About The Dance Nutritionist®

Rachel Fine Dietitian nutritionist for dancers

I'm a board-certified Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the founder of The Healthy Dancer®. I'm also a former professional dancer, so I get it.

There was a time in my training when I struggled with injuries, fatigue, and the confusion of under-fueling. Like many dancers, I believed strict food rules were the key to performance. The reality? I was left feeling exhausted and disconnected from my body.

Read my story Work with me

Rachel Fine, dietitian nutritionist for dancers and founder of The Healthy Dancer

My story

I learned to fuel myself the hard way, so you don't have to

Rachel Fine dancing — the professional dancer turned dietitian nutritionist for dancers

Rachel Fine as a professional ballet dancer, founder of The Healthy Dancer

For years, I chased performance perfection. I counted calories. I avoided dessert, even though I loved it. I followed every food rule I picked up along the way.

I was convinced that eating less would make me a better dancer.

Instead, I became nutritionally inadequate, injured, and exhausted. And somewhere along the way, the joy that first drew me into the studio quietly slipped away.

My turning point wasn't another rigid food rule. It was learning that food is fuel — and that fueling well could help me dance stronger, recover better, and finally trust my body again.

Nutrition also changed the way I saw my body, helping me build a more supportive body image rooted in appreciation rather than criticism. That experience became the foundation for The Healthy Dancer®.

To help dancers avoid the years of confusion I had experienced, I pursued a rigorous academic path in sports dietetics and eating disorders. Today, as a dance nutritionist and registered dietitian specializing in dancers, I combine lived experience with evidence-based care to help dancers fuel with confidence, support their health, and perform at their best.

Then

The under-fueled dancer

Professional training, endless food rules, and a body that was always tired, frequently injured, and never quite felt like enough.

The shift

Food as fuel

I learned to nourish my body for performance instead of micromanaging it, rebuilding a relationship with food that could actually support me for the long run.

Now

The Healthy Dancer®

A board-certified registered dietitian nutritionist turning that hard-won clarity into evidence-based, dancer-specific nutrition education for students, professionals, parents, and educators.

My mission

Helping dancers fuel with confidence

I help dancers build confidence and clarity around their food choices and behaviors to build the endurance, strength, and resilience needed to meet the real physical demands of training, rehearsal, and performance.

Trusted across the dance world

My credentials

Lived insight, backed by evidence-based practice

My journey taught me that personal experience isn't enough when it comes to nutrition guidance. To support dancers safely and effectively, I pursued advanced academic training and specialized certifications.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential badge

RDN — Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Board-certified, evidence-based nutrition care.

Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) credential badge

CSSD — Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics

Performance-nutrition expertise for dancers.

Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) credential badge

CEDS — Certified Eating Disorder Specialist

Advanced training in eating disorders and disordered-eating behaviors.

Certified Eating Disorder Supervisor and Consultant (CEDS-C) credential badge

CEDS-C — Certified Eating Disorder Supervisor and Consultant

Supporting clinicians and practitioners in expanding their expertise and strengthening their ability to provide informed, dancer- and performing arts-specific care.

These credentials build on a Master's in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics from New York University, allowing me to bring together performance nutrition expertise with a deeper understanding of dancers' relationships with food and their bodies.

Beyond my private practice, I serve as the lead on-site dietitian for The School of American Ballet, the consulting dietitian for Dance Masterclass and Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), and a recurring columnist for Pointe Magazine.

My approach

Supportive, not stressful

I blend evidence-based performance nutrition with a compassionate, non-diet philosophy that supports both fueling needs and mental well-being.

Evidence-based performance nutrition

Fueling strategies grounded in sports dietetics — built for the endurance, strength, and recovery dancing demands.

A compassionate, non-diet philosophy

No rules, no restriction, no shame — just a healthier, steadier relationship with food and your body.

Every level, plus the people around them

I work with dancers from recreational students to pre-professionals and professionals — along with the parents and educators supporting them.

Practical strategies that last

Together we build nutrition habits that promote long-term health — sustainable far beyond a single season on stage.

FAQs

Questions dancers ask

Can I reproduce the downloads and guides from The Healthy Dancer® and give them to my students, parents, or company members?

All materials are copyrighted and cannot be distributed without permission. If you're looking to supply nutrition information to your studio, school, or company, please use the contact form to request resources.

How do I sign up for The Healthy Dancer®?

The Healthy Dancer® is an online training course for dancers ages 11 and up — a monthly membership designed to offer community and ongoing support, with one-on-one coaching sessions available throughout. Learn more on the membership page.

How should I use this site?

This site is for informational purposes only — use it as a resource. The information is general and not specific to you. If you're looking for personalized nutrition advice, consult a qualified health professional such as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

I think my diet is restrictive, but I'm scared to add more food and worried about weight gain. What should I do?

Seek a licensed professional, such as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, to construct a plan for your specific goals. To further your support, working with a board-certified specialist in the treatment of eating disorders and intuitive eating is encouraged. Intuitive eating describes a lifestyle where food holds no moral value of "good" versus "bad" or "right" versus "wrong." While dancers benefit from proper meal planning to manage busy schedules, dance nutrition should encourage a non-restrictive approach where all foods can fit, guilt-free, into a balanced lifestyle.

I'm a dancer looking for help with nutrition and meal planning. Who can I contact?

Seek a licensed professional. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist can construct a plan for your specific goals — dietitians complete years of rigorous training to develop expertise in food and nutrition, and a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics can further tailor performance needs. Get in touch to learn about working with a dietitian.

I'm a teacher or studio director and would like to provide my students with nutrition information.

Dance teachers and studio directors nationwide use The Healthy Dancer® to implement nutrition education into training programs and summer intensives. The Healthy Dancer® Nutrition & Wellness Initiative is a great place to start, and workshops are available for groups.

Let's work together

Ready to fuel your dancing with confidence?

If my story sounds familiar, you don't have to figure it out alone. Let's build nutrition that supports your training, your health, and your relationship with food.

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