Licensed dietitian specializing in sports nutrition and eating disorders
Amy Stephens, MS, RD, CSSD, CEDS, is a sports dietitian with more than 25 years of experience in performance nutrition and eating disorder treatment for competitive athletes. Based in New York City’s West Village, she provides both in-person and virtual counseling for teens, collegiate athletes, and adults seeking to enhance performance, recover from injury, and build a healthier relationship with food.
Amy works closely with a trusted network of sports medicine physicians, mental health providers, coaches, and physical therapists, allowing her to collaborate with other experts to support athletes’ performance, health, and recovery.
As New York University’s first sports dietitian, Amy played a key role in advancing the university’s athletic programs, including supporting the NYU women’s cross country team in winning its first-ever Division III national title. She also works with professional runners from the Empire Elite Track Club, a team pursuing qualification for the U.S. Olympic Trials, and regularly travels with athletes to national competitions to support fueling and recovery.
Amy is a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS), a rare combination that allows her to integrate high-performance nutrition with evidence-based eating disorder care.
A nationally recognized speaker, Amy presents at conferences across the country and frequently leads panels for New York Road Runners (NYRR). Her expertise has been featured in Runner’s World, The Washington Post, Insider, and The New York Times Running Newsletter.
Amy earned her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and her Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. Her approach emphasizes practical, flexible, food-first strategies that support both performance and long-term health.
Outside of her professional work, Amy enjoys running near her home in Westchester, spending time with her four children and two dogs, and experimenting with new recipes. A lifelong runner, she has completed ten marathons—including two Boston Qualifiers—and two ultramarathons.
Breakfast sets the tone for the day, especially for runners.
After an overnight fast, your glycogen (stored carbohydrate) levels are lower. Eating in the morning helps:
– Replenish glycogen
– Kickstart metabolism
– Support muscle repair
– Make it easier to meet daily carb and protein goals
– Supports gut health and regularity
If you’ve noticed protein-boosted coffee drinks, lattes, muffins, and breakfasts everywhere you look, you’re not imagining it. Major food chains have turned protein into a marketing opportunity to lure customers, implying that more protein equals better health and more energy. But for most individuals, the extra isn’t necessary and might actually lead to poorer health outcomes.
In early 2026, a viral social media post claimed that a “Harvard and Mayo Clinic study” found eating a Dairy Queen Blizzard post-workout led to 43% higher muscle protein synthesis (MPS) compared to a traditional recovery meal like chicken and rice.
Licensed dietitian Specializing in sports nutrition and eating disorders
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