Sports dietitians: experiences from the field

Simin Levinson is A Clinical Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Arizona State University specializing in Sports Nutrition. She has been a registered dietitian since 2003 and board-certified in Sports Nutrition (CSSD) since 2011. In addition to teaching classes at ASU, she also practices sports dietetics, providing sports nutrition consulting to two NBA teams, the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.

How long do you work in the field sports nutrition and what is your educational background?

I have been working in sports nutrition for over ten years. Prior to my current position at ASU, I was a Performance Nutritionist at EXOS (formerly Athletes’ Performance). I graduated with a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition with combined dietetic internship from ASU in 2002.

Why have you decided to work with athletes or similar groups?

I love working with athletes, especially basketball players! They are eager to learn about nutrition and how they can apply it to improve their performance, daily energy and recovery. It’s very rewarding working with this (mostly) compliant athlete population.

Who are your clients? Which groups of athletes/teams are you working?

I work primarily with NBA basketball players (Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz) and recreational endurance athletes. I’ve also worked with the Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League team in the past. At ASU I teach Sports Nutrition and I guide my students in groups to provide sports nutrition education to ASU Sports Clubs athletes. This peer-to-peer exchange has been very successful, it helps my students get experience in developing sports nutrition materials and providing presentations and it also provides the student athletes with practical nutrition skills to help them improve their performance as athletes and as students.

What are the most important challenges you have, working with those athletes?

Texting is the primary mode of communication I use with the NBA basketball players. Sometimes I don’t get a response from athlete which can be frustrating! Another challenge I encounter with some athletes is picky eating, particularly with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Once they learn the benefits of incorporating these nutrient dense foods in their diets, some will start to eat more of these “performance” foods.

What does a typical day look like?

My primary obligation is teaching and service at ASU. In addition to teaching Sports Nutrition, I teach Development of Healthy Cuisine, Human Nutrition and Cultural Aspects of Food. I also sit on various committees including ASU Global Sports Initiative and ASU Faculty Senate. I visit the Phoenix Suns training room twice a week for nutrition consulting with players and to touch base with the staff regarding menus for team meals and travel nutrition. I work with the Utah Jazz remotely and fly out to Salt Lake City once or twice a month to meet with players and staff. No two days are alike!

Can you give us an anecdotal experience?

One of my favorite activity with athletes is going to the grocery store with them. Last month, I met two Phoenix Suns players at Whole Foods in Phoenix. It was fun and educational, talking with them about increasing the variety of fruits and vegetables, looking at prepared food options and comparing nutrition labels. I am 5’3” tall and the basketball players are both close to 7’ tall, we were quite a sight walking up and down the aisles! Knowing what types of foods to have available for quick and healthy snacks and meals helps these athletes have more control over their dietary intake and how to use foods strategically to improve their athletic performance, boost immunity and provide sustainable energy that lasts all day.

Do you have access to actual scientific outcomes?

Although I don’t design and conduct research on athletes on a regular basis, I have access to virtually every publication in sports nutrition and exercise science. This is a terrific benefit of working at one of world’s largest universities, the library resources are awesome!

How do you try to include new scientific knowledge into daily work?

Absolutely, practicing evidence-based nutrition is at the crux of my work. Not only is it important from a reliability and safety standpoint, I also educate my students and athletes on how to look for evidence when making dietary recommendations or reviewing supplements.

Do you have regularly exchange with other sports dietitians?

Yes, I am a member of several nutrition organizations. The email listserves are a valuable resource in connecting with other sports dietitians. I regularly use the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association listserve because it pertains more to daily practice of sports nutrition. Networking is critical for the exchange of ideas, learning what’s new in the field and meeting other professionals in the field. I encourage my students to join professional organizations for the networking opportunities and the jobs and work-related opportunities provided through these organizations.

Based on your experience, what can you recommend to someone who is new in this field?

Have an open mind and be willing to start by volunteering. Sometimes the best experiences have humble origins from which other doors will open. For example, a recent graduate and new RD contacted me last year for ideas to gain experience in sports nutrition. I suggested that she contact the athletic director for the high school in her area to see if she could develop nutrition programming for some of the teams. She started with basketball team, providing nutrition education to athletes and working with coaches and parents on a volunteer basis. Soon she began working with other teams in the school and before long, other schools in the district took notice and now she is developing sports nutrition programming district wide and being paid for it!

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Simin Levinson, MS, RDN, CSSD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Barrett Honors Faculty
Arizona State University
College of Health Solutions