Crystal Zabka-Belsky, MS, RD, CSSD, LMNT

Crystal graduated from the University of Nebraska with dual Bachelor's Degrees in Dietetics and Exercise Science and a Master's Degree in Nutrition & Exercise. Crystal completed her Dietetic Internship at the University of Nebraska, where her thesis research involved the development, piloting, evaluation and implementation of an eating disorder risk assessment instrument for the athletic department. She has presented her research at the national level for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and published articles in the Journal of Renal Nutrition focused on emerging eating disorder trends. 

Crystal is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, specializing in the treatment of dysfunctional eating and substance use in athletes. Her experience includes developing and conducting needs assessments for individual athletes, teams and athletic programs, as well as the development and integration of sport-specific programming. As a Sports Nutrition Consultant for the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, Crystal works with the NBA Gatorade League and is a member of the Sweat Testing Consultant team, for which she travels the country sweat testing elite athletes to facilitate the development of individualized sweat profiles and hydration regimens. Crystal is also a consulting sports dietitian for the Nebraska Coaches Association, for which she was endorsed by the National Organization of Coaches Association Directors as a Beyond the Game professional speaker. As the consulting sports dietitian for Special Olympics Nebraska, Crystal guides the development of sports nutrition strategies for individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, and also serves on the Special Olympics Nebraska Health Advisory Committee. 

In an effort to advocate for evidence-based sports nutrition, Crystal served five years locally as a member of the Council on Practice for the Omaha Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and is currently serving as the Chair of the Nebraska Board of Medical Nutrition Therapy. Crystal serves nationally for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics on multiple professional boards including the Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics Examination Committee, the Sports Dietetics Practice Analysis Workgroup, and the Commission on Dietetic Registration Specialty Certification Panel. 

With over a decade of ongoing work with OMNI Behavioral Health, Crystal spent nearly a decade working with the Eating Disorder Program, ultimately serving as the program director, before moving into her current role as the global Director of Nutrition, Exercise and Health Promotion. Crystal recently completed her second year as the Head of Delegation for this agency's first-ever Special Olympics Team, the OMNI Olympians.