At just 17 years old, Valentina “Tina” Lanza is redefining the way young athletes view food. A former pre-professional ballerina, Tina knows firsthand the silent struggles that often plague the world of competitive sports—especially when it comes to body image and nutrition.
Now a senior, she has turned her experience into a mission, founding Food is Fuel, a Girl Scout Gold Award effort dedicated to helping athletes and others develop healthier relationships with food.
“Food is Fuel aims to raise awareness and diminish the effects of eating disorders among athletes in the community through nutritional education and body positive quotes,” said Tina.
Tina’s journey began after she left ballet, where the pressure to achieve an impossible standard of perfection led her and many others down a dangerous path.
“It wasn’t just about dancing well—it was about looking the part, no matter the cost,” she recalls. “I saw so many talented dancers starve themselves just to fit an ideal. I knew something had to change.”
That need for change led her to create Food is Fuel during her junior year at ILS. What started as an Instagram page sharing nutritional advice quickly became something bigger.
Now, Tina visits dance studios, sports teams, and schools to educate young athletes on the importance of proper fueling.
“I don’t want anyone to go through what I did,” she explains. “We’re taught that thinner means better, but in reality, strength, energy, and endurance come from fueling your body correctly.”
Beyond education, Tina actively supports athletes by attending games and providing food and drinks for teams. She makes sure players have the necessary nutrients to perform at their best—whether that means offering protein-packed snacks after practice or helping teams understand what a balanced pre-game meal looks like.
“Tina’s work is inspiring,” said junior Manuela Garcia-Casas, who has attended one of her nutrition talks. “A lot of athletes don’t realize how much underfueling affects their game until it’s too late. She makes it easy to understand and helps take away the stigma.”
Even outside the world of athletics, Tina’s impact is being felt. Rashad Lee, a senior who attended Art Walk wasn’t expecting a new revelation. Instead he got a face full of truth and said, “Tina helped me see that food isn’t the enemy…it’s more what keeps us going. Her message was super clear.”
Tina also shares digestible tips on Food is Fuel’s Instagram page, @foodisfuel.miami, covering everything from intuitive eating to the importance of a proper cheat day.
“Social media can spread a lot of toxic ideas about food, so I want to counter that with science-based, easy-to-understand nutrition advice,” she said.
Now, as she prepares to graduate, Tina hopes to leave a lasting impact on her underclassmen.
“I want them to have a better relationship with food than I did,” she said. “Because at the end of the day, food isn’t something to fear—it’s fuel.”
Tina plans to continue expanding Food is Fuel, with hopes of reaching more schools and sports organizations in the future.
“This isn’t just about me,” she said. “It’s about changing the culture around food and performance. One athlete at a time.”
For more information, follow Food is Fuel on Instagram: @foodisfuel.miami.
