Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 8/6/2008

Question
Hello, Diane
My eleven yeat old daughter goes to a dance school.  She is in the preprofessional program.  She is doing well but could do better if she had more energy and strength. I feel she lacks both because of poor diet. What is a good diet for her? Also, what are good energy snacks? I don't know much about those energy bars.

Answer
Hi Janet.

This is a big topic, and I hope you don't feel put off if I suggest you look at a place where I've written a lot about diet for dancers, which is:

http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com

There is so much to explain and try to convince dancers to eat well, regarding proteins, omega 3 oils, and so much more.

Good energy snacks are fresh vegetables like celery with a little cheese or peanut butter. - Or jerky made from good beef with no food additives.

Energy bars are junk, lots of carbs. I still haven't found one that's edible on a regular basis.

If you review all my articles about diet, you'll get the whole picture and can formulate diet for her from that. In fact, it would be good for the whole family (not to assume you don't feed your family well!).

It's great that you are supportive of your daughter and are willing to research all this. I am not the definitive guru on diet, but add some important details to common sense, or I do my best!

Please feel free to ask me further if there's anything you'd like explained further. Also, 2 books that are extremely well written are "Protein Power" By M.D.'s Eades and Eades, and "Slow Burn" by Frederick Hahn (who worked with Eades and Eades) which elaborates on the protein power in relation to athletes.

I hope this helps, for now, and all the best, Dianne