❓ Is “clean eating” really healthy for dancers? In this episode, Registered Dietitian Rachel Fine dives into the realities of clean eating, its potential harms, and how dancers can embrace a balanced, stress-free approach to nutrition.

Learn how to:
✅ Understand the difference between “clean” and genuinely supportive eating
✅ Navigate restrictive food rules without guilt or stress
✅ Embrace gentle nutrition that fuels your body and supports performance

📅 Perfect for: dancers, educators, and parents seeking a healthy, balanced approach to fueling for dance.

👉🏼 Read the full blog: https://dancenutrition.com/healthiest-diet-for-dancers/

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🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: Nutrition for Dancers
🎙️ Listen on Apple + Spotify: Nutrition for Dancers with The Dance Nutritionist® Podcast

Timestamps ⬇️ (Skip to the section you need!)

0:00 – Introduction: The Hidden Risks of Clean EatingHow a pursuit of “eating clean” led to unhealthy and unsustainable habits.

0:12 – About Rachel Fine, RDNRegistered dietitian nutritionist and founder of The Healthy Dancer® and To the Pointe Nutrition.

0:42 – Today’s Topic: Clean Eating for DancersExploring whether clean eating truly supports performance and well-being.

1:01 – Early Influence: The Nutrition WorkshopHow a summer intensive introduced the phrase “your body is your tool” and its impact.

1:41 – Perfectionism and Food RulesHow perfectionistic tendencies can fuel rigid and unsustainable eating habits.

2:34 – When Clean Eating Turns RestrictiveThe struggle of avoiding meals, dining out, and foods without full ingredient control.

3:34 – Consequences of Clean Eating ExtremesHow restriction led to injury, burnout, and conflicts with family food traditions.

4:20 – Turning Point: Studying NutritionRachel’s path into dietetics and how education reshaped her view of food.

5:00 – Diet Culture in Dietetics TrainingHow weight-focused messaging dominates traditional nutrition education.

6:00 – Supporting Dancers Beyond RestrictionHelping dancers rebuild body trust, use hunger cues, and fuel without judgment.

7:00 – Clean Eating as a Disguise for Disordered EatingWhen striving for “wholesome foods” actually masks restrictive behaviors.

8:53 – Whole Foods vs. Processed FoodsAcknowledging the benefits of whole foods without fearing more processed options.

10:44 – Understanding Nutrition ResearchWhy many food fears are based on weak associations rather than causation.

12:34 – The Fiber Trap and AmenorrheaHow excessive fiber intake in clean eating can disrupt digestion and menstrual cycles.

14:01 – Defining What’s Truly HealthyWhy health is more than food and exercise—it includes access, culture, and environment.

16:31 – Is It Time to Drop Clean Eating?Why the healthiest diet supports both performance and emotional well-being.

17:58 – Tools for Building a Healthy Dancer LifestyleIntroducing gentle nutrition, food flexibility, and nutrient density.

18:47 – Conclusion and Next StepsHow dancers can create a sustainable, supportive diet without guilt or restriction.

Rachel Fine, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and Certified Counselor of Intuitive Eating works with dancers to help them build supportive relationships with both food and body. 

Disclaimer: This is produced for informational purposes only. This information is general, not specific to you. The information in this podcast does not substitute for medical advice. The viewer assumes full responsibility for consulting a qualified health professional regarding health conditions or concerns, and before starting a new diet or health program.