Eating healthy is a priority for dancers. Not only thinking about what you eat but also making sure you are eating enough to fuel your body for complex movements and long hours of dance is an important part of being an athlete. When your busy life, from school to dance to you time, makes it difficult to eat right, meal-prepping is the meal and snack equivalent of picking your outfit the night before!
Busy Schedule Meet Meal Prep
Start with the day-to-day schedule you already have. Knowing where you are going to be and what breaks you have makes it easier to figure out how many meals you need to make in advance. Every day doesn’t have to be the same! Some days might need three meals and snacks while on other days, you only need to prep breakfast and lunch. Don’t forget to plan a time to prep your meals! Before bed—it really is just like picking an outfit—is often a good time so everything is fresh the next day.
The Faves List
When it comes to meal planning, Pinterest is your best friend. There are endless ideas on what to meal prep and how to do it. Some common simple ones include cheese and crackers, protein boxes, and mini vegetable trays. If you’re up for a little cooking, you can also find recipes for making all of your favorites from loaded salads to spaghetti. Whatever you make, keep a list of the things you most enjoy making and eating, so when it’s time to plan you can check your “Faves List” for ideas.
Grocery Run
We’re dancing to the grocery store! Grab a piece of paper or your phone and write down what ingredients (and how much of each) you need for your prep. To make your trip faster and more organized, sort your list into categories such as produce, meat, and dairy. Meal prep is about convenience, so you don’t want to be aimlessly wandering the store!
That’s it, dancer! Now make something delicious!
