Introduction to Adventure Nutritionist: Fuel for Trails

Welcome to Adventure Nutritionist: Fuel for Trails. As a nutritionist and as a person who loves the outdoors, I'm dedicated to providing evidence-based, practical nutrition advice specifically for those who love exploring trails—whether through hiking, trail running, walking, or participating in challenge events. 

My clients range from casual trail walkers to ultra runners, and I cater to everyone in between. You might be looking to improve your fitness, increase your distance or intensity, or enhance your experience on the trails. Whether you're a seasoned hiker wanting to try trail running, a trail runner training for a multi-day hike, or you’ve signed up for a trail event, my approach will help you improve your endurance, increase your trail fitness, and move up to longer, more challenging events. 

And remember, trail fuel is essential not just for runners, walkers, and hikers, but also for mountain biking, off-road cycling, and cross-country biking enthusiasts.

Unlock Your Potential: Science-Based Nutrition Insights & Common Mistakes You Might Be Making to Optimize Your Health & Athletic Performance

In a world saturated with unqualified non-professionals sharing opinions as facts, Adventure Nutritionist stands out by committing to truth and rejecting hype. My approach is grounded in science, focusing on sustainable habit changes rather than promising rapid transformations. Whether your time on the trails is purely recreational, you're seeking lasting lifestyle nutrition habits, or you're training for an event and feel like you’ve left it too late, we can help. Our sustainable nutrition strategies will improve your performance, enhance your recovery, and, most importantly, make your time on the trail truly fulfilling.

Adventure Nutritionist is about integrating healthy, balanced nutrition into your everyday life. Whether you're prepping for a day hike or training for a multi-day trail run, I provide guidance on how to fuel your body effectively. My strategies ensure that you have the energy and nutrients needed to perform at your best, while also fitting seamlessly into your routine.

Three-fold Approach

A key priority of a nutrition training plan is threefold: preparing you for your event, maximizing the benefits of your training, and fitting into your life in a simple, sustainable way. While some aspects of training plans, such as the week leading up to an event, may not focus on long-term sustainability, fuelling for an active lifestyle must be manageable long term. Focusing solely on "training nutrition" can leave you with food habits that are difficult to maintain post-goal. Therefore, my approach ensures that nutrition plans support both immediate training goals and lifelong health and wellness.

Identifying as an Athlete 

Many people don’t see themselves as athletes and may think they don't need sports nutrition. However, any time we look to increase our physical activity, proper nutrition is essential. It might be taking up walking, hiking, or running, or planning some big day hikes. It doesn't matter if you spend the night at home, in a tent, or in a B&B—your body still needs to be fuelled according to the intensity and duration of the activity you're participating in. Yes, that means walking too.

When it's time to hit the trails, the right nutrition can make all the difference. A nutrition plan for trails will vary greatly depending on your specific activity. Whether you're maximizing speed and endurance for a trail run, extending performance day-to-day over a thru-hike, or maintaining energy levels for a day out on the trails, I offer insights tailored to your needs. 

By understanding how different foods impact your performance, you can choose the best options to sustain your energy and endurance during your activities. From the right mix of carbohydrates for quick energy to the fats and proteins needed for sustained efforts, you'll learn how to fuel your body for peak performance in any trail adventure.

Recovery is a crucial part of any training regimen, yet it is often overlooked because the focus shifts once the performance is over. However, proper recovery is essential to ensure you can get back on the trail sooner and enhance the enjoyment of your activities. Recovery can take many forms: it might involve recuperating after months on a trail, recovering from an intense ultra, or simply helping your body rebound from regular exercise and activity.

Post-exercise Recovery 

Post-exercise recovery is about replenishing the nutrients your body has used, repairing muscle tissue, and reducing inflammation. This process looks different depending on your activities. For example, after a thru-hike, your body will need sustained recovery to repair the cumulative wear and tear. After an intense ultra, immediate replenishment of glycogen stores and proteins is critical. For regular, consistent activities, maintaining a balanced intake of nutrients ensures ongoing recovery and readiness for the next adventure.

Recovery Nutrition 

Proper recovery nutrition includes a balance of proteins to repair muscles, carbohydrates to replenish energy stores, and fats to reduce inflammation. Hydration is also key to facilitating these recovery processes. By focusing on these elements, you can maximize your recovery, prevent injuries, and maintain your performance levels.

 
Effective recovery strategies will not only get you back on the trail sooner but will also enhance the overall enjoyment and sustainability of your active lifestyle.

Adventure Nutritionist: Fuel for Trails is about more than just food—it's about creating a lifestyle that supports your passion for the outdoors. By focusing on personalized nutrition strategies, I can help you achieve your trail goals.  But it goes beyond goals - I can help you feel good doing what you love. And do so by embracing a sustainable, evidence-based approach to nutrition and fuel your adventures with fun and confidence.

Let's talk nutrition.  You can check out the services I offer on my Services page. I find a lot of people are not sure what is best for them, where they are at, right now. Which is why I recommend hopping into my calendar and book a time for us to talk, or give me a call at  [click for number].