I’m Natalie Rizzo, an NYC-based Registered Dietitian.

My mission is to help everyday athletes fuel their fitness with plants. I truly believe that everyone can benefit from eating more plants, especially those who are serious about their sport. 

Whether you’re running a marathon, attempting your first 5k or spinning every other day, you will benefit from incorporating sports nutrition principles into your routine. My goal is to teach you how to use science-based sports nutrition techniques to feel and perform at your best.

I changed careers to become a Registered Dietitian because I had a passion for healthy food and wanted to learn more about how food makes you feel. I’ve always been an avid exerciser, but before becoming a Registered Dietitian, I didn’t really pay much attention to sports nutrition. Sure, I ate healthy foods, but I didn’t think about how the foods I ate affected my overall performance.  

Once I finally learned about sports nutrition, I realized that I was sabotaging my own fitness routine because I wasn’t eating enough to energize me through my workouts.

When I became a Sports Dietitian, I learned that food is fuel. What you put in your body is as much a factor in your athletic endeavors as your physical fitness.  No athlete can “go the distance” without knowing how to fuel, recover and properly hydrate.

Now I’m a marathon runner and a long-time vegetarian, and I’m dedicated to helping you learn how to fuel your body with plants. 

Greenletes is a compilation of vegetarian and vegan recipes and practical sports nutrition articles. I’m also a regular freelance writer for Runner’s World and The Beet. And I’m frequently quoted in national publications, such as Men’s Health, Prevention, Eat This, NBC News, Yahoo and more. I’ve appeared on national and local TV, as well as Sirius radio and podcasts.  

I studied Nutrition & Exercise Physiology at Teacher’s College Columbia University, where I received my Master’s of Science. I’m extremely passionate about sharing the message of nutrition and good healthy plant-based food. Plants should taste good and make you feel good, and I’m here to show you how!

Now that I’ve gotten all the important stuff out of the way, here are 5 things you may find interesting about me:

  1. I hate cilantro. Yes, I’m one of those people.
  2. I’m a lefty, but I do a lot of things righty. For example, I eat, write and brush my teeth with my left hand. But I throw a ball with my right hand. 
  3. I’m on an Improv team. I started taking improv classes to enhance my public speaking skills, and I fell in love with it. It’s super scary at first, but now I don’t get scared or embarrassed to stand up in front of people and say anything! 
  4. I prefer salty over sweet. Give me pretzels over chocolate any day. Better yet, give me both pretzels and chocolate! 
  5. I was never taught how to cook. I just picked it up along the way from watching my mom cook dinner every night!

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