A course in foundational nutrition as an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin sparked Isabelle Fuerst’s interest in the field. A job as a nutrition student worker with the Badgers athletics department confirmed her decision to make it her career.
“I am fascinated by the role nutrition plays in optimizing athletic performance and recovery,” Fuerst said. “I enjoy helping athletes use nutrition as a tool to perform at their highest level.”
And what better place to do that than with your favorite NFL team? That was the case for Fuerst, who served as an intern with the Green Bay Packers from the start of training camp in July 2025 through January 2026 as part of the supervised practice portion of the Viterbo Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program.
“It was an incredibly valuable experience,” said Fuerst of her internship with the Packers. “I worked alongside registered dietitians and food service staff in a fast-paced, professional sports environment and gained hands-on exposure to performance nutrition at the NFL level. I learned how a professional sports nutrition department operates as a team. I also enjoyed meeting and interacting with a lot of amazing individuals such as staff and players. Green Bay is truly a very welcoming environment where everyone supports one another.”
Fuerst’s responsibilities included assisting with daily food service operations, supporting
fueling strategies for players and staff, collaborating with registered dietitians, and
contributing to menu planning and food preparation.
“I especially enjoyed creating weekly salad and sandwich specials for players and staff as I brainstormed menu ideas, selected ingredients, and helped execute meals that were both nutritious and appealing,” she said. “The internship helped me grow both personally and professionally, and definitely prepared me for future roles in both sports and clinical nutrition settings.”
Fuerst chose Viterbo’s online master’s degree program because it offered her the flexibility to pursue her interests anywhere in the U.S. She plans to move to Denver to complete her clinical nutrition rotation.
“I am also very excited to participate in the study abroad program in Seville, Spain,” she said.
Fuerst earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics with a minor in Global Health from the University of Wisconsin. She plans to graduate from Viterbo in May and continue to gain experience in sports and clinical nutrition as a Registered Dietitian.
“Long term, I would love to own a private practice working with athletes and active individuals to help them reach their performance and health goals,” she said. “I also enjoy creating nutritional education content and healthy recipes for social media to inspire others.”