Abstract
Unique pressures placed on athletes make them vulnerable to disordered eating behaviors. Interviews were conducted with sports registered dietitian/nutritionists' (RDNs) (n = 15) to explore factors influencing athletes' food choices, including RDN counseling strategies. RDNs noted that convenience, taste preference, and advice from RDNs influence athletes' food choices, which varied by sports type, with endurance athletes emphasizing carbohydrates and strength athletes emphasizing protein. RDNs highlighted the importance of individualizing advice when counseling for weight loss/gain and a multidisciplinary team approach when counseling athletes with eating disorders. Barriers faced while counseling included athletes' limited nutrition knowledge, nutrition misconceptions, and limited support from coaches.