Episode 81. Tara Collingwood – Nutrition to Fuel Your Mission

Tara Collingwood is a nationally recognized expert and spokesperson on nutrition, fitness, and health promotion and is quoted in a variety of media including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and websites. Tara was the co-host of Emotional Mojo, a national television show where she was the resident nutrition and health expert from 2013-2015. She is a past National Media Spokesperson for the professional organization of 80,000 Registered Dietitians, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).  Tara appeared regularly as the “Diet Diva” on the national morning television show, The Daily Buzz for 10 years until the show ended in 2015. Tara is the author of Pregnancy Cooking & Nutrition for Dummies (2012) and co-author of Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies (2014) and All In One Pregnancy (2016).

Tara is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Tara is a nutrition and movement performance coach at the prestigious Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute where she teaches senior executives how to manage their energy. Tara was the team dietitian for the Orlando Magic NBA team for eleven years and University of Central Florida (UCF) Athletics for twelve years.                                                                               

Tara owns Tara Gidus Nutrition Consulting, LLC in Orlando, FL. A dynamic speaker, she motivates groups large and small on various topics such as achieving a healthy weight, preventing disease, maximizing energy, aging well, enhancing sports performance, pregnancy nutrition, and creating a positive body image.

As a consultant, she has worked with numerous companies including Walt Disney World, Rodale Publications, Tupperware, Canyon Ranch Spa, Rosen Hotels, Vijuvia Life Centers, United Behavioral Healthcare, and others. As the official nutritionist for runDisney for three years, she offered nutrition tips to runners on the runDisney blog as well as at the EXPO for all Disney races. Tara was a health blogger and the Healthy Eating Expert on the health information website www.healthline.com for five years.  Tara has previous experience improving the diets of senior executives through her work with the Rippe Health Assessment at Advent Health Celebration. She has also overseen numerous weight loss research projects.

Tara graduated from Purdue University earning a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major of Dietetics and Nutrition, Fitness, and Health. She continued on at Purdue, earning a Master of Science Degree (MS) in Health Promotion, specializing in health behavior and worksite wellness programs. She is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration and Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (LDN) in the state of Florida. Tara holds a Board Certification as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). Tara is also a Certified Personal Trainer with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CPT).  Tara was inducted into the Purdue University Alumni Hall of Fame in the School of Nutrition Science in 2013 for her many accomplishments in the field of nutrition.

Volunteering is something important to Tara as evidenced by her continued commitment to the Restoration Ministries for Women. For six years, Tara gave a lecture biweekly to a group of women who are on a six-month rehabilitation program after their release from prison. She taught them how to eat right and exercise in order to feel their best to beat their addictions and get their lives on the right track. Tara has served as the Co-Chair of the Silent Auction for the American Cancer Society’s Orlando Chapter. She is a Past President of the Dietetic Association in Orlando and served as the Awards Chair for the Florida Dietetic Association. She has received numerous awards including the esteemed Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year from the Florida Dietetic Association.

Tara appears frequently as an expert on various television stations and shows including ivillage Live, Orlando NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox stations, Central Florida News 13, CW Network, Ivanhoe Broadcast News, and The Golf Channel. She has been quoted in over 1000 various print and online publications including the Associated Press, New York Times, and the Orlando Sentinel as well as various magazines including Women’s World, Self, Fitness, Shape, Women’s Health, Her Sports, Men’s Health, People, Vegetarian Times, Runner’s World, Club Business International, Cooking Light, Family Circle, Fit Pregnancy, American Baby, Prevention, and more. She has been quoted on various websites including webmd.com, ediets.com, aol.com, usnews.com, cnn.com, msnbc.com, and more. Tara is an avid runner and has completed one ultra marathon, eighteen full marathons including the prestigious Boston Marathon four times, as well as countless half marathons and other races. Tara lost her husband Stephen Gidus to cancer in 2012. She married John Collingwood in 2015 and they are busy raising her two sons, Basil (14), Levi (12), and two stepsons Maxim (18), and Samuel (16).

Favorite Quote:

“That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” — Nietzsche