Boston Bruins: Healthy nutrition leads to more time on the ice

NEEDHAM, Mass. — Professional athletes dedicate their lives to their sport. For Boston Bruins players, their work continues off the ice and in the kitchen. Julie Nicoletti, a performance nutritionist, has been working with the team for a decade, championing the importance of diet in relation to speed, strength, stamina, mental focus and even mood. However, it wasn’t always easy. When Nicoletti first started, convincing players of the impact of nutrition was a challenge, but she says younger athletes are now arriving at development camps with a strong focus on healthy eating.

Nicoletti began her journey to performance nutrition as a pharmacist, where she says she witnessed the transformative power of lifestyle changes on health. Seeking a more hands-on approach, she launched Kinetic Fuel in 2008 and quickly gained attention when her coaching helped elevate Providence Bruins player Tommy Cross, leading to her collaboration with the Boston Bruins.