Nutrition tips every dancer must know

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Dancing is a sport, and dancers are athletes. To keep an athlete's body healthy and performing well, a nutritious diet should be followed, notes Mark Hochberg, NYU dance student.

A dancer's day may include hours of training in the studio, and sometimes, they tend to skip a meal due to their busy schedule. However, skipping meals may result in poor performance or lack of focus. To stay fueled and focused throughout the day, plan to eat three full meals and two snacks, and prepare them the night before. Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables a day for your body to get vitamins and minerals needed to boost the immune system.

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Be consistent in drinking fluids—most importantly, water—to prevent dehydration. Every 15 minutes, a dancer must drink a couple of ounces of water for better performance. This is to replace sweat loss while dancing. In each meal, include proteins such as chicken, fish, Greek yogurt, and others. Healthy fats must be consumed moderately. Acting as a secondary source of energy, healthy fats can help one power through long training days.

Snack on fruits, vegetables, and fruit smoothies to help with hydration. Be sure to finish your meal or drink an hour before dancing to pre-hydrate more effectively. According to Mark Hochberg, NYU dance student, proper nutrition is key to the longevity of one's dancing career. Giving the body the vitamins and minerals that it needs can bring a dancer's performance to new heights.