About Andrea Dacey, RDN, CSSD
Andrea didn’t set out to become a sports dietitian because it sounded like a good career — she grew up around sports and fitness and kept running into the same problem herself and around other athletes: training advice was everywhere, but fueling advice was either generic or missing entirely. That gap became her focus. Today, as the founder of H2O Nutrition, LLC, Andrea works with athletes across San Diego, CA and Boston, MA, building fueling and recovery strategies around how people actually train — not a downloadable macro chart.
Credentials and Education
Andrea is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) — the premier board certification for sports nutrition professionals in the United States, administered through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Earning it requires both an active RD credential and a minimum number of practice hours specifically in sports dietetics, which is what separates a CSSD from a general nutrition coach or an uncredentialed “nutritionist.”
Her academic and clinical background includes:
- Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition — San Diego State University (SDSU)
- Clinical Nutrition Internship — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School
That combination of clinical training and sport-specific certification is why H2O Nutrition can handle both performance fueling and the medical nutrition side of athlete care — things like disordered eating, GI issues during training, and recovery from injury or illness — under one practice. Read more about medical nutrition therapy at H2O Nutrition →
Who Andrea Works With
Over 15+ years, Andrea’s client base has ranged from grade-school athletes to Master’s-level competitors, and from recreational exercisers to collegiate and professional teams. Specific experience includes:
Professional, amateur, and youth sports teams, clubs, and organizations
Athletes across nearly every sport, from recreational to elite/professional level
High schools, community colleges, colleges and universities, including NCAA programs
Food and beverage companies, associations, and restaurants
If you’re an individual athlete, a team, or an organization looking for sports nutrition programming, explore H2O Nutrition’s coaching options → to see what fits.
Andrea’s Role as Sports Dietitian
As the Sports Dietitian at H2O Nutrition, Andrea provides individual and group nutrition counseling and education — on-site and while traveling — to help competitive and recreational athletes perform better. Her core responsibilities include:
- Nutritional counseling for individuals and groups on daily sports nutrition for performance and health
- Translating current sports nutrition research into practical, usable recommendations
- Tracking outcomes of nutrition services and serving as a resource for coaches, trainers, and parents
- Delivering sports nutrition education for wellness programs, athletic teams, and community groups
- Maintaining ongoing professional competency required for clinical and sports nutrition practice
H2O Nutrition’s approach follows the standard evidence-based nutrition care process: assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring — individualized for each client rather than templated.
Services Available
Work with Andrea (RDN, CSSD) for:
- Team talks and presentations
- Body composition analysis
- Hydration assessment
- Metabolic testing (resting and exercise)
- Making-weight protocols for weight-class sports
- Support for female athlete triad and disordered eating
- Travel nutrition planning
- Dietary supplement evaluation
- Cooking and shopping clinics
- Blood chemistry evaluation
- Additional physiological testing and sports nutrition services
Currently training for a race or event? See Hyrox-specific nutrition coaching → or San Diego-based coaching →.
What Clients Say
“I was recently diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic… When I was first diagnosed I had an A1C blood level of 15. One year later, thanks largely to Andrea’s help, my A1C level was down to a 6. I’ve also dropped 30 pounds mainly from my waist and now have more energy than ever.”
— Joe B., San Diego, CA
“Speaking as someone in healthcare, I don’t think that many people are aware that dietitians have much more rigorous and lengthy training than nutritionists… She is a dietitian (and a Harvard-trained one at that.) I have yet to ask her a question for which she does not have a comprehensive and evidence-based answer.”
— Go C., San Diego, CA
“My triglycerides [went] from 450 down to 200, blood pressure down. I’m now no longer pre-diabetic… I am certain that Andrea will do everything in her power to make you healthy, energized and feel great about yourself.”
— Marcus A., Chino Hills, CA
“She has helped me build lean muscle, get faster and increase my energy levels through diet and exercise. I whole-heartedly recommend Andrea’s services to all who want to live a healthier and better life.”
— David J., San Diego, CA
“In three months I’ve dropped over 2% body fat and, more importantly, have learned so much. Andrea does an exceptional job of laying out her suggestions and explaining why she knows they will work.”
— Karen O., Encinitas, CA
See more client testimonials →
Andrea Dacey, RDN, CSSD Founder, H2O Nutrition, LLC Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics