Fueling for Performance: Breaking Down Diet Culture & Body Image with Sports Dietitian Heidi Strickler

In this episode, I sit down with Heidi Strickler, a registered sports dietitian (RD, RSD), for a candid conversation about fuel, food, and the culture of diet and body image in sports. Heidi and I first connected at the WILDWOOD conference, and I knew right away that her experience and insights would resonate with our listeners.   Heidi grew up outside of Salt Lake City, where her love for soccer and the outdoors began. After a positive youth soccer career, she faced challenges with the culture in college athletics—dealing with body image pressures, a me-centered team environment, and a lack of positive leadership. This led her to discover a new passion: cross-country running.   Heidi's personal struggle with body image, the quest for the "perfect sports body," and misinformation about fueling for performance and recovery led her down a difficult path. Like many athletes, she dealt with under-fueling, over-exercising, and eventually, an eating disorder. Now, as a sports dietitian, she empowers athletes to understand the importance of proper fueling for performance and recovery.   In this episode, Heidi talks about key topics including:   Relative Energy Deficiency (RED-S): How under-fueling can impact performance and overall health.   Menstrual Cycles & Body Changes: Normalizing the conversation around body changes as athletes grow and develop.   Caregivers' Responsibility with Food & Body Image: How parents' negative self-talk, food labeling (good vs. bad foods), and their own diet behaviors can impact young athletes.   Best Foods to Fuel & Recover: No food is inherently good or bad, but Heidi explains the importance of timing in fueling for optimal performance and recovery.   The Pop Tart vs. Nature's Made Granola Bar Debate: Hold on tight for Heidi’s comparison, challenging common perceptions about "healthy" snacks.   Join us for this informative and eye-opening discussion on how to fuel not just for sport, but for life, with a healthy relationship to food and body image.   LINKS:   Heidi Strickler https://www.instagram.com/hkstrickler_sportsrd/   Wildwood https://www.instagram.com/wildwoodrunningpdx/   PEAC-train like a girl  https://www.instagram.com/peac_train_like_a_girl/   https://www.instagram.com/usa_womens_soccer1/   https://www.instagram.com/simonebiles/   Website: https://sustainablelifelive.com/information-podcast