Camilla Sacre-Dallerup
The Danish judge of Dancing with the Stars NZ has a long relationship with New Zealand. The former professional dancer rst visited in 1999 when she and Kiwi partner Brendan Cole won our national championships in Latin dance.
Have your eating habits changed since retiring from professional dancing? I don’t think so. My mum raised me on homemade cooking and although I love chocolate and biscuits, I tend to make healthy choices, as they give me more energy and I feel better. I don’t have to eat as much now as when I was competing, so my diet is less carb-heavy.
Did you avoid certain foods or drinks before dancing? Fizzy sugary drinks are an absolute no-no for me before performing. I wouldn’t even drink one before going on to judge on Dancing with the Stars. I like hot water before any exercise as it helps warm my body from the inside out. Bananas have always been a staple before performing.
What’s a favourite childhood food memory from Denmark? Sitting down as a family every Friday and having a selection of our favourite sh dishes: herring, sh llets, sh cakes, smoked eel, prawns and smoked salmon with rye bread. To this day, when I go home, we all gather and do that.
Do you make a priority of healthy eating? Yes, but enjoying life is also a priority. I live by the saying, “Everything in moderation”.
What’s your typical breakfast? Today, I had a pain au chocolat and an espresso.
What about lunch? Avocado on toast.
What’s your favourite evening meal? Sushi, or anything my hubby [British actor Kevin Sacre] cooks. What about snacks? Bananas, berries, nuts, dates, chocolate, biscuits, protein shakes or bars.
What nutrition advice have you found helpful? How our thoughts after we’ve eaten something we believe is a “naughty treat” can negatively a ect the body. If you eat a doughnut, you’re better o enjoying it rather than feeling guilty about it. Negative feelings make the body release cortisol, a stress hormone, and it becomes a double bad. My dad always said: “Slow down and enjoy your food.”