A ballerina has revealed what she eats every day so that she has enough energy and nutrients to perform professionally.
English dancer and trainer Sassy (Saskia) Gregson-Williams, 21, let Sporteluxe inside how she stocks her kitchen.
First thing in the morning she drinks hot water with lemon to start up her metabolism followed by a big green smoothie mid-morning after completing a workout.
‘I don’t eat before 11am on most days, this principle is the same as intermittent fasting and whilst I have no hard rules (If I’m starving I’ll eat!), having a shorter eating window has proved to be really beneficial for my cravings, digestion and energy,’ she told the publication.
English dancer and trainer Sassy (Saskia) Gregson-Williams, 21, has let Sporteluxe inside how she stocks her kitchen
Sassy’s favourite healthy beverage is an ice cold green smoothie and the item she must have in her kitchen at all times is liquid aminos.
Liquid aminos has been touted as a healthier alternative to tamari and soy sauce that haven’t been fermented and has a rich umami flavour.
Sassy said it’s particularly delicious on stir-fries and salads and she uses it to make her leftovers ‘delicious’.
If she’s looking for a treat she will reach for the vegan cookies and cream ice-cream from Van Leeuwen’s.
She explained that she won’t often eat before 11am, which is the same principle as intermittent fasting, but if she’s starving she’ll eat
The dancer likes to bake her own dairy-free treats, one of her favourites being Almond Joy Cookie Bars
Before bed she will usually have a rooibos tea but if she’s feeling peckish she will eat a bowl of oatmeal or have almond butter with banana.
Previously speaking to Women’s Health the 21-year-old said ballet meant everything to her when she was a young teenager but she wouldn’t eat much, only snacks to keep her going.
She explained that she thought low-fat foods would help her obtain a small ‘ballet body’ which would help her land more roles.
Her favourite healthy beverage is an ice cold green smoothie and the item she must have in her kitchen at all times is liquid aminos
Previously the 21-year-old said ballet meant everything to her when she was a young teenager but she wouldn’t eat much, only snacks to keep her going
During one particular rehearsal she rolled over her ankle and tore her ligaments due to exhaustion and the lack of nutrients.
The injury meant she had to take time of dancing, which she said took a toll on both her mental and physical health.
‘I was getting steroid shots in my ankle to help it heal faster and pushing through pain trying keep up with the other dancers during my hiatus,’ Sassy said.
‘All the while, I wasn’t eating nearly enough. I was spiralling into depression, and no matter what I did, my ankle wasn’t fully healing.
‘I was getting steroid shots in my ankle to help it heal faster and pushing through pain trying keep up with the other dancers during my hiatus,’ Sassy said
It was her sister who gave her the wake-up call she needed, telling the dancer that she wasn’t looking after herself.
Eventually Sassy started eating the right amount of nutrient-dense foods and fuelled her body with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
She cut out refined sugar and instead focused on fresh produce, grains, and other whole foods.
Now Sassy is pescatarian and dairy-free, which she said has given her more energy than ever before.