{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T14:39:05Z","timestamp":1770043145366,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":68,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,27]],"date-time":"2025-02-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740614400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Qualitative research can facilitate an understanding of the richness and complexity of human experience, shedding light on multifaceted relationships that exist within sporting environments. Within the field of sport nutrition, such immersive methods are not commonplace. Yet could offer a significant contribution to our understanding and help practitioners navigate their values and identity within the challenging world of high-performance sport. The first author, a neophyte sport nutrition researcher-practitioner, reflects upon her experience over a four-year period of integrating into a high-performance organisation and embarking upon a research programme and career as a sport nutritionist. Drawing on field notes, reflexive journal entries, and regular research team discussions, three moments of discovery are shared: 1) Navigating the transition into high-performance sport, 2) Understanding the performance pressures and emotional burden experienced by athletes, and 3) Negotiating collaboration in the nutritionist-athlete relationship. Through this confessional tale, we recognise the development of a sport nutritionist\u2019s values and identity is unlikely to be smooth or linear. Instead, it may be a bumpy voyage of self-inquiry and discovery, shaped by diverse cultural experiences. To help future sport nutrition researcher-practitioners entering the field, we offer three meaningful development activities including 1) engaging in reflexive practice with critical friends to explore the dilemmas and uncertainties that may impact personal and professional development, 2) fostering intellectual candour when engaging in reflexive practice to facilitate self-discovery and growth, and 3) prioritise reading the growing literature on sport and organisational culture to inform and influence the delivery of sport nutrition practice.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0319164","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,27]],"date-time":"2025-02-27T18:31:33Z","timestamp":1740681093000},"page":"e0319164","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["A tale of be(com)ing a Sport Nutritionist: Reflexive insights from a researcher-practitioner entering the field"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7289-2149","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Meghan R.N.","family":"Bentley","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1048-4323","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Laurie B.","family":"Patterson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Susan H.","family":"Backhouse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0319164.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4135\/9780857020116","volume-title":"The Sage dictionary of social research methods","author":"V Jupp","year":"2006"},{"issue":"sup1","key":"pone.0319164.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S79","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2011.589469","article-title":"Nutrition for power sports: middle-distance running, track cycling, rowing, canoeing\/kayaking, and swimming","volume":"29","author":"T Stellingwerff","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2011.585473","article-title":"Carbohydrates for training and competition","volume":"29","author":"LM Burke","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0319164.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jand.2015.12.006","article-title":"Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics, dietitians of canada, and the american college of sports medicine: nutrition and athletic performance","volume":"116","author":"DT Thomas","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Acad Nutr Diet"},{"issue":"Suppl 1","key":"pone.0319164.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-018-1005-2","article-title":"From paper to podium: quantifying the translational potential of performance nutrition research","volume":"49","author":"GL Close","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-018-1089-4","article-title":"Studying complexity in health services research: desperately seeking an overdue paradigm shift","volume":"16","author":"T Greenhalgh","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.1111\/1468-0009.12197","article-title":"Achieving research impact through co\u2010creation in community\u2010based health services: literature review and case study","volume":"94","author":"T Greenhalgh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Milbank Q"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0319164.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"705","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2013.10.002","article-title":"Comparing elite male and female distance runner\u2019s experiences of disordered eating through narrative analysis","volume":"15","author":"R Busanich","year":"2014","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102327","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2022.102327","article-title":"\u201cIs the focus in professional rugby ever really on health?\u201d: a qualitative study on the uptake of illness prevention guidelines in rugby","volume":"64","author":"L Chesson","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0319164.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2023-106891","article-title":"\u2018Considering the reality, I am very lucky\u2019: how professional players and staff perceive injury prevention and performance protection in women\u2019s football","volume":"58","author":"C Bolling","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0319164.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"898","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsams.2020.06.020","article-title":"Athlete health protection: why qualitative research matters","volume":"23","author":"S Bekker","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Sci Med Sport"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1002\/tsm2.8","article-title":"We dare to ask new questions. Are we also brave enough to change our approaches?","volume":"1","author":"E Verhagen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Transl Sports Med"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104645","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2020.104645","article-title":"Sports nutrition interventions: a systematic review of behavioural strategies used to promote dietary behaviour change in athletes","volume":"150","author":"MR Bentley","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref014","volume-title":"The behaviour change wheel: a guide to designing interventions","author":"S Michie","year":"2014"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2022.2052946","article-title":"Co-production: a resource to guide co-producing research in the sport, exercise, and health sciences","volume":"15","author":"Collective tMSWC-p","year":"2023","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"issue":"57","key":"pone.0319164.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3310\/hta25570","article-title":"Framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions: gap analysis, workshop and consultation-informed update.","volume":"25","author":"K Skivington","year":"2021","journal-title":"Health Technol Assess"},{"issue":"42","key":"pone.0319164.ref017","first-page":"1","article-title":"The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions","volume":"6","author":"S Michie","year":"2011","journal-title":"Implement Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1123\/apaq.2022-0108","article-title":"A qualitative analysis of a positive elite parasport performance culture","volume":"41","author":"A Papailiou","year":"2023","journal-title":"APAQ"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref019","volume-title":"Organizational culture and leadership","author":"EH Schein","year":"2010"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref020","first-page":"1","article-title":"Professional male soccer players\u2019 perspectives of the nutrition culture within an english premier league football club: a qualitative exploration using Bourdieu\u2019s concepts of habitus, capital and field","volume":"54","author":"WL Foo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2019.1625431","article-title":"Member reflections with elite coaches and gymnasts: looking back to look forward","volume":"12","author":"F Cavallerio","year":"2020","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102363","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2022.102363","article-title":"Creating the conditions for psychological safety and its impact on quality coach-athlete relationships","volume":"65","author":"S Jowett","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0319164.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"338","DOI":"10.1080\/10413200.2011.650819","article-title":"Culture change in elite sport performance teams: examining and advancing effectiveness in the new era","volume":"24","author":"A Cruickshank","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Appl Sport Psychol"},{"issue":"17","key":"pone.0319164.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1073","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2023-106994","article-title":"2023 International Olympic Committee\u2019s (IOC) consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs)","volume":"57","author":"M Mountjoy","year":"2023","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref025","volume-title":"Qualitative research methods in sport, exercise and health: From process to product","author":"AC Sparkes","year":"2014"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2017.1351390","article-title":"Qualitative fieldwork in medical contexts: confessions of a neophyte researcher","volume":"11","author":"P Sanders","year":"2019","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1080\/13648470802127098","article-title":"Negotiated interactive observation: doing fieldwork in hospital settings","volume":"15","author":"G Wind","year":"2008","journal-title":"Anthropol Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2019.1685587","article-title":"Preparing for a physical activity intervention in a secure psychiatric hospital: reflexive insights on entering the field","volume":"13","author":"E Rogers","year":"2021","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref029","first-page":"159","article-title":"Styles of Ehtnograpy.","volume-title":"Critical issues in qualitative research methods","author":"J. Boyles","year":"1994"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref030","volume-title":"Telling tales in sport and physical activity: a qualitative journey","author":"A Sparkes","year":"2002"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203805985","volume-title":"The senses in self, society, and culture: A sociology of the senses","author":"P Vannini","year":"2013"},{"issue":"18","key":"pone.0319164.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2075","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2019.1620989","article-title":"Sports nutritionists\u2019 perspectives on enablers and barriers to nutritional adherence in high performance sport: a qualitative analysis informed by the COM-B model and theoretical domains framework","volume":"37","author":"MR Bentley","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101831","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2020.101831","article-title":"Athlete perspectives on the enablers and barriers to nutritional adherence in high-performance sport","volume":"52","author":"MR Bentley","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0319164.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"847","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2020.1833967","article-title":"A tale of three seasons: a cultural sport psychology and gender performativity approach to practitioner identity and development in professional football","volume":"13","author":"F Champ","year":"2021","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2021.1885481","article-title":"Reflexive confessions of a female sport psychologist: from REBT to existential counselling with a transnational footballer","volume":"14","author":"D Darpatova-Hruzewicz","year":"2022","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref036","volume-title":"Tales of the fieldon writing ethnography","author":"J Van Maanen","year":"1988"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref037","volume-title":"Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials","author":"NK Denzin","year":"2013"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1080\/14733145.2011.546072","article-title":"Narrative case study research: on endings and six session reviews","volume":"11","author":"K Etherington","year":"2011","journal-title":"Counsell Psychother Res"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref039","volume-title":"Reflective practice: writing and professional development","author":"GE Bolton","year":"2018"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref040","volume-title":"The reflective practicioner: How professionals think in action: Basic Books","author":"DA Schon","year":"1983"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref041","volume-title":"Becoming a reflexive researcher: using our selves in research","author":"K Etherington","year":"2004"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203832899","volume-title":"The reflexive teacher educator in TESOL: roots and wings","author":"J Edge","year":"2011"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1080\/23265507.2017.1300068","article-title":"Be (com) ing a reflexive researcher: a developmental approach to research methodology","volume":"4","author":"M Attia","year":"2017","journal-title":"Open Rev Educ Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref044","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2008.07.012","article-title":"Narrative analysis and sport and exercise psychology: Understanding lives in diverse ways","volume":"10","author":"B Smith","year":"2009","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref045","volume-title":"Thematic analysis: a practical guide","author":"V Braun","year":"2021"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0319164.ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2019.1628806","article-title":"Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis","volume":"11","author":"V Braun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc and Health"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref047","first-page":"843","volume-title":"In handbook of research methods in health and social sciences","author":"V Braun","year":"2018"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref048","first-page":"1001","volume-title":"In handbook of sport psychology","author":"B Smith","year":"2020"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref049","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2017.1393221","article-title":"Generalizability in qualitative research: misunderstandings, opportunities and recommendations for the sport and exercise sciences","volume":"10","author":"B Smith","year":"2018","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0319164.ref050","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1397","DOI":"10.1007\/s11135-010-9347-3","article-title":"Culturally responsive relational reflexive ethics in research: the three Rs","volume":"45","author":"MK Lahman","year":"2011","journal-title":"Qual Quant"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref051","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1177\/1077800406294947","article-title":"Telling secrets, revealing lives: Relational ethics in research with intimate others","volume":"13","author":"C Ellis","year":"2007","journal-title":"Qual Inq"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0319164.ref052","first-page":"509","article-title":"Fitting in, feeling excluded or opting out? An investigation into the socialisation process of newcomers to the teaching profession in secondary schools in England","volume":"31","author":"M Jones","year":"2005","journal-title":"J In-Serv Educ"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref053","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1080\/0090988042000318521","article-title":"The socialization of emotion: learning emotion management at the fire station","volume":"33","author":"C Scott","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Appl Commun Res"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0319164.ref054","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"547","DOI":"10.1177\/0950017005055674","article-title":"Learning emotion rules in service organizations: socialization and training in the UK public-house sector","volume":"19","author":"D Seymour","year":"2005","journal-title":"Work Employ Soc"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0319164.ref055","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"336","DOI":"10.1080\/19398441.2010.517039","article-title":"Restoring connections in physical activity and mental health research and practice: a confessional tale","volume":"2","author":"K Douglas","year":"2010","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref056","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1123\/ssj.26.2.235","article-title":"\u201cBig freaky-looking women\u201d: normalizing gender transgression through bodybuilding","volume":"26","author":"SA McGrath","year":"2009","journal-title":"Sociol Sport J"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref057","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203864722","volume-title":"Ethnographic methods","author":"K O\u2019reilly","year":"2012"},{"issue":"13","key":"pone.0319164.ref058","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"843","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2015-094962","article-title":"International olympic committee consensus statement on youth athletic development","volume":"49","author":"MF Bergeron","year":"2015","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref059","volume-title":"Radical Candor: how to get what you want by saying what you mean","author":"KM Scott","year":"2019"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref060","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1057\/978-1-137-47901-3_21","article-title":"Paralympic philosophy and ethics.","volume-title":"The palgrave handbook of paralympic studies","author":"MJ McNamee","year":"2018"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref061","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"815038","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.815038","article-title":"Safeguarding reimagined: centering Athletes\u2019 rights and repositioning Para sport to chart a new path","volume":"13","author":"YA Tuakli-Wosornu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref062","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1080\/13573322.2018.1561434","article-title":"The athlete\u2013doctor relationship: power, complicity, resistance and accomplices in recycling dominant sporting ideologies","volume":"25","author":"J McMahon","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sport Educ Soc"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref063","volume-title":"Interviews: learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing","author":"S Brinkmann","year":"2015"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref064","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003007005-8","article-title":"Power in coach-athlete relationships: the case of women\u2019s artistic gymnastics.","volume-title":"Women\u2019s artistic gymnastics","author":"S Jowett","year":"2020"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref065","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.12688\/wellcomeopenres.19363.2","article-title":"The behaviour change technique ontology: transforming the behaviour change technique taxonomy v1","volume":"8","author":"MM Marques","year":"2024","journal-title":"Wellcome Open Res"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0319164.ref066","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1177\/1012690218791139","article-title":"The capabilities and human rights of high performance athletes","volume":"55","author":"A Adams","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int Rev Sociol Sport"},{"key":"pone.0319164.ref067","volume-title":"How people learn II: Learners, contexts, and cultures","author":"National Academies of Science; Engineering and Medicine","year":"2018"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0319164.ref068","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.13649","article-title":"Embracing the tension between vulnerability and credibility: \u2018intellectual candour\u2019 in health professions education","volume":"53","author":"E Molloy","year":"2019","journal-title":"Med Educ"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0319164","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,27]],"date-time":"2025-02-27T18:31:55Z","timestamp":1740681115000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0319164"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Mohamed Ahmed","family":"Said","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,27]]},"references-count":68,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,27]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0319164","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,27]]}}}