”You’re a ballet dancer? I bet you have to watch what you eat, huh?” Here’s the thing yes, and yes! Well, sometimes. Some dancers don’t because they were blessed by the metabolism gods, but if you’re a mortal human like me, you do.
There’s this image that “has been changing” about how a ballet dancer should look, but let’s be honest: the pressure to have the perfect body is always there. Just ask anyone who has been to a professional ballet school or had to wear just a unitard onstage.
With that pressure comes an understanding of what you feed your body, how you want to nurture it from the inside, while staying healthy all the while. Which brings me to why I’m writing this. To be honest with you, I’m still in the process of figuring it all out, but I know what works most of the time for me.
Let’s begin with my favourite food of the day: Breakfast! I like to have one or two servings of fruit: PINEAPPLE🍍(if you know me, you know my obsession with this delicious, tropical fruit), and most of the time blueberries, which are high in antioxidants and so tasty! If blueberries aren’t available, I change it up for another type of berry. I eat these on top of Greek style plain yogurt and granola. Other options are porridge with berries, a ham and cheese omelette, or just the granola with almond milk and berries. Obviously alongside this I’m having my almond milk latte with a dash of cinnamon (it helps boost metabolism).
Lunch has to be quite a fast affair for me since I’m usually in between rehearsals and I don’t like feeling too full before I dance. I tend to have some type of protein (ham, turkey or chicken) with a side of cheese and oatcakes or corn thins. For dessert I have a protein bar and an orange. By then it’s already time to get ready for my next rehearsal.
Dinner is my most free meal, since 99% of the time it’s what Alex cooks 😂 He likes to have a protein (mostly chicken, pork or steak) with a side of vegetables (my preferred choices are broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, avocado, and corn on the cob), and most of the time I add some quinoa on the side.
I can’t live without chocolate in my life, and I’m lucky I love dark chocolate. It is meant to have anti-oxidants and is the best option for chocolate so it makes it “better for you” 😊 I also enjoy drinking homemade fruit smoothies as dessert since they’re sweet and healthy. The smoothie I enjoy the most contains: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla yogurt, orange juice, and flax seeds.
I hope this has helped a bit, nutrition is a very personal thing since every single body is a universe of its own. There are small changes you can make to your diet to start feeling healthier and more energised. For example: change bread for oat cakes, rye crisps, or corn thins; change sugar for honey, or other natural sources of sugar; and instead of having yet another cup of coffee, change it for some green tea. Small changes can go a long way!
For now I’m going to go and enjoy a Sunday roast because life is ALL about balance! 😉
Until next time,
Adriana xx
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