Food is Fuel is a Girl Scout Gold Award project dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders by promoting proper nutrition and body positivity. Through educational initiatives and direct community engagement, this project aims to combat harmful diet culture, particularly among athletes and dancers, who are often at higher risk of developing eating disorders.
The initiative includes hosting food stands at sporting events and dance competitions to emphasize the importance of fueling the body for peak performance. It also provides educational seminars for athletes, parents, and coaches on recognizing, preventing, and addressing eating disorders.
Additionally, Food is Fuel maintains an active Instagram page (@foodisfuel.miami) to share nutrition tips, debunk myths about eating disorders, and spread positive body image messages to a broader audience.
“Her instagram page promotes lots of very important messages. One of these is that today there’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way, and a lot of people don’t realize how harmful diet culture can be, ” said senior Angelina Wiltz.
Senior Valentina Lanza launched this project her junior year, drawing inspiration from her experience in a pre-professional ballet program at the Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia. During her time there, she witnessed first-hand the damaging effects of an environment that normalized restrictive eating and body shaming.
She recalled teachers conducting public weigh-ins and making harsh comments about dancers’ bodies:
“If you had skinnier legs, you’d be prettier.”
“Ballerinas aren’t this big.”
Strict and unhealthy rules were enforced, such as banning food after 6:30 pm and conducting nightly bedroom checks to ensure students had no food in their bedrooms. Additionally, costume alterations were not permitted—dancers were expected to lose weight to fit the costumes rather than have alterations done.
As a result, many students resorted to extreme measures, from eating only rice cakes and fruit to teaching each other how to purge. Self-deprecating talk and fat-shaming were seen as normal.
One moment that stuck with Valentina was when a sick dancer, who was vomiting constantly, was told by an instructor, “That’s the best your body has ever looked.”
Seeing the devastating impact of this culture, Valentina was determined to take action and help athletes and dancers who might be struggling with eating disorders.
Through Food is Fuel, Valentina educates athletes on healthy ways to improve performance without resorting to dangerous habits. She emphasizes that:
– A thinner body does not always mean a healthier or stronger body.
– The goal should be to feel energized and capable, not to reach an arbitrary weight.
– Proper nutrition fuels both physical and mental well-being, reducing the risk of injuries and burnout.
Many students have resonated with this message.
“I love that this project encourages people to focus on properly fueling their bodies instead of restricting food or following unhealthy habits,” said senior Nuria Dolz de Espejo.
Valentina continues her work to correct common misconceptions about eating disorders:
1. Purging does not effectively lead to weight loss.
– The body begins absorbing calories as soon as food enters the mouth. Vomiting immediately after eating eliminates less than 50% of the calories consumed, usually much less.
– Laxatives and diuretics are even less effective and can cause severe health issues, including heart problems.
– Purging often leads to binge eating, worsening the cycle of disordered eating.
2. Restricting food intake slows metabolism and harms overall health.
– When the body enters “starvation mode,” metabolism slows down, making it harder to maintain energy levels.
– Restriction leads to brain fog, mood swings, and extreme fatigue, making athletic performance suffer.
– Eating disorders affect all body types—anyone can struggle with them, regardless of their appearance.
“This project serves as a great reminder that eating well isn’t just about appearance—it’s about feeling strong, energized, and taking care of yourself,” said senior Ava von Teuber, emphasizing that she considers the importance of this initiative.
Valentina’s work has already made a significant impact, with athletes and even young children reaching out to share their struggles and thank her for her advocacy. She has received numerous messages on Instagram and in-person testimonies from individuals who feel heard and supported for the first time.
“Seeing how I’m helping others in my community has dramatically impacted my motivation for my project,” she shared. “It proves how hidden eating disorders are in society and how taboo the topic is, especially since older generations often normalize commenting on people’s bodies.”
Now, Valentina hopes to expand Food is Fuel into a lasting initiative by including it into a club at ILS, ensuring that its message continues to spread and support more people.
Supporting Food is Fuel can be as simple as donating to fund food stands and seminars or purchasing Girl Scout cookies, shirts, and lunchboxes. Most importantly, spreading awareness and engaging in conversations about healthy eating and body image can help break the stigma surrounding eating disorders.
Follow @foodisfuel.miami on Instagram to stay updated on Valentina’s work and join the movement to promote health, education, and body positivity.
