ballet-nutrition-dancers

By Ashley Lucas

“Dance revolves around significant technical, physical & aesthetic components. Because dancers are continually required to perform at the top of their abilities, proper nutrition and fueling of the body is essential. Dancers need to consume diets adequate in calories to support the demands placed on the body. Those calories should come from healthy carbohydrates, lean proteins and fats. Learning when and what to eat during the day is also imperative to a healthy diet for dancers.

Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This meal will determine your energy level for the rest of the day. Consuming a larger breakfast that is high in complex carbohydrates, moderate in protein and low in fat will keep you feeling fuller longer and energized until your next meal.  An example breakfast would be scrambled eggs, whole-wheat toast, low-fat yogurt and an orange.

Mid-Morning Snack
If you are dancing throughout the day and eat a very early breakfast and late lunch, you should consider eating a mid-morning snack. To adequately fuel your body, try eating smaller meals every three hours. This will keep you from feeling fatigued before your lunch hour arrives. An energizing snack would be an apple with peanut butter, an energy bar, crackers and cheese, yogurt, or fig bars. Choose something that has healthy carbohydrates, protein and is low in fat.”

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Source: www.livestrong.com