While the intent behind “What I Eat in a Day” posts is often harmless, the reality is that they can lay the groundwork for a dancer’s struggle with food. Dancers are already more vulnerable to harmful food and body beliefs that risk disordered eating—adding another source for comparison can leave dancers feeling doubtful.

“My partner and I love, love, love sweet potato pie,” says TyNia René Brandon, who uses she/they pronouns. Although the soul food classic is closely associated with holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, for Brandon, who plays Dolores and is a member of the ensemble in Broadway’s Some Like It Hot, it’s timeless.

At its most basic level, a hunger cue is your body’s way of communicating a need for energy replenishment. In other words, it’s time for a meal or snack. For dancers, however, hunger cues can be less straightforward, especially when restrictive eating and/or busy schedules can cause these cues to diminish or go unnoticed.

Lindsey Jones has always loved cooking, and although pesto was in her regular rotation before starting herb school, she now has a deeper understanding of the greens—and raw garlic—involved. “I like using a variety of herbs because you get that huge diversity of nutrients and vitamins,” she says.

The concept of prepping meals in advance can be daunting for busy dancers. Add the unspoken pressures of picture-perfect meals from social feeds and you’ve got a recipe for meal-prep avoidance. But meal prep can be a vital tool for balanced nutrition—even for dancers navigating the busiest of schedules.

Food shopping can feel overwhelming as post-pandemic prices have left many dancers struggling to budget for nourishing options. Organic foods are known to be more expensive than their nonorganic counterparts. But is organic essential?

With just a few tweaks to what’s on your plate, you can construct a supportive fueling plan to level up your routine and alleviate any unnecessary stress from audition season.

Broughton’s oven-baked pork ribs are a favorite for holidays, game days or gatherings of family and friends. “It’s a dish that can feed multiple people, and it’s a very homey, feel-good meal” he says, adding that he sees sharing food as a chance to bring people together.