Dietitian Dani

DIETITIAN DANI

Our accredited dietitian Dani is here to help you fuel smarter, recover faster, and perform at your peak with science-backed guidance tailored to real athletes and real goals.

Danielle De Francesco: Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) & Elite Athlete

Meet Danielle De Francesco, an Accredited Practising Dietitian, former Australian open-water swimmer, elite triathlete, and current professional road cyclist. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Griffith University (2019), Dani combines her scientific expertise with a stellar athletic background to help athletes and health enthusiasts to reach their full potential.

Dani’s sporting journey began in athletics and triathlon at age 14, leading to a standout career in open-water swimming. From 2009 to 2013, she represented Australia at four World Championships, achieving a career best of 8th place in the 5km event in 2011. Transitioning to triathlon, she competed in Super League Triathlon and, more recently, excelled in road cycling with Specialized Women’s Racing, ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast, and now Arkéa-B&B Hotels Professional Cycling Team (2023–2025). Her cycling highlights include a dominant solo win at the 2021 Tour de Brisbane, 2nd place at the 2022 Oceania Road Championships, and 5th overall at the 2023 Tour Down Under, plus a notable performance at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes.

As a dietitian, Dani’s personal experiences through her athletic career fuel her passion for sports nutrition. Specializing in nutrition for endurance events including cycling, swimming and running, female athlete nutrition, and injury recovery, she provides evidence-based advice to optimize performance and well-being.

Dani has worked with clients at POGO Physio, Anglicare Southern Queensland, Movement Plus Miami, and medical clinics on the Gold Coast and northern NSW, helping athletes and everyday individuals achieve their goals.

A proud Gold Coast local, Dani trains alongside her fiancé, cyclist Kane Richards, and is thrilled to partner with FIXX to share practical nutrition tips, answer your questions, and showcase how FIXX products can fuel your active lifestyle. Whether it’s breaking down the benefits of magnesium or crafting personalized fuel plans, Dani’s here to help you perform at your best.

Connect with Dani: Book a one-on-one consultation with an exclusive FIXX discount, explore her monthly nutrition tips or keep an eye out for the “Ask Dani” Q&A on Instagram to elevate your health and performance!

Frequently Asked Nutrition Questions

Carbohydrates & Your Workout
How many carbs do I need during training?
- Short sessions (eg. up to 2.5hr): 30–60 g of carbohydrates per hour keeps your energy steady. For high-intensity sessions, aim for closer to 60g.
- Longer sessions (eg. 2.5 h+): Up to 90 g/hr (using multiple carbohydrate sources) helps delay fatigue. For high-intensity sessions, aiming for 90g/hr is optimal to maintain energy output throughout the session.
What snacks should I have before training?
Aim for low-fibre, low-fat, high-carbohydrate options that are easy on your stomach:
- Banana and/or peanut butter with honey on white toast or crumpets
- Rice cakes with your choice of spread (Speculoos is my favourite)
- Fixx Fuel X Carb Mix (47.6g carb per bottle) or Fixx Gels (29.3 g carbs each) - this is a great option for those who wake up with low appetite or struggle to consume solids prior to training.
What should I eat after training?
Refuel within 30 minutes to kick-start recovery as soon as possible:
- Aim for 20-30g good quality protein and 1g per kilogram of body weight of carbohydrates
- Smoothie: Protein powder, banana, frozen berries, nut butter, Greek yoghurt and milk
- Grilled chicken or tofu, cheese, avocado and salad grainy wrap or pita with rice
- Something as easy as a chocolate milk or Up & Go from your nearest service station or supermarket is great if you are on-the-go!

Tip: For variety and maximum absorption, consume Fixx Fuel X Carb Electrolyte Drink (47.6g carbs) and a Fixx Gel (29.3g carbs) for a total of 50g easily digested carbohydrates every hour.
Timing: Eat your pre-training snack ~30–60 min before the session. Larger carbohydrate-rich meals should be consumed further out from a session, around 3-4 hours prior, to allow time for digestion and absorption.
Why: The post-ride window optimizes glycogen resynthesis and stimulates muscle protein synthesis, in order to help boost recovery so you’re ready for your next session!