Welcome Julia Skinner, our latest guest in the Discover FSHN Series! Julia is an alumna of the Master of Science-Dietetics Internship program in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida. Her dedication to sports nutrition began in high school and continues in her role as a performance dietitian for Gator Sports Nutrition.

In this article, learn about her journey to dietetics, her advice for future dietitians, and what she has in her fridge right now!

How did you become interested in studying dietetics, and why did you decide to attend UF for your MS/DI?

I grew up playing sports and held all sorts of supporting roles—student trainer, equipment manager, you name it—so I always knew I wanted to stay in the sports world. During my senior year of high school, I took a careers class that encouraged us to explore potential fields and connect with professionals. While researching careers in sports, I stumbled upon sports nutrition, which was a career I had never heard of before. But it clicked immediately: I love food, and I love sports, so it felt like the perfect fit.

I reached out to a few sports dietitians in Indiana and even met some during campus visits. The more I saw, the more I was hooked. I declared dietetics as my major going into undergrad and haven’t looked back.

After earning my undergraduate degree at Purdue University, I was ready for a new challenge and some sunshine. I chose UF’s MS/DI program because I wanted to push myself academically while getting hands-on experience with high-level athletics. What stood out to me was that even though sports nutrition isn’t the central focus of the program, the faculty always took an interest in what I was doing. I appreciated the flexibility to explore that path while still gaining a strong foundation in clinical, food service, and community nutrition.

Sports nutrition is really the intersection of all those areas, and I found myself applying skills from every class, even if the topic wasn’t explicitly sports-related. That blend of experiences helped prepare me for the dynamic, fast-paced environment I work in now.

What is your favorite memory of your time at UF?

It’s hard to pick just one moment, but I really cherished the ability to be active outside year-round. The sunshine makes such a difference—especially coming from the Midwest! I vividly remember February of my first year and walking around campus in 75-degree weather thinking I definitely made the right choice.

Of course, some of my favorite memories also come from being on the sidelines with the football team—there’s nothing quite like game day in The Swamp.

Performance nutrition isn’t about perfection. It’s about balance, consistency, and making sure your body has the fuel it needs to perform.

Tell me about your work with Gator Sports Nutrition. What is a typical day like?

Before I moved to Gainesville, I reached out to UF’s director of football nutrition to see if there were any volunteer opportunities. Luckily, there was—just a reminder to always shoot your shot! That volunteer role became a paid assistant position, which eventually opened the door for me to return as a full-time performance dietitian.

I now work with the baseball and women’s lacrosse teams, and no two days are the same. Most of my time is spent outside my office, whether it’s checking in with my athletes at lifts, prepping snacks for the sideline and dugout, plate coaching at meals, or traveling with my teams. I try to squeeze in a walk around Lake Alice when I can. It’s chaotic some days, but I love it.

What is the most important fact the public should know about sports nutrition?

One of the most important things to understand about sports nutrition (or even just fueling around daily exercise) is that under fueling can be more damaging than people realize. There’s often pressure to eat “clean” or stay lean, but when athletes don’t eat enough to match their training, it can lead to fatigue, poor performance, frequent injuries, and even long-term health issues like hormonal disruption or loss of muscle mass.

Fueling your body consistently with enough calories, especially from carbohydrates, is key. It’s not just about what you eat before a game or after a workout—it’s about meeting your body’s energy needs every day so you can train hard, recover well, and stay healthy. Performance nutrition isn’t about perfection. It’s about balance, consistency, and making sure your body has the fuel it needs to perform.

What advice do you have for future dietitians and anyone interested in a career in nutrition?

For anyone pursuing sports nutrition—or any niche area of dietetics—my biggest piece of advice is to keep putting yourself out there. The classroom is just one part of it. Every opportunity to learn, volunteer, or connect with others in the field counts more than you think.

One thing I really value about my time at UF is how the MS-DI program helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect. Even though I was charting my own path in sports, the curriculum gave me a wide range of skills I use every single day, from managing clinical cases to communicating with athletes to coordinating foodservice logistics.

You don’t always have to follow the most traditional route to get where you want to go, but you do have to stay curious, take initiative, and be open to learning from everything.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love soaking up the sunshine, taking long walks, and grabbing coffee from local shops. I really enjoy being outside and moving my body. Even if I didn’t work in sports, I’d still be attending games as a fan.

If I opened your fridge right now, what would I find in it?

Way too much protein—Greek yogurt, eggs, milk, cottage cheese, and protein shakes for making high-protein ice cream with my Ninja Creami. But I try to keep some balance in there, too, with fresh berries, avocado, and a few staples. It’s a little bare at the moment, since I eat most of my meals at work—five games a week will do that to you!

Interested in learning more about FSHN’s Dietetics programs? Read more here and here!

P.S. The Discover FSHN Series highlights the unique experiences of UF’s Food Science and Human Nutrition students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Want to read more about the amazing work happening in the FSHN department? See our previous features below (click on arrows to expand):

Undergraduate Students:

Shannon Mai, Dietetics
Alex Colon, Dietetics and Jenny Duong, Food Science
Jackie Shannon, Nutritional Sciences
Jennifer Jordan, Food Science
Lily Tucciarone, Dietetics
Tim Cassella, Nutritional Sciences
Kate Mullis, Dietetics
Charles Overdevest, Nutritional Sciences
Sarina Simon, Dietetics

Graduate Students:

Savanna Curtis, Food Science (M.S.)
Carley Rusch and Matthew Beke, Nutritional Sciences (Ph.D.)
Alexa Hosey, Dietetics (MS/DI)
Vicnie Leandre, Food Science (M.S.)
Rufus Theophilus, Nutritional Sciences (Ph.D.)
Amber Fritsche, Dietetics (MS/DI)
Amy Jones, Food Science (Ph.D.)
Melissa Perez Santana, Food Science (M.S.)
Jeena Endter, Dietetics (MS/DI)

Postdoctoral Associates:

Dr. Cameron Bardsley, Food Safety
Dr. Tautvydas Shuipys, Food Safety
Dr. Felix Jimenez Rondan, Nutritional Sciences

Faculty:

Dr. Naim Montazeri, Food Science/Food Virology
Dr. Jeanette Andrade, Dietetics
Dr. Zhiyong Cheng, Nutritional Sciences
Dr. Juan Andrade Laborde, Global Nutrition
Dr. Razieh Farzad, Food Science
Dr. Beth Gankofskie, Dietetics
Dr. Anne Mathews, Nutritional Sciences
Dr. Diana Taft, Nutritional Sciences
Dr. Boce Zhang, Food Science/Food Microbiology
Dr. Cora Best, Nutritional Sciences
Dr. Katherine Thompson-Witrick, Food Science
Dr. Laura Acosta, Dietetics

Staff:

Sharyn Passeretti, Lab Specialist
Herschel Johnson, Manager of Student Services
Brandy Johnson, Administrative Assistant
Kohrine Counts Hazim, Dietetics Program Coordinator

Alumni:

Dr. Rebecca Gould, Dietetics, Postdoctoral Research
Dr. Becca Solch, Nutritional Sciences, Postdoctoral Research
Hannah Cooper, Dietetics, Private Practice
Dr. Richie Li, Food Science, Product Development
Doctor Brian Barrow, Nutritional Sciences, Medicine/Physician
Luciano Junoy, Food Science, Product Development
Carlin Dixon, Dietetics and Professional Dance
Jamie Zeldman, Dietetics, Research Coordinator
Ellen Bowser, Dietetics, Preceptor
Nina Burt, Food Science, Research & Development and Innovation
Kyle Giest, Dietetics, Supporting Young Adults with Cancer
Dr. Adam Bernatsky, Nutritional Sciences, Podiatrist
Joeva Barrow, Professor, Molecular Nutrition and Biochemistry

P.P.S. Learn more about FSHN’s renowned programs below!

1