Nutrition Services
Nutrition Services at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance
Personalized Nutrition. Better Health. Stronger Performance.
Whether you’re looking to improve your overall health, manage a medical condition, enhance athletic performance, or support recovery from an injury, our team of registered dietitians is here to help.
At Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance, we believe nutrition should be personalized, practical, and sustainable. Our registered dietitians provide evidence-based nutrition counseling tailored to your individual needs, lifestyle, and goals.
From everyday wellness to specialized sports and rehabilitation nutrition, we help patients build healthier habits, feel their best, and work toward long-term results.
For more information, email us at NutritionTeam@TOA.com.
Featured Recipe: Healthy Homemade Pizza
Enjoy pizza night without sacrificing your nutrition goals. Our Sports Performance & Nutrition team has created a simple, protein-packed homemade pizza recipe that's easy to make and great for athletes, active families, and anyone looking for a healthier alternative.
Sports Nutrition
Whether you’re a student-athlete, professional athlete, or weekend warrior, high performing individuals have higher nutrient and energy requirements than the average person due to increased energy expenditure. For high performing athletes, adequate nourishment is key to enhance sport performance, like strength and endurance, and prevent injury. Proper nutrition also helps athletes fend off illnesses, promotes muscle recovery, dictates weight management and body composition, and more. In the world of sports, food is often referred to as the body’s source of fuel. Just as racecars require a special racing fuel, athletes require specialized nutrition to optimize performance and promote overall health. Sports nutrition should always be tailored to the athlete’s sport type, position, performance goals, and individual nutrition needs.
Nutrition for Recovery
Nutrition is an essential part of the orthopedic injury rehabilitation plan. Without adequate nourishment, the body’s tissues would not be able to properly heal and regrow. Nutrition can influence many types of orthopedic injuries, including fractures, breaks, sprains, and strains. What you eat has the potential to either accelerate or decelerate the healing of bones, soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments), and even skin integrity with surgical wounds. Food is what provides the body with energy and endurance required for physical therapy sessions and can promote faster recovery in between sessions. Additionally, certain foods with antioxidant properties can reduce pain and inflammation that persists with injuries. There are many reasons to consider improving your nutrition to improve your recovery, and an individualized plan is always best.
Emma Nelson, RD, LDN, CPT
Emma Nelson is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer specializing in sports nutrition, weight management, injury recovery, and overall wellness. With a background in competitive dance, fitness, and nutrition research, Emma understands the important relationship between nutrition, movement, and longterm health. She is passionate about helping individuals improve their health, optimize performance, and develop sustainable habits without restrictive dieting. As Nutrition Manager at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance, Emma leads the nutrition team in providing evidence-based, individualized care. Her approach emphasizes practical strategies, patient education, and a positive relationship with food, empowering patients to feel confident in their nutrition choices and achieve lasting results.
Contact Emma Below For More Information
Rachel Mullen, MS, RD, LDN
Rachel Mullen is a Registered Dietitian with a master's degree in Exercise and Nutrition Science and extensive experience in collegiate sports nutrition. She has worked with Division I athletic programs, providing individualized nutrition counseling, team education, and performance fueling strategies. Rachel specializes in helping athletes and active individuals optimize performance, support injury recovery, and meet their unique nutritional needs. Her experience includes collaborating with coaches, athletic trainers, and strength professionals to support overall athlete health. Through an evidence-based, patient-centered approach, Rachel helps individuals develop sustainable fueling habits, build confidence in their nutrition choices, and maintain a healthy relationship with food while working toward their performance and wellness goals.
Contact Rachel Below For More Information
Cameron Nill, MS, RD, LDN
Cameron Nill is a Registered Dietitian with a master's degree in Nutrition Science and experience in collegiate sports nutrition and individualized nutrition counseling. She previously served as an Assistant Football Dietitian at Vanderbilt University, supporting athletes through performance fueling, nutrition education, and personalized counseling. Cameron works with athletes and individuals seeking support with weight management, diabetes, chronic disease prevention, general wellness, and disordered eating concerns. She believes nutrition should be realistic, sustainable, and tailored to each patient's unique needs and lifestyle. Through an evidence-based, compassionate approach, Cameron empowers patients to build confidence in their food choices, develop lasting habits, and achieve their health and performance goals.
Contact Cameron Below For More Information
General Nutrition
Sports Performance Nutrition
Rehab Nutrition
What Our Patients Have to Say
I am a Track/XC runner and when I first started running, I lost a lot of weight very quickly. I was in great condition at first. But as the seasons went on (I was playing soccer and running XC, simultaneously for context), my performance continually dropped, and I experienced many worrying conditions following and during races, such as dizziness, brain fog, difficulty breathing, loss of color, etc. After nearly passing out during a race and being unable to get off the ground for 20-30 minutes, we were struggling to find a solution to this mystery problem. We decided to reach out to Rachel Mullen for help. She assisted us tremendously by providing example fueling plans based on my personal needs and gave us guidance on the types of bloodwork to get done in order to determine the underlying problem, an iron deficiency. Since then, using the supplementation and meal plan constructed from my iron issues, I've been able to gradually build speed and endurance again without feeling on the verge of collapse and have noticed the improvement of many symptoms that previously ailed me. I am so thankful to Rachel and the TOA program for their services. This experience and their aid has helped me realize how important proper nutrition is in sport.
So Thankful to Rachel and TOA
I am a Track/XC runner and when I first started running, I lost a lot of weight very quickly. I was in great condition at first. But as the seasons went on (I was playing soccer and running XC, simultaneously for context), my performance continually dropped, and I experienced many worrying conditions following and during races, such as dizziness, brain fog, difficulty breathing, loss of color, etc. After nearly passing out during a race and being unable to get off the ground for 20-30 minutes, we were struggling to find a solution to this mystery problem. We decided to reach out to Rachel Mullen for help. She assisted us tremendously by providing example fueling plans based on my personal needs and gave us guidance on the types of bloodwork to get done in order to determine the underlying problem, an iron deficiency. Since then, using the supplementation and meal plan constructed from my iron issues, I've been able to gradually build speed and endurance again without feeling on the verge of collapse and have noticed the improvement of many symptoms that previously ailed me. I am so thankful to Rachel and the TOA program for their services. This experience and their aid has helped me realize how important proper nutrition is in sport.
Emma reached out to me shorty after I filled out a patient survey after my final appointment with my excellent TOA surgeon. At the end of that survey it asked if I would be interested in a Nutritionist/ Dietitian TOA was providing. I jumped at the chance! I was diagnosed last year as diabetic. I had so many questions. The internet just overwhelmed me with so much information! Then I got the survey. Emma helped me set up my appointment. She was so helpful!! Then I met Rachel, my wonderful dietitian. Rachel is so easy to talk to. She really cares about your health. Rachel is awesome in the fact that she listens, answers all your questions and takes the time to explain things in detail. I love how even after our session ends, she emails me with her professional suggestions. I can email her anytime with my dietary concerns and she responds quickly. I know I am on the right track to a healthier me. I feel so blessed to find someone like Rachel. I highly recommend Nutrition by Emma, a service offered by TOA.
I highly recommend Nutrition by Emma
Emma reached out to me shorty after I filled out a patient survey after my final appointment with my excellent TOA surgeon. At the end of that survey it asked if I would be interested in a Nutritionist/ Dietitian TOA was providing. I jumped at the chance! I was diagnosed last year as diabetic. I had so many questions. The internet just overwhelmed me with so much information! Then I got the survey. Emma helped me set up my appointment. She was so helpful!! Then I met Rachel, my wonderful dietitian. Rachel is so easy to talk to. She really cares about your health. Rachel is awesome in the fact that she listens, answers all your questions and takes the time to explain things in detail. I love how even after our session ends, she emails me with her professional suggestions. I can email her anytime with my dietary concerns and she responds quickly. I know I am on the right track to a healthier me. I feel so blessed to find someone like Rachel. I highly recommend Nutrition by Emma, a service offered by TOA.