropriate for male gymnasts.
Is this only for female gymnasts?
Results don’t happen overnight, but each week’s training should take you less than an hour. Most take 2-3 weeks to go through the course, but you can go as quickly or slowly as you please.
How much time will it take to complete the course?
Nutrition is the foundation to EVERYTHING your gymnast does. All the money in the world won’t make up for lack of nutrition or improper nutrition that jeopardizes training and recovery. You spend way too much money on your gymnast’s career to not have nutrition dialed in.
We're already paying so much for tuition, privates, therapies, and college recruiting-do we really need this?
YES! Often gymnasts (especially teens) may not want to talk about nutrition because it’s deeply personal and they don’t want to feel judged. Often comments about food/bodies have already been made and the course is a safe way to introduce new, healthy nutrition concepts without pressure. A parent taking the course can get tons of skills and knowledge to help their gymnast.
What if my gymnast refuses to talk with me about nutrition, will this help?
I’ve spent 10 years my life and THOUSANDS of dollars trying to improve my relationship with food and my body. Throughout these 10 years, and combined with my Registered Dietitian background, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. This course will help you achieve food freedom and elite performance for a fraction of the cost.
Do you offer refunds?
3 in-depth course modules with video trainings, handouts, and recipes
Lifetime access to all program workbooks, guides, and tools
Exclusive upgrade opportunity to upgrade into the Fueling the Growing Gymnast 1:1 Coaching package for more support
get access to:
3 in-depth course modules with video trainings, handouts, and recipes
Lifetime access to all program workbooks, guides, and tools
Exclusive upgrade opportunity to upgrade into the Fueling the Growing Gymnast 1:1 Coaching package for more support
get access to:
// Claudia, Level 4 gymnast Parent
I haven't seen her do a round-off, BHS, back tuck in WEEKS and she nails it with ease last night and with height that I've not seen before!!!
We LOVE Melissa and are so grateful for her support with our gymnast's nutrition.
// Katie, Mom level 5 gymnast
"We had our first 1 on 1 with Megan today! OMG! We absolutely love her. We felt so comfortable with her immediately and learned so much. We can't wait for our next sessions and are excited to continue learning. Thanks for choosing her for us, it's like it was meant to be, a perfect match!
// Julie, mom D1 NCAA gymnast
“Christina does a great job of explaining WHY it’s so important to be properly fueling gymnasts at this level and what that looks like. I WISH I had this information when Lundyn was a level 4/5 gymnast, it would have helped so much with her elite journey.
// Mom, Level 4 Gymnast
Since following the TBG® Plan and working with Ryann, her headaches are now controlled, her joint pain has disappeared, and she's regained her strength + power. Despite having to limit her training due to ankle OCD, she's making significantly more progress than she was when she was under-fueled and training at full capacity.
// Mom, Level 8 Gymnast
“The VIP program has been a game changer for my gymnast! It seems like common sense now, but I had no idea just how much of a role nutrition plays in injuries and her overall health in this sport. We've both learned so much and my gymnast has noticed a big difference in her energy levels and ability to focus both at gym and with school!”