Greenletes Podcast
What Pro Athletes Actually Eat (and What You Can Learn From It) with Sports Dietitian Emily Kaley
Apr 28, 2026
Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD
What can everyday athletes learn from Olympians and pro sports teams?
In this episode, I sit down with sports dietitian Emily Kaley, who has worked with organizations like the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and Washington Nationals, to break down what fueling actually looks like at the highest level—and how those same principles apply to you.
Emily shares her incredible journey from collegiate athlete to working in Major League Baseball, building nutrition programs from the ground up, and eventually launching her own private practice. Along the way, we dive into the biggest misconceptions in sports nutrition and what athletes (at every level) are getting wrong.
We cover:
- The #1 habit that separates high performers from everyone else (hint: it’s not protein)
- What a real day of eating looks like for pro athletes
- Why fuel timing matters more than most people think
- The truth about carbs, supplements, and trendy diets
- How to fuel for evening workouts vs. early morning training
- What Emily learned from culinary school—and how to keep meals simple but effective
- Plant-based fueling for athletes and how to do it right
Plus, a rapid-fire round where Emily shares her most controversial nutrition takes, underrated habits, and what she wishes more athletes understood.
Apply to work with Natalie for 1-on-1 nutrition coaching!
Have questions or want to request a show topic? DM us @greenletes
Check out Natalie's book 📕: Planted Performance