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We often associate food with our abilities on stage: strength, mental clarity, and endurance are just some of the performance benefits of a balanced plate. But what about the impact of sleep on our performance potential? An insufficient night of sleep can have detrimental effects on a dancer’s well-being. In fact, certain foods and even […]

Dancers are especially vulnerable to the development of disordered eating and eating disorders. It’s essential that they seek qualified advice for appropriate nutrition intervention and prevention. With an abundance of information flooding our media feeds, it’s difficult to decipher truth from trends in regards to dance nutrition, dancer health, and dancer wellness. Dancers are not just artists, they’re also athletes. Therefore, trusting credentialed professionals, such as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, helps to maximize a dancer’s strength and endurance in a way that promotes sustainable habits without the risk for injury and burnout.

Though “tips for gaining weight” is probably not the most searched question on Google, for a handful of dancers, weight gain is a necessary step towards a stronger and injury-free performance. Let’s discuss my favorite tips for a healthy weight gain!

I often discuss the importance of abundance and variety throughout a dancer’s day. Three balanced meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) help to build the basic framework for any dancer’s fueling plan, and most often, adding 1, 2, or even 3 snacks to the mix is essential to sustain a dancer’s energy for busier days. However, busy schedules filled with classes and back-to-back rehearsals can make this an impractical goal.

You’re walking along the aisles of your supermarket and stop upon what seems like an endless supply of bread. Without hesitation, you spot a darker loaf that reads “Made With Whole Grains and Seeds.” You skim the back label and add it to your bag. Within the same minute, you second-guess your choice for a more appealing fluffier “white” loaf but since you’ve read that fiber is “healthy,” you skip it and move on. Was your bread choice the right one? If you’ve ever felt conflicted around your food choices, then it’s time we dissect the reasons behind them.

I often stress the importance of making time in your schedule to sit back, relax, and enjoy the mindful experience of a meal. However, busy days are bound to fill our schedules, especially during the summer intensive season. It’s in these instances when meal planning becomes key to a dancer’s diet. Since intense dance schedules can leave hunger cues unnoticeable, planning meals and snacks is critical for preventing energy dips and appetite surges later in the day.

Dancers are artists. They’re also athletes and as a result, must actively stay ahead of their schedules in order to promote longlasting energy for hours of rehearsals and performances. From what foods you eat to how you eat throughout the day, there are several factors that can impact or impede your energy levels. Let’s discuss a few tips to ensure that you’re building a high-powered performance throughout the day.

Since dancers are at a unique risk for falling into restrictive eating styles due to the unequivocal pressures of body aesthetics, it can be tempting to use such a diagnosis as a socially acceptable means to control body weight. But if you have been diagnosed with a food intolerance, food sensitivity, or food allergy, then you’ll want to prevent your restrictions from crossing paths with disordered eating. To do so, here are 3 steps to consider while navigating your diet…

The thought of feeling “not hungry” might seem far-fetched to those familiar with a larger appetite. But hunger varies substantially from person-to-person. Missing hunger cues can happen for a number of reasons, leaving those who are trying to fuel their body confused throughout the day. If you can relate, let’s discuss a few reasons why your hunger might be M.I.A. From there, we can pinpoint a cause and work on a solution.

As a licensed dietitian and a certified coach of Intuitive Eating, calories are an important topic that I love to hate and, well, hate to love. Similar to weight loss, the discussion of calories often comes with its fair share of varying perspectives and beliefs. And because calories are a widely confusing and sometimes misguided topic, I want to cover a few common questions.