Food is more than fuel. It’s a dancer’s partner in artistry, energy, and longevity. But in a culture saturated with diets and “clean eating” rules, knowing how to fuel without fear can feel overwhelming. That’s where Intuitive Eating comes in. In this episode, Rachel Fine breaks down how dancers can integrate the evidence-based principles of Intuitive Eating with performance nutrition to fuel confidently, sustainably, and with joy.
You’ll learn:
✅ What Intuitive Eating really is (and what it’s not)
✅ Why dancers are especially vulnerable to diet culture
✅ How to rebuild body trust and fuel without rigid rules
✅ The difference between “practical eating” and hunger-driven eating
✅ How Intuitive Eating integrates with performance nutrition needs
✅ My personal story—from dancer to dietitian—and why this work matters
✅ Simple first steps for dancers ready to get started
📅 Perfect for: dancers navigating food guilt, parents and educators supporting young artists, and anyone ready to move beyond diet culture toward a sustainable, balanced relationship with food.
📖 Read the full blog: https://dancenutrition.com/intuitive-eating/
📲 Follow on Instagram: @ToThePointeNutrition
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube: Nutrition for Dancers
🎙️ Listen on Apple + Spotify: Nutrition for Dancers with The Dance Nutritionist® Podcast
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.
Timestamps ⬇️ (Skip to the section you need!)
0:00 – Introduction: What is Intuitive Eating?
Overview of intuitive eating and its relevance for dancers.
0:26 – Meet Rachel Fine
Registered dietitian and founder of To the Pointe Nutrition, specializing in dancer health and nutrition.
0:41 – Defining Intuitive Eating
A non-diet approach that builds a healthy, balanced relationship with food and body.
1:01 – The Healthy Dancer®
Created around intuitive eating principles developed by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch.
1:14 – 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating
Reject dieting mentality, honor hunger, make peace with food, challenge food police, discover satisfaction, feel fullness, cope with emotions, respect body, joyful movement, gentle nutrition.
1:35 – Integrating Performance Nutrition
The Healthy Dancer® framework adapts the 10 principles for busy, high-activity dancers.
2:24 – Challenging Food & Body Beliefs
Eating to honor health personally, not through one-dimensional diet culture standards.
3:17 – Natural Intuitive Eating vs. Dancer Challenges
From childhood to adulthood, busy schedules and high activity can impair hunger/fullness cues.
3:51 – Misconception: Hunger-Fullness Diet
Intuitive eating is more than just eating when hungry and stopping when full.
4:09 – Rebuilding Trust in Food Choices
Intuitive eaters listen to body cues instead of following external rules like calories or restrictive plans.
4:48 – Reducing Guilt Through Curiosity
Using curiosity over self-judgment to understand eating patterns and prevent future guilt.
5:15 – Food Neutrality
Dissociating morality from food choices to reduce guilt and anxiety around eating.
6:48 – Social Determinants of Health
Environmental factors like access to food, education, and healthcare have a bigger impact than diet alone.
7:16 – Supporting Dancer Performance Through Eating
Artistry flourishes with a well-supported eating routine integrating intuitive eating and performance nutrition.
