A Little Prep in Your Step! Meal Planning Tips for Dancers

Dancers can end up spending their entire day in the studio, rehearsal rooms and theatres. Plan ahead and make sure that your lunch box is packed with plenty of goodies! We’ve cooked up some great tips for meal planning!

Plan Ahead

Write down your meal plan for the following week.

Try and get ingredients that crossover different recipes, it’ll save you time and money. What’s your food storage situation like, does the studio have a fridge, a kettle, or something you can reheat your food with? If not, aim for foods that can keep throughout the day.

If you have to have your hot foods and there’s no microwave, toaster oven or steamer around, consider investing in a good thermos which can keep your food warm!

Make your grocery list and hit up the supermarket!

Prep, Cook and Store

After preparing and cooking your meals, be sure to store them well!

Label that tupperware! If you’ve got choreography or auditions on your mind, you can easily forget the simple things in life. Be kind to your mind, and label your meals to indicate the day you made it and which day of the week you plan on eating it. Preparing all your meals at the beginning of the week? Be sure to place the meals you plan on consuming at the end of the week in the freezer.

Invest in an insulated lunch bag and an ice pack to transport your meals. Not only will your food stay nice and fresh, but it’s also a good way to keep your dance bag clean. No one likes a spilled smoothie in their dance bag.

Pack some Snacks

Fuel yourself throughout the day with some snacks.

Hydration nation! It’s important to always pack your water bottle. A little tip for those who experience muscle cramps: bring a banana for potassium, and hydration tablets or coconut water to replenish your electrolytes.

Snacking sometimes gets a bad reputation, but if you fuel your body with nutritious and energising foods throughout the day, you’ll be boosting your metabolism and performing better.

Out of snack ideas? Read our article H-Anger Management: 10 Snack Ideas for Dancers On-the-Go!

Now that your stomach is satisfied, you’ll be ready to conquer the stage! All it takes is a little bit of Marie Kondo-esque organisation. Have fun in the kitchen and happy planning!