It's Time to Dispel the Myth of "Ideal" Dancer Weight

As a dietitian specializing in dance nutrition, the most common DM flooding my inbox is “How can I drop pounds (specifically from body fat) and gain muscle?” The short answer? Not happening. The more we attempt to control the number on the scale, the more we risk developing physiological, biological and psychological deterrents that can […]

No, Dancers Don't Need to Swear Off Bread

Despite what you might think, there’s no reason for dancers to be afraid of bread. “It’s looked at as this evil food,” says New York State–certified dietitian and former dancer Tiffany Mendell. But the truth is, unless you have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, bread can be a healthy source of carbohydrates—our body’s preferred […]

The Worst Nutrition Advice This Dance Dietitian Has Ever Heard

When it comes to what you should be eating, rumors often catch on like wildfire. Dietitian Rachel Fine, who works with dancers in New York City, shares the most misguided nutrition strategies she’s recently encountered. Rumor: Drink Bulletproof Coffee Every Morning. Give your body carbs when it wakes up. Photo by Mikesh Kaos/Unsplash Reality: The […]

Is the Ketogenic Diet Safe for Dancers?

Although the ketogenic diet has been around since the 1920s as an epilepsy treatment for children, it’s experiencing a new wave of popularity. Thanks in part to social media, where “healthy” keto-friendly recipe videos are going viral, the high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet is gaining ground. But is it safe for dancers? We checked in with Rachel […]

Hungry? Jittery? Bloated? Don't Make These Pre-Performance Nutrition Mistakes

Despite how many hours dancers spend in rehearsal getting performance-ready, many overlook one last crucial detail: the show-day nutrition plan. “It’s all about preparation,” says Emily C. Harrison, a former dancer who now runs Dancer Nutrition, LLC. “To have a good performance, you give your time to rehearsals and making sure your body is in […]