By Audrey Hunt, VRG Intern

With the days of long, rigorous rehearsals, pushing all my physical capacities, it is important to maintain a balanced and healthy diet as a dancer.

     I’ve been dancing for over half my life and for the majority of that time, I have maintained a vegetarian or vegan diet. I would train for at least four hours a day, on top of hours of rehearsals. I mainly trained in ballet/pointe and modern dance since I was four years old. For being from an urban city in Alaska, I have received doubts on how I will be able to maintain strength and stamina as a vegan dancer. Common questions I would get would be, “Where are you getting your   protein?” and “How do you have enough energy to last you through your day on just vegetables?”   I came to realize that it wasn’t as hard as people were making it out to be.

     Before going out to get my day started, I make sure I have breakfast. Breakfast is definitely my favorite and most important meal. I like to start with lots of water right when I wake up with something citrus, either a mandarin or a slice of lime. I always make up a hot beverage right after I’m done chugging my water.  For breakfast, I always have to have some fruit, mainly a mixture of berries. I like to put them on top of a bowl of oatmeal and chia seeds, which will help me stay full all morning. On top of that, I add a spoon full of cashew milk yogurt for some creaminess and some pumpkin seeds for extra fiber and protein. A breakfast like this is guaranteed to keep me filled up and energized until lunch.

     For me, lunch is the most diverse meal. It always varies on how much I am physically dancing that day and how much time I have. When I’m packing for lunch, I like to make something the night before, so I don’t need to hurry in the mornings. I’m a huge fan of baked sweet potatoes  and greens for the middle of the day. Sometimes if I know I’ll be working out extra hard that day    I’ll add some baked tofu as well.

     As a dancer, I live on snacks. Some days I don’t have enough time to fit in a properly sized lunch. Sliced green apples with some almond butter are my go-to when I am stuck at the studio for 10+ hours on a Saturday. Cashews and almonds are my favorite source of fuel to pack for the   middle of the day. My favorite brand of energy bars is Larabars which are sold at most Fred Meyers’ and Natural Pantry’s’ in flavors including apple pie and cookie dough. Other brands that I’m fond of are Lenny’s and Larry’s plant-based cookies. Basic chocolate chip or peanut butter is my favorite late-night studio treat.

     By the time I get home from a long day, it’s typically around 9:00 at night. I’m starving at this point and I usually try to make a dinner that won’t take more than twenty minutes to make. I love buying Don Lee’s organic chipotle frozen black bean burgers. They are always well seasoned and you can heat it up in the microwave. I usually complement that with some sliced avocado, lime, quinoa, and brown rice. If I’m extra hungry that night, I’ll also have half a baked sweet potato with coconut oil and maple syrup. It’s the perfect amount of sweetness; it’s like a dessert. If I don’t want something as filling, but still craving something sweet, I’ll eat a bowl of frozen grapes.

     As a dancer and performer, it is very important to obtain the right amount of daily nutrients within your diet. I’ve never felt fatigued or malnourished while being a vegan. This lifestyle change has actually made me lighter on my feet as a dancer. As I keep on dancing, I will always be expanding my pantry to what plants will have to offer.

For additional information, ideas, and perspectives, see:
https://www.vrg.org/teen/#athletes
https://www.vrg.org/athlete/

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