Community Nutrition (SEL)

This learning experience was profoundly impactful, and I gained insights that will continue to shape my life, education, career, and skill development. Virginia High Performance (VHP) is a performance center partnered with the Navy SEAL Foundation, whose mission is to “provide immediate and ongoing support to Naval Special Warfare communities and their families.” VHP’s 4 to 6-week holistic program is designed for Special Operations Forces, addressing issues such as chronic pain, physical preparedness, cognitive decline, poor diet, career transition, down-regulation of the central nervous system, emotional health, and sleep. Health and performance gaps are identified through individualized assessments and then addressed via strength and conditioning, nutrition, chiropractic care, bodywork, cognitive training, manual therapy, and sensory recovery.

I had the privilege of working closely with my preceptor, the lead Sports Performance Dietitian on staff. Early in the rotation, I learned about the unique challenges facing this tactical population, particularly the chronic imbalance between operational demands and recovery. Gaining familiarity with these stressors allowed me to connect more deeply with each athlete. I applied the Nutrition Care Process framework to conduct comprehensive assessments, which included initial consultations, DEXA scans, food-frequency questionnaires, bloodwork and biomarker analysis, and managing diverse personalities as a practitioner.

Following assessment, many of the athletes I worked with presented with stage-2 hypertension, elevated cholesterol, chronic energy deficits, disrupted sleep patterns, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). I was able to assess and diagnose these issues, then deliver tailored interventions. My caseload was balanced between active-duty SEALs with performance goals and retired SEALs over age 60 focused on health and longevity. Reflecting on my practice, I realized I significantly improved my process for building rapport, meeting each individual where they are, and addressing root-cause issues.

Some of the key projects I completed include:

1) Gap Analysis: Evaluated and identified weaknesses in the existing program structure.

2) mTOR Literature Review: Investigated current research on mTOR’s role in balancing training demands and recovery.

3) State of Readiness (SOR) Framework: Developed and aligned a readiness-driven model to improve program efficiency.

4) Development of an evidence-based Performance Nutrition Supplement Database.

As an aspiring Registered Dietitian, this experience was invaluable. I will carry forward these lessons in my future practice and continue to refine my approach to performance nutrition for elite athletes and tactical populations. I also gained insight into working as a practitioner of an interdisciplinary team and the impact it can have on patient outcomes.

Virginia High Performance (VHP) is a Human Performance program that holistically assesses, trains, and improves current and former operators' health and wellness with solutions that will serve them for the rest of their lives. VHP has a unique mix of human performance modalities under one roof that supports the "continued mission program,"  including individualized physical, cognitive, and nutritional assessments that provide trackable data that serve as key markers throughout the program. VHP's health and wellness experts holistically contribute and assist in improving the well-being of active and former Special Operators. Through a partnership with the Navy Seal Foundation, VHP has now expanded to the West Coast in San Diego, Ca. 

www.vhpmission.com

I will be working with VHP to tackle issues such as chronic pain, physical conditioning, cognitive decline, poor diet, down-regulation of CNS, transition, emotional regulation, and sleep. Different disciplines of health and human performance will be interconnected, with the primary goal of individualized care to improve the well-being of Operators. I will be working closely with the Dietitian on staff, as well as the  Strength and Conditioning staff. 

Throughout this project, I had the opportunity to work closely with a highly specialized population. Active-duty and retired Navy SEALs, whose diverse backgrounds, extensive training histories, and varying recovery capacities present unique challenges in performance nutrition and wellness programming.

One of the key insights I gained is that balancing recovery with performance demands is critical to achieving optimal outcomes in this population. Traditionally, the current wellness program has operated with limited knowledge of anticipated training intensity and frequency. Resulting in nutrition interventions, often requiring dietitians to adjust individual nutrition plans once challenges surfaced retroactively. Through my evaluation of the existing wellness program, it became clear that a more proactive, dynamic approach was needed.

To address this gap, I researched, developed, and implemented a State of Readiness (SOR) framework designed to enhance the collaboration between the strength and conditioning (S&C) staff and registered dietitians (RDs). By leveraging objective data from the Omegawave system and Oura Ring HRV measurements, as well as subjective daily readiness metrics, we were able to dynamically adjust both training intensity and nutrition strategies. This framework allowed for proactive planning, rather than relying solely on retrospective adjustments.

A unique component of the framework was the bucket system, which categorized SEALs into Restore, Adaptation, and Optimization groups based on age, injury history, and recovery trends. This structure allowed us to personalize both training frequency,  intensity, and nutrition plans according to the SEALs’ daily and weekly readiness status, improving the precision of our interventions.

Through this experience, I deepened my understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary communication in clinical and performance settings. By creating a color-coded communication workflow and implementing weekly interdisciplinary team reviews, we reduced lag time between readiness assessments and nutrition adjustments, resulting in better alignment between physical demands and dietary support.

Key outcomes included improved satisfaction among SEAL participants, better adherence to nutrition plans, reductions in subjective fatigue, and stronger collaboration between S&C and RDs.

This project emphasized the importance of:

1. Proactive assessment and planning in performance nutrition.

2. Integrating objective and subjective data for individualized programming.

3. Streamlining communication across disciplines to optimize outcomes.

Overall, this experience has significantly enhanced my skills in program development, evaluation, and interdisciplinary teamwork. It has also reinforced my passion for applying evidence-based strategies to support elite athletes, including the tactical populations, and has prepared me to implement similar frameworks in future performance nutrition and wellness settings.

This project has strongly influenced my future career direction as an aspiring Registered Dietitian specializing in performance nutrition for tactical and high-performance populations. The experience of developing and implementing a dynamic, data-driven framework reinforced the value of individualized, proactive care and the importance of integrating technology and interdisciplinary collaboration into practice. Moving forward, I plan to continue leveraging objective recovery and readiness metrics to guide nutrition interventions. Ensuring that my clients, whether athletes, military operators, or high-performing individuals, receive precision support tailored to their unique physiological demands. This project has exposed me to unique tools that have prepared me to bring innovation and evidence-based strategies into any future clinical or performance setting I get the opportunity to work in.