Katie Knappenberger is the Director of Performance Nutrition for Northwestern University Athletics. She is passionate about maximizing fuel for athletic performance and is responsible for team and staff education, meal planning, individual nutrition counseling, and food and supplement security. Her philosophy revolves around positive body image and the idea that at every meal, athletes should focus on constructing a “winning plate” (i.e., a plate of food that is one-third carb, one-third protein, and one-third fruit/vegetable). Knappenberger studied athletic training at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and went on to earn her master's degree in nutrition with an emphasis in sports dietetics from the University of Utah. She joined the Northwestern staff as a Sports Dietician in 2014.

* Originally published on November 9, 2020, by Lauren Gilbert