How to feed your growing dancer

Growing is hard work, and feeding a growing teenager can present big challenges for the masterchefs in our lives. Then throw a dance training schedule into the mix… We don’t blame you for scratching your head when working out how to plan your meals! To help with this all-consuming (pun intended) issue, we spoke to Sports Dietitian of 17 years, Lauren James about how to nourish a growing dancer.

“What’s unique about dancers is there’s such a high energy cost to their daily routine. Dancing requires a lot of fuel and this also needs to be balanced with the visual and aesthetic component in keeping their physique in peak condition,” she says.

So what exactly should a dancer be eating to achieve this? Lauren advises a balanced diet which prioritises the following:

Image: Dan Gold, sourced from Unsplash.com

#1. Carbs

Not the sugary variety though! When we talk carbs, we’re aiming for the good quality stuff: rice, pasta, grainy breads, quinoa, couscous, potato, sweet potato, breakfast cereals and wraps all give a dancer the long-lasting energy they need to make it through the day.

#2. Protein

Protein intake needs to be spaced out over the day, so unfortunately that giant porterhouse for dinner alone won’t cut it! Drip-feeding your protein helps the body utilise protein more effectively, aiding in recovery and growth associated with adolescence and teenage years.

#3. Good fats

Nuts, seeds, avocado, fish and eggs all contain good fats, particularly omega 3s, that have anti-inflammatory properties. Eating more of these foods will mean giving a dancer’s joints a bit of love for quicker recovery, especially in those tiny cushions in their feet and ankles.

#4. Dairy and dairy alternatives

Sustaining a bone injury is a dancer’s worst nightmare, so their calcium intake needs to be high. Aim for 3 to 4 serves a day from calcium rich foods like dairy products. If they’re at school all day, make sure you find a way to keep everything cool – an ice pack or access to a fridge (such as in our Academy building) should do just the trick.

Vegan? No problem – you’ll just need to find a calcium fortified milk alternative. Not all milk alternatives are created equal, so check the product branding to ensure they’re getting all the calcium they need. Otherwise, your dancer will need at least 3kg of broccoli to reach their daily intake!

#5. Fruits and veggies

This isn’t just important for our dancers, it’s vital for everyone to get their 2- and 5-a-day! Your immune system will thank you for it.

#6. Snacks

In a perfect world, dancers would be able to eat whenever and wherever it suited them. However, we know that’s definitely not the case when school, training, rehearsals and performing come into the picture. It’s therefore recommended to prepare plenty of snacks to keep them going through the day.

For those who prefer solid food or don’t love the sloshy feeling a liquid snack provides, try a bliss ball, sandwich or sushi – small, mighty and packed full of nutrients. For those who don’t like feeling too full right before going into the studio, try a smoothie or some fruit and yoghurt.


This advice is general in nature and does not apply to a dancer’s individual circumstances.

Enjoyed this article? Click here to read more Boys in Ballet Week content! 


Hero image: Photo by Daniel Gold, sourced from Unsplash.com.

Images: Sheri Silver, Inigo De la Maza, Caroline Attwood, Erol Ahmed, FOODISM360, Julian Hochgesang. All images are sourced from Unsplash.com.


We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and perform. Long before we performed on this land, it played host to the dance expression of our First Peoples. We pay our respects to their Elders — past, present and emerging — and acknowledge the valuable contribution they have made and continue to make to the cultural landscape of this country.

Click Anywhere to continue