Daniela Manche
Position: Consults to Melbourne Victory FC, Victorian Institute of Sport, Athletics Australia, The Australian Ballet, National Theatre Ballet School, The Victorian Fitness Academy, SDA and some private practice.
Lives: In Melbourne
Favourite food: Chocolate, Thai food and picnic lunches with cheese and strawberries!
Favourite sport: I love watching aerial skiing, diving and gymnastics (they amaze me) and watching athletes that I have worked with and seeing their successes is the real reward in sport.
Briefly tell us about yourself. How did you become a sports dietitian? Ever since I learned to walk and push 'play' on the stereo, I wanted to move and dance, so I danced from a young age. And as I grew up, it was footy or soccer with the boys on the playground! So sport and being active has always been a passion of mine. There are many nutrition and body image issues in aesthetic sports like dancing (although no dancer that I have ever met calls themselves an athlete!! They are "artists") so it was only natural for me to pursue an interest in nutrition and specialise in sport.
What other areas of dietetics are you interested in? I work with a lot of people with dietary (FODMAP) intolerances and coeliac disease and also have an interest in paediatric and maternal health (so much so that I am currently studying to be a lactation consultant to help women breastfeed successfully!)
Why did you become involved with SDA? I became involved with SDA as a student by attending the bi-monthly meetings, which is probably what helped me the most to get to know other dietitians working in sport. I volunteered as a student and also as a new graduate - and it pays off! I've stuck to one thing in my student/early years: never turn down an opportunity! Even if you don't think it's exactly what you want, you never know where it might lead you!
What do you see are some of the major issues for SDA over the next five years? More opportunities for younger dietitians to specialise in sport and also more member benefits to support sports dietitians of all levels. We also need to work at promoting and supporting the advanced sports dietitians among us... because they pave the way!
Which sportsperson (or team) do you admire the most and why? Matthew Crowley (paralympic swimmer) and all other paralympic athletes - their determination and drive in the face of physical limitations (and often less financial support) is inspiring and never ceases to amaze me.
Updated March 2010
