What Is Practical Hunger? A Dancer’s Guide to Proactive Fueling
Practical hunger is one of the five hunger cues that dancers can work to identify throughout any given day. Unlike more obvious hunger cues like stomach pains, practical hunger relies on flexible meal planning to prevent extremes. It’s a key tenet of The Healthy Dancer®, and it supports performance, recovery, and overall well-being.
Read More…
Dancers and Overeating
If you’re a dancer who feels stuck in a loop of “good” days and “bad” nights, know this: you are not doing anything wrong. You’re likely underfed, overtrained, and emotionally taxed. This article will help you understand why dancers “over-eat,” how that differs from binge eating, and how to stop swinging between feeling extremely in control and completely out of control around food. Spoiler: the answer is rebuilding trust with your body.
Read More…
How to spot diet culture: the disguise of “Anti-Diet” and “Food Freedom”
From calorie-counting apps to color-coded food systems, many of today’s so-called “wellness” tools promise to help you eat smarter, manage your weight, or develop healthier habits. But look closer, and you’ll find a familiar pattern: restriction disguised as lifestyle advice. I previously unpacked how clean eating glorifies restriction. I’ve also shared a how-to guide for identifying five red flags of ‘anti-diet food freedom’ fraud. However, while the branding evolves, the harm persists, and this article reveals three key fundamentals you should be aware of regarding these trends.
Read More…
Recovery Buy-In: Is Your Dancer Ready for Nutrition Support?
Knowing if a dancer is ready to heal their relationship with food can be confusing. If you’re a parent or dance educator, You’re not alone in asking, “is my dancer ready to heal their relationship with food?” The answer lies in a concept we call buy-in— and it’s more complex (and compassionate) than it sounds. Let’s break down what buy-in means, what it can look like in a dancer, and how to encourage it with patience, compassion, and trust.
Read More…
Can Dancers Create A Healthy Relationship with Food?
Your relationship with food is more than what’s on your plate— it’s the foundation of a sustainable, fulfilling dance career. And while “positive” might sound ideal, it can also feel unrealistic— especially if you’re struggling. That’s why I encourage dancers to aim for a working relationship with food: one that evolves, grows, and supports you through every stage of your journey. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help dancers build a healthier, more functional relationship with food.
Read More…
Emotional Eating for Dancers: 5 Strategies to Navigate It Without Shame
The act of eating is emotional, and that’s not a flaw. It’s a fact of being human. And for dancers, who exist in high-pressure, body-conscious environments, this connection often runs even deeper. In this article, we’ll explore the #1 reason dancers turn to food emotionally, along with a practical, compassionate roadmap for navigating emotional eating.
Read More…
