Author Michael Pollan famously declared that the key to healthy eating is simple: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”  But when it comes to putting that advice into practice, it’s not so easy — especially for athletes and active families who need to make sure they’re getting all the essential nutrients they need for top performance when playing sports  or exercising.

That’s why Montreal dietician and mother of two Pearle Nerenberg (pictured right) has launched a series of free Q&A sessions as well as a fee-based online video series called Eat This For Performance to help athletes learn about foods that enhance their performance ability.

Nerenberg, who has a degree from Cornell University in Nutritional Science and a Master’s in Human Nutrition from McGill, says the food we eat has a profound impact on our ability to perform, not just in sports, but also in school and at work, and even in our relationships.

She said unhealthy food can be over stimulating to the body, and can cause energy levels to crash and even affect a person’s ability to focus on tasks and get along with others.

Nerenberg said she wants to make science-based nutrition advice more accessible to families who may not be able to afford the $90 to $150 or more per hour many dieticians charge. Through her online course, and weekly free open houses at her clinic, she hopes to provide simple explanations of the complex science behind sports nutrition to help families identify the best foods to eat before, during and after vigorous activity.

The video series is priced at $197 US and includes access to 30, five-minute videos that illustrate key healthy-eating concepts. Nerenberg also offers a variety of free resources, including recipes, blog posts and podcasts on her website and hosts weekly free open houses at her Westmount clinic, at 4937 Sherbrooke St. W., on Mondays at 7 p.m. The 45-minute sessions, which are limited to groups of eight people, are an opportunity to ask questions and get nutrition tips.

For more information, visit et4p.com.