What does a healthy and easy breakfast look like? Building a nutritious breakfast starts the day with the tools your body needs for an energized and productive morning. The following recipes are a compilation of favorites to enjoy. Bookmark this page as we’re adding new recipes to the list monthly!
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Should I Attend A Summer Dance Intensive?
According to a recent poll I shared on Instagram, 70% of dancers who are considering a summer intensive are most anxious over how to fuel while away. This is especially concerning since summer intensives are a common site where disordered eating habits emerge.
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How Can Food Impact My Mood?
The potential association between disordered eating and certain mood states like depression, fatigue, and confusion has been examined among dancers. Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of the American youth is worsening, and the need for treatment surpasses what is available. But while the complexities of mental health span beyond this article, there is a large body of research examining the impact of what we eat on our moods.
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Is Food Addiction Real?
Do you feel like you’re always thinking about your next meal? Do thoughts about what you “should” and “shouldn’t” eat play on repeat in your mind? Or, perhaps, it’s your fear of “once I start I’ll never stop!” In this article, we’re not just debunking the MYTH, yes, MYTH of food addiction, but we’re also diving into what it actually means to be obsessed with food, why food obsession happens, and how to FINALLY stop these obsessive thoughts.
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Is A Vegan Diet Healthy For Dancers
We can all benefit from including plants on our plate, but what about a dancer who is aiming for a lifestyle that’s 100% plant-based? A dancer’s, especially an adolescent dancer’s, nutritional needs are higher than the average person’s. Is it doable to follow a vegan diet and meet these extensive nutritional needs? Furthermore, since we’re all about food freedom here, is it possible to follow such restrictions and still maintain a positive relationship towards ALL foods?
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How To Overcome Stress & Fatigue
It’s common for dancers to find themselves exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. Balancing a packed dance schedule with academic coursework is hard enough. Chronic fatigue can be detrimental to your health, well-being, and your ability to perform to your greatest potential. While a dancer’s schedule is notoriously difficult to manage, you owe it to your mind, body, and soul to find moments to breathe.
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What Is A Ballet Body? Responding to Triggers
How we define a “ballet body” is finally getting the opposition it deserves, with high-profile dancers speaking out against it. So when the title, “What Is A Ballet Body?” popped into my feed, I immediately clicked to read. The article delivers a lot, but amidst this hope lurks some very concerning content. Here are my thoughts.
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How To Stop Feeling Guilty After Eating
There was a time in my life when I avoided dessert because I believed, “the guilt just wasn’t worth the bite.” My food guilt was so severe that thoughts about eating the bag of M&Ms consumed me for DAYS after eating them. And while this mental parade of guilt was exhausting, it always made its way into my brain, especially after another bout of “failed willpower” from an otherwise “clean” diet. But in my pursuit away from restrictive eating behaviors I overcame this food guilt, and today, I’m going to teach you how to do the same.
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A Dancer’s Guide to A “Perfect” Plate
“Perfection,” in the context of food, can lead us down a path of unsustainable eating habits. In pursuit of perfecting performance, dancers are especially swayed by the illusion of a “perfect” or “clean” diet. Labels like “good foods” and “bad foods” foster a negative experience while eating. The creation of food rules further leads to a cycle of guilt, anxiety, and stress surrounding all foods.
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3 Reasons Why You Need To Stop Avoiding “Empty Calories”
I’ve come to learn that food does much more than fuel our physical performance. And while nutrient-dense foods are essential for an active dancer’s meal plan, it’s equally as important for dancers to make room for ALL foods, even those “less-nourishing” ones. Here’s why:
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A Dancer’s Guide to Caffeine
If you’re a dancer who needs your morning dose of caffeine, then you might be wondering whether your daily habit is benefiting your performance or hindering it. And with lots of opinions, some dancers might feel the pressure to give up coffee (and caffeine) altogether. Let’s address a few common questions before you finalize your decision.
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Fear of Weight Gain
If you follow me on Instagram, then you’re likely toying with the idea of demolishing your food restrictions. You’re sick of that cycle: the restrictive mindset that leads you out-of-control around food. But despite this, there’s one major thing holding you back from taking the plunge into intuitive eating: you’re really, really, REALLY scared that you’ll gain weight.
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A Dancer’s Guide: Identify & Unravel Perfectionism
High expectations and striving to perfect the imperfect creates an environment prone to obsessive tendencies and comparative behaviors. And while this interesting trait can seem motivating, those who strive for an unattainable perfection often feel inferior and therefore, limited.
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Stress Less When Returning to The Studio
The stress of returning to the studio following prolonged periods of isolation and quarantine can be overwhelming. As a result, dancers might turn to coping mechanisms as a way to manage future unknowns. While it’s critical to consider safety guidelines for returning to the studio, dancers should also understand how to prevent injury when easing back into dancing shape. Here are a few tips for when it’s time to return to in-person classes.
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How To Choose A Healthy Snack Bar
Whole food snack combos are an essential part of a dancer’s meal plan. But with little time to build a balanced snack during performance season, convenience is key. Snack bars are therefore practical and readily available when hunger strikes unexpectedly. Keeping an emergency snack bar in your dance bag at all times is a great way to ensure that your body remains properly fueled throughout the day.
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Tiny Pretty Things – A Review
With the pilot laying the groundwork for the most common dancer stereotypes, I had some concerns. But then I kept watching… and realized something big
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Cross Training: How Much Is Too Much?
There was a time when I couldn’t get enough of ballet, a time when I hated ballet, and a time when I missed ballet. Throughout these times, I learned that my disordered eating was coupled with my growing addiction to exercise. Whether it’s classes and rehearsals or cross-training routines, getting enough physical activity in the day is never our issue. What’s more of an issue, however, is knowing how much is too much.
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Can Frozen Food Be Healthy?
For busy dancers, frozen foods might just be the saving grace of a post-performance recovery meal. But from a nutrition perspective, these can be hit or miss with higher-than-recommended sodium counts and questionable ingredients. We can, however, consider a few helpful tips to turn frozen meals into a nourishing option.
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A Dancer’s Metabolism: Here’s What You Should Know
If you’re wondering about your metabolism and how it works, then chances are you might also have questions about your body weight, whether that’s regarding weight loss, weight gain, or weight maintenance. Perhaps you’ve been told that you have a “slow” metabolism or a “fast” metabolism.
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A Dancer’s Shopping Guide: Groceries
Navigating your grocery aisles can be intimidating. Endless options of any one type or brand of food can be daunting. As dancers continue to experience financial strain throughout the current global pandemic, access to quality food options is made even more stressful. But how can dancers continue to fuel optimally despite these obstacles? Here are 3 key steps…
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