Fuel Forward
Performance Nutrition for
Athletes and Active Individuals​
Fuel Forward is a team of Registered Dietitians led by Mary Ellen Kelly, a nationally recognized, board-certified sports dietitian with experience working with high performing individuals and athletes from high school and recreational to college and professional.
Mary Ellen has worked for the Miami Dolphins and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Tar Heels during her professional journey. She also served as a nutrition consultant and advisor to teams, organizations, athletes, award-winning actors, and corporate executives.
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Through this Boston-area-based and virtual nutrition practice, the team helps cut through nutrition non-science (nonsense!) and promotes safe, successful, and practical fueling strategies to reach personal goals. As a result, Fuel Forward has earned the trust of elite-level athletes and top teams to fuel for optimal performance.
Performance nutrition is a gift that serves the body and mind to reach individual goals throughout your lifespan.
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It's not about "dieting."
It's about honoring and fueling your body.
Individualized performance fueling can:
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Increase energy levels
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Enhance performance
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Support mental clarity & mood
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Optimize recovery
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Support body composition goals
Successful individuals and teams are not "dieting."
Fuel Forward will show you how to sort through nutrition misinformation and use practical, science-based fueling strategies to support your hard work.
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Have you figured out how to optimally FUEL?
Hi! I'm Mary Ellen
Welcome to Fuel Forward! I am so glad you're here.
Are you looking for nutrition coaching for yourself, your family member, your team, or your organization?
Services
Elite Performance Nutrition
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KICK OFF:
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A 2-part initial evaluation and customized fueling strategy​​​
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One follow-up session to track progress
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LEVEL UP:
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Selected by most clients for at least 1-2 additional months after "Kick Off" to continue with their progress​
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2 follow-up sessions per month with individualized resources available
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Customized Consultation Services
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For schools, teams, clubs, and organizations looking to upgrade nutrition services, a customized package can be provided
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Package services can include:
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Team/group nutrition education programs
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Comprehensive nutrition evaluation of your organization or team
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Nutrition coaching package for individuals
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Testimonials
Ndamukong Suh
Super Bowl Champion (LV)
NFL Defensive Tackle
(Detroit Lions 2010-14,
Miami Dolphins 2015-17, LA Rams 2018,
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2019 - present)​
"Mary Ellen has a deep understanding of the unique needs for elite athletes. We worked together while I was living in Miami, and I appreciated the time she took to get to know me and collaborate with my performance director and chef on the optimal fueling strategies for my body.”
Ben Krza
High School Student Athlete,
Baseball Catcher, Colorado
"When I started working with Mary Ellen I didn’t know what I was getting into. I had been recommended to a nutritionist by a strength coach, so I was unsure. I had been struggling with healthy nutrition and how to gain lean mass. My goal was to get a plan to help me gain weight. After my first time talking with Mary Ellen my eyes were opened to so many more opportunities when it comes to fuel, recovery, and weight gain. In the past 3 months since I started with Mary Ellen, I have been successful in reaching my goals. She has shown me how to balance a day when it comes to healthy nutrition and how to optimize recovery with consistency."
Taylor Treacy
Founder and Executive Director
The Virago Project
Former Collegiate and
Professional Volleyball Player
"When it comes to dietitians, Mary Ellen is the best in class. As a college athlete, she educated my entire team on performance nutrition and made the process fun for everyone. With her guidance, we made incredible strides both in the weight room and on the court and saw fewer overall injuries. To this day, I consult with Mary Ellen to create sports nutrition programming for high school and college female athletes. She's incredibly knowledgeable, professional and passionate about her work. Most importantly she deeply understands the challenges athletes face in and outside of sports and how it impacts their health and nutrition at large."
Mike Tannenbaum
ESPN NFL Front Office Insider
EVP of Football Operations
Miami Dolphins 2015-18
GM & SVP of Football Ops
New York Jets 2006-12
"We were fortunate to hire Mary Ellen in 2014 at the Miami Dolphins. We had created a new position of a full-time dietitian. She brought a world-class knowledge of the sports performance world, understanding how nutrition could be a differentiator...she did it in a way that was completely relatable and one of the main things that were so impressive about Mary Ellen is that she can talk to senior leadership, ownership, NFL officials or an undrafted rookie in the NFL and to me that's what really separates Mary Ellen. She can bring complex and differentiated ideas that are impactful but deliver that information in ways that were usable and actionable. I would highly recommend Mary Ellen to help you in your nutritional goals."
Stacey Zawacki
Director
Boston University Sargent Choice Nutrition Center
"When our Center was going through a transitional period, we hired Mary Ellen as a consultant to mentor our sports dietitians and help us develop a strategic plan to grow this area of our practice in alignment with our academic and service mission. Mary Ellen understood the structure of our program and was able to offer valuable recommendations for delivering impactful sports nutrition education while expanding training opportunities for our students interested in studying sports nutrition. Mary Ellen is clearly passionate about her work. Her own experience as a student athlete at Boston University, combined with her professional journey, offer a clear understanding of the needs of our student athletes."
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Kenny Boyd, MS, LAT, ATC
Senior Associate AD, Student-Athlete Health and Wellness | Baylor University
“Mary Ellen was instrumental in helping us evaluate our departmental policies, procedures, and resources and implement strategies to improve our nutrition services. Her unique background in the collegiate, professional and private setting provides a more complete understanding of challenges, opportunities, and solutions to most any circumstance. Mary Ellen continues to be a valued resource for us as we navigate the ongoing challenge of providing elite-level nutritional support for our student-athletes.”
