The Food Diary of a Dance Student

Peek inside the life of full-time student Alexandra McMaster at the Stuttgarter Ballet's John Cranko Schule in Germany.

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Hi everyone, my name is Alexandra McMaster, I am a fulltime dance student and passionate food blogger.

My love for being in the kitchen first came about when I wanted to create delicious meals that were not only fulfilling and nourishing, but would also give me the fuel to perform at my best! Hence, why I created my food blog, Ballerina Bites.

The food that I enjoy comes under the title "whole foods" – that is, foods that are as close to their most natural form as possible. There are definitely no restrictions to eating this way, and my recipes always combine a healthy balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

The Day ~

6:30 am Pre-breakfast:

I am definitely a morning person and always begin my day with a big glass of water, and a cup of green tea, which is very hydrating and refreshing. This is consumed while doing my hair and makeup. My favourite green tea infusions are Jasmine, Lemon or Ginger.

7:00 am Breakfast:

‘Oh my dearest breakfast’, my favourite meal of the day! If you look through the archives on my blog, you'll no doubt see that most of my food creations fall into this category.

One of my first breakfast creations and one I still whip up each week is my delicious Creamy Nutty Choccy Oats…. A heavenly mix of, banana, creamy peanut butter, bittersweet goji berries, and the chocolaty goodness of raw cacao powder.

Some other of my favourite breakfasts include:

· Banana Raspberry Turmeric Porridge, (A natural anti-inflammatory)

· Chia Pudding (premade the previous night)

Alexandra's Banana, Rasberry and Tumeric Porridge

8:00 am:

After a 15minute walk to the studio, I prepare myself for class. This consists of a half hour warm up of strengthening exercises and light stretches.

9:00 am:

Class

Variations

Rehearsals

1:00 pm Lunch:

I like to be fairly organized, so each Sunday I prepare my lunch for the week stored in separate containers in the fridge.

My lunch includes a mix of:

· ½ cup brown rice (cooked each night and added fresh)

· ¼ avocado

· Baby spinach or rocket

· Capsicum

· Cucumber

· Mushrooms

· Cherry tomatoes

· Olives

· Corn cornels

· Homemade Hummus

· Lime and lemon wedges

· Any fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley, chives, dill or coriander

And of course… a homemade sweet treat and fresh fruit.

2:00 pm – 8:00 pm:

Contemporary

Spanish or Castanets

Rehearsals

Snacks:

I always have plenty of snacks on hand for between classes, rehearsals and performances.

· Fresh Fruit, I can eat up to three bananas a day. (A quick fix energy boost!)

· Sweet Treats (Homemade every Sunday). Goodies such as: Banana Bread, Chia Cookies, or Matcha Bliss Balls with Coconut and Cranberries

· 2 Medjool dates with a few almonds

8: 45 pm Dinner:

Like breakfast dinner is another meal I look forward too. After a 12-hour day, the last thing I want do is cook… So on a Sunday I usually cook up a large batch of comforting meals and store them in the refrigerator or freezer.

My dinners include:

· One- Pot Veggie Lentil Curry

· Soup: Pumpkin, Vegetable or Sweet Potato, Corn and Mushroom Soup served on rice, pasta or a side of toast with hummus.

· Mexican Bowls

· Falafel Wraps

I also add a fresh a side salad with every meal.

Dessert:

I like to finish the evening meal with something sweet. My current favourites are Raw Caramel Slice, raw dark chocolate or simply a fruit salad with coconut yoghurt.