Teen Therapy Allies: Community Support Showcase Interview with Maria Rowe, Dietician

We know now that gut health and mental health are highly linked. I interviewed Maria Rowe, a Dietician and Health & Nutrition Coach in Texas who serves teen athletes and their parents to learn more.

What we eat matters. We know that, and it’s so hard in today’s world to take time to slow down, eat mindfully and to frame food as fuel for the body. In a world where filters cut out any unwanted body characteristics, it takes intention to practice body positivity at home and at school.

Teen athletes in particular have jam packed schedules, pressure to perform, and a million and one adults telling them what to do. It can be hard to know exactly where to start and how to support your teen in developing healthy eating habits now, when the pathways in their brain are still growing.

Maria and her family have lived in Central Texas for almost 20 years. She recognized a need in the area for sports dietitians who work with teen athletes and parents of teens and strove to fill that niche. She works virtually to fit into busy schedules and can see individuals locally and throughout Texas.

Maria Rowe, Dietician, Health & Nutrition Coach

Maria offers services to teen athletes, parents of teen athletes, and local club and high school sports teams.

Read on to learn more about Maria and how she helps teens!

What kind of services/offerings do you provide?

Maria provides virtual individual or group nutrition counseling sessions for teen athletes (age 13+) and parents of teen athletes. Services include Q&A sessions, semester or year long programs, and follow-up support, as well as reviews of food logs and supplements. She also provides consulting services for local clubs and high school sports teams.

How do your services/offerings help teens and parents of teen athletes who have anxiety or are high performing athletes?

As the mom of high performing teen athletes and a competitive Masters Runner, I understand what busy schedules look like, and how tricky it can be to balance training, competing, and school. I use an empathetic approach to help my teenage clients create structured, personalized nutrition recommendations to suit their eating patterns, training and competition schedules, and academic obligations while also encouraging a focus on self compassion and self care.

What kind of teens athletes and parent of teen athletes do you love working with?

I love the curiosity and openness that many teen athletes bring to our sessions. They are usually very interested in nutrition and learning about optimal fueling for their sport, which allows for adult-level conversations.

During a teen athlete or their parent’s first session with you, what can they expect to experience?

The initial session usually lasts about 60 minutes, during which I like to learn more about the athlete’s needs and goals for their life and sport, and how nutrition can help support those goals. We usually discuss their typical nutrition patterns, food preferences and avoidances, training schedule, and any upcoming competitions. We may also discuss what is currently working well, and if there are any barriers to fueling optimally for their success in life and beyond.

What do you wish people knew about your business?

I’m a dietitian, but I’m not the food police, and love to see my clients fueling their bodies well for sport and life beyond sport! My passion is to listen, observe where my clients are, understand where they want to be, and provide support along the way.

What was your favorite thing about being a teenager?

Spending time outside with friends and family. 

How can people learn more and contact you?

Prospective clients may visit my website or email me to learn more.  

You can find more about Maria and her services at:

https://www.instagram.com/mariarowenutrition

A Free Consultation with a Teen Counselor in Georgetown, TX 

I hope you’ve learned about an awesome local resource for your teen athlete in the interview above. Being a teen athlete in Georgetown, TX can be stressful with all of the competing demands.

If you’re ready to connect with me to see if I’m a right fit for working with your teen athlete, call me for a FREE 15-minute consultation at 737-808-4888.  We’ll discuss my style, what you and your teen athlete are looking for, and if I’m the right fit to help your teen athlete practice skills of responding to stress and anxiety with ease and confidence from within.

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