Highly qualified sports RDs and Nutritionists
Everyday athletes, some current and retired pros
Empowering women to discover their strength
Science nerds
Empathetic practitioners
Here to support you
Kristen Arnold and Team started as a small sports nutrition private practice where Kristen worked with just a few athletes a month while pursuing her professional cycling career. Now KA and Team has grown to include multiple qualified practitioners who share her passion for empowering women. We work with athletes from the pro to the recreational ranks to show them that through optimal sports nutrition strategies they can accomplish more than they ever thought was possible of themselves and feel great in their bodies.
Founder and Head Sports Dietitian
“I strive to understand the intersection between food, athleticism, body image, and self-worth. I believe when we cultivate balanced and healthy relationships with our bodies and food, we are liberated.”
I strive to understand the intersection between food, athleticism, body image, and self-worth. I believe when we cultivate balanced and healthy relationships with our bodies and food, we are liberated. We are liberated to be active, we are understanding of what our bodies and minds need, and we are drawn to support one another. Through food and exploring both evidence-based performance nutrition strategies and how we think about food and our bodies we can begin to better ourselves and our communities. We better ourselves physically through physical performance and being in tune with our bodies and minds. We better our communities through empathetic and empowered communication.
When I started college to become a Registered Dietitian, I originally wanted to go into public health and women’s health. I wanted to help moms, kids, pregnant women, and low-income populations through food and nutrition education and programming. 4 years into a 5 year undergraduate degree I picked up cycling. With rapid speed bike racing became a way of life for me. My community, my income, my time, and my passion centered around racing my bike. With this came a passion for sports nutrition. Not only do I love the nitty gritty of the research, I love working with athletes and active individuals to find creative and practical ways to integrate all of the knowledge the sports nutrition research is constantly teaching us. I am passionate about helping individuals and teams enhance their performance and showing them that through food they can do more than they ever thought was possible of themselves.
I am passionate about helping individuals and teams enhance their performance and showing them that through food they can do more than they ever thought was possible of themselves.
Fun Facts!
I have a sardine tattoo. Eat more sardines.
I am a founding member of the Lady Gnar Shredders, a developmental bike racing org based in Central Ohio, which still thrives today.
In 2013 I obtained the 4th fastest recorded women’s time in Tour Divide, a 2800mile mtb race going along the continental divide from Canada to the Mexican boarder, completed in 23 days.
In my retirement from pro racing, I now play volleyball (pickup and leagues), lift weights, run, ride many types of bikes, and love simply being active.
Credentials
MS=Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition from The Ohio State University
RDN=Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
CSSD=board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics
Practicing Sports Dietitian over 10 years
USA Cycling Level1 certified coach
Current Women’s Development Road Director for Team USA and pro trade teams
Current Performance Manager, Sports Dietitian, and Sport Director for UCI Women’s Continental Hess Cycling Team
Racing bicycles since 2011
Road cycling pro from 2016-2021
Professional Speaking And Writing
Sports Dietitian
“I believe in creating a deeper connection with the body and food, enjoyment in eating and feeling nourished.”
Fueling with the right nutrition to live and perform optimally has been an interest of mine since I was a kid. From youth MTB racing I learned early on the impact of nutrition. My desire to share information, teach, and educate about nutrition is what ultimately led me to become a dietitian. I started my career as a teacher and I shifted to dietetics because I saw something fundamental was missing in the education of children, young athletes, and parents. I dove head first into dietetics, working specifically with women and children throughout the lifecycle to encourage a new generation of nutritionally educated individuals.
As a mom often in the daily grind, this work again led me to reawaken my passion for biking, all season sports, and the necessity of movement to really live my best life. My passion lies in performance nutrition and how a healthy body relationship, food relationship, and proper training can yield the best performance. I believe in creating a deeper connection with the body and food, enjoyment in eating and feeling nourished. Research is ever changing and is constantly providing better ways to create a healthful life balance. The ultimate goal includes stepwise changes for positive nutrition resulting in better performance and everyday life.
Fun Facts!
I am a mountain biker, snowboarder, originally from Florida and have 4 little kids!
I love blueberries so much, it used to be my middle name.
I spent a year living in Israel teaching Mountain Biking and Self Defense to girls.
I once walked in the snowy Italian Alps without my shoes!
Credentials
MS = Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition
MS = Master’s of Science in Education
MS = Master’s of Science in Nutrition
RDN = Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
RYT 200
Black Belt Shotokan Karate
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Member
NSU Recipient of the Chancellor’s Award of Academic Excellence
Sports Nutritionist, Media and Communications Coordinator
“I believe nutrition education can empower athletes to have confidence in their fueling strategies. Confident fueling creates strong and resilient athletes, both mentally and physically, that are more equipped to push themselves and achieve big goals.”
Nutrition is a critical component of sport and performance that is often misunderstood or overlooked. It is so exciting to see an athlete have a breakthrough performance or make big training gains after helping them nail their nutrition. I believe nutrition education can empower athletes to have confidence in their fueling strategies. Confident fueling creates strong and resilient athletes, both mentally and physically, that are more equipped to push themselves and achieve big goals.
I personally have received a lot of misguided nutrition advice by non-experts that made nutrition something that was confusing and stressful, therefore I love using my education to help other athletes navigate the science of nutrition and find what works for them. It is fun and rewarding to help women navigate the nutrition puzzle to optimize their health and reach their goals.
Fun Facts!
I grew up on a farm raising cows, sheep, chickens, and goats
I eat oatmeal at least once a day
I am a licensed EMT
Credentials
BS Nutrition Science from California Polytechnic State University
Precision Nutrition Level 1 (PNL1) Nutrition Coach
USA Cycling Level3 Certified Coach
Current Professional Cyclist for UCI Continental Team Twenty28
Former Division 1 Cross Country AND Track Athlete at California Polytechnic
Worked in the Sports Nutrition Industry for 3 years
Sports Nutritionist, RD to be
“My passion is helping individuals achieve their health goals while building confidence and resilience.”
All my life, I’ve been looking for ways to blend my analytical mindset with my desire to empower others. After nearly a decade as an engineering leader, I sought a more direct and personal way to connect with people. Nutrition became the perfect avenue: it allows me to tackle complex problems while also listening and guiding clients toward their goals. As a nutritionist, I have dedicated myself to making evidence-based strategies accessible and help people navigate their own unique health journeys.
I am deeply motivated by my values of autonomy, inclusion, and genuine connection. Living in the diverse communities of Washington, DC and New York City taught me to respect each person’s unique background, dreams, and struggles. To me, there is no greater privilege than being a part of someone’s personal exploration of what health means to them.
Fun Facts!
I am a recreational weightlifter and runner.
My last name should be “Xu”, but my parents misspelled it so that people can pronounce it.
My guilty pleasure is watching reality TV.
Credentials
M.S. Nutrition from Colorado State University (in progress)
National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)
Precision Nutrition Master Coach (Pn2)
Precision Nutrition Sleep, Stress Management, and Recovery Certification (Pn1-SSRC)
Working Against Gravity Certified Nutrition Coach (WAG)
NASM Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT)
USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (USAW-L1)
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1)
NASM Certified Physique and Bodybuilding Coach