Eat Like a Ballerina
There’s a reason ballet-inspired workouts are so hot right now: ballerinas have seriously [...]
Megan Fairchild, Principal Dancer at New York City Ballet, on the importance of snacking: "I always need to replenish while I'm exercising."
Breakfast:
English muffin with goat cheese, prosciutto, sautéed spinach and two poached eggs, with banana and coffee with milk
Lunch:
Vegan sandwich and a green juice
Snacks:
Granola bar, fruit, yogurt, green juice
Dinner:
Fish tacos with grilled shrimp and salad
Dessert:
Two or three dark chocolate squares
Gretchen Smith, Corps de Ballet with New York City Ballet, on the importance of listening to your body: "I eat what I'm craving—whether it's steak, pasta, Mexican, tapas or a big salad."
Breakfast:
Latte and half an egg, sausage and cheese sandwich on a bagel or croissant
Snack:
Rest of sandwich, or protein bar and fruit
Lunch:
BLT sandwich or a bowl of soup
Snack:
Yogurt, fruit, dark chocolate
Dinner:
Steak or pasta and an avocado
Craig D. Black Jr. and Kevin J. Shannon, Dancers with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, on the benefits of batch cooking: "I'll make a dish to last two or three meals; I just change up the vegetables."
Breakfast:
Egg and cheese on an English muffin, or a smoothie and a bowl of whole grain cereal
Lunch:
Leftovers, like lasagna
Snacks:
KIND bars, fruit, nuts
Dinner:
A salad with chicken and avocado
Post-show treat:
Diner food, like matzoh ball soup, a burger, or poutine
It turns out these dancers don't eat very differently than the rest of us! They all ensure their meals have a balance of carbs, proteins, and fats, they recognize the importance of snacking for sustained energy (something you definitely need if you're dancing for a living!), and they allow themselves some all-important treats during the week, especially after a big show.
This is a sustainable, healthy diet for most people to follow, though the number of snacks you need to consume in one day depends on your activity level and metabolism. If you've seen Black Swan, you might think that all dancers eat are eggs and fruit, but these dancers prove that healthy carbs, fats, and proteins are essential to ensuring your body is strong enough to withstand all the activities you have planned for your day, whether those include pirouettes or not.
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