Vegetarian Athletes
Fueling an active lifestyle with a vegetarian diet can feel like a constant balancing act. Meeting your energy, protein and nutrient needs while training, isn’t easy. Even when you’re eating clean, it’s common to fall into repetitive eating patterns and feel stuck in a food rut.
Understanding Vegetarian Athletes
More than just “eating enough plants”
As a vegetarian athlete, your performance depends on how intentionally you fuel. We help to strategically plan your meals, recovery snacks, and protein intake, to support energy balance around training and unlock better performance.
Common challenges
- Not getting enough protein
- Low iron or ferritin
- Fatigue during training
- Poor recovery
- Digestive discomfort
- Under-fueling
- Constantly hungry
- Difficulty building muscle
- Performance plateaus
- Gaining weight
Also working with...
- RED-S
- Iron deficiency
- Performance nutrition
- Digestive issues in athletes
Your dietitian for Vegetarian Athletes
Brianna Gorman MSc., RD
Brianna Gorman is the sport dietitian for the Vancouver Whitecaps and has a passion for endurance sports. She works with both recreational and professional athletes, supporting performance, body composition, and sustainable weight management. She has lived experience as a plant-based athlete and brings her best recipes to your sessions.
Also Works With:
- Gut health & IBS
- Plant-based nutrition
- Sport & performance
- Body composition
Working With Vegetarian Athletes
We don’t just tell you to “eat more tofu.” We take a personalized, performance-focused approach to assess your current intake, optimize your nutrition strategy, and build a plan that works with your training, not against it.
Before you book
What to expect
- Book your initial assessment
Book a 60minute initial assessment. You don’t need a blood test before your session, but if you do happen to have a recent blood test, please send that to us for your dietitian to review. - Complete your intake and food journal
Before your first appointment, you’ll receive an intake form and a 7 day food journal. This helps your dietitian to assess your nutrient intake and needs and to build you an individualized plan at your first visit. - Get your personalized plan in the first visit
During your initial visit, your dietitian will assess your nutrient gaps and provide clear, individualized guidance with a customized plan. This initial plan may include nutrition guidelines, meal and snack ideas with recipes or a structured meal plan, depending on what approach works best for you. - Follow up to tailor your diet to your lifestyle
You’ll meet with your dietitian every 3-4 weeks to guide you with new meal and snack ideas. Along the way, you’ll receive practical strategies to navigate weekends, eating out and supplements. Our goal is to build your confidence in your food choices in a way that fits with your lifestyle, without feeling restrictive or boring.
Session Types + Fees
Initial Assessment
Follow-up Appointment
Starter
Includes
- No email support between sessions
- Customized meal plan
- Meal and snack ideas
- Strategies to build new eating habits
- Goal setting + written recommendations
- Restaurant + travel guidance
Initial Consultation
Follow Up
Total Sessions
Format
Direct billing
- Sun Life
- Pacific Blue Cross
- Alberta Blue Cross
- Chamber of Commerce
- CINUP
- ClaimSecure
- Desjardins
- Equitable Life
- First Canadian
- Canada Life
- Industrial Alliance
- Johnson Group
- Johnson Inc.
- Manulife Financial
- Maximum Benefit
- TELUS Adjudicare
- GroupSource
- GroupHealth
- Sunlife
- + more
FAQ
Will my sessions be covered by insurance?
Yes. Our sessions are covered by extended health plans that include coverage for Registered Dietitians.
How does insurance work if I buy a package?
Many insurance plans do not reimburse packages upfront. If you purchase a package, we provide insurance-friendly receipts after each visit so that you can submit claims following each completed appointment.
Can I get enough protein on a vegetarian diet?
Yes with the right meal structure, a vegetarian diet can reach your protein needs. We calculate your exact needs, show you how to distribute protein across your day, and ensure you’re hitting leucine thresholds to stimulate muscle repair and growth.
Is it bad to take protein powder every day?
Not at all. Protein powder can be a very effective, convenient tool for athletes with higher needs. We help you choose a high-quality option and integrate it alongside other high nutrient foods in a way that supports, not replaces, your meals.
I feel low energy, do I need a blood test?
Possibly. Many vegetarian athletes are unknowingly low in iron, B12, or total energy intake. Your dietitian will screen for signs of anemia or deficiency, guide appropriate lab work with your doctor, and provide a targeted nutrition and supplementation protocol if needed.
I eat a lot, but my energy doesn’t last.
High fiber diets can make you feel full before you’ve met your energy needs. We can adjust the energy and nutrient density of your meals, so you are fueled without feeling uncomfortable.
Will I need supplements?
Not necessarily, but we will assess your intake and labs carefully. If needed, we recommend targeted, evidence-based supplementation (not a long list of unnecessary products).
Can a plant based diet work for my teen child?
Truthfully, it can be challenging for growing children or teens to meet their energy and nutrient needs with a plant-based diet. While we support you and your child’s autonomy in their diet choice, we will review their growth charts, lab work and energy levels to ensure they are getting what they need for optimal growth, development and performance.
Ready to perform at your highest level on a plant-based diet?
Let’s build your plan.