Illustration by Kat Frick Miller
Training for the National Ballet of Canada’s March season, Keaton Leier is preparing to perform in two ballets over the next month, one of which includes the celebrated classic Swan Lake.
The 28-year-old dancer’s day typically involves three-hour morning and afternoon rehearsals and usually an evening performance of one of the shows.
“When we’re in theatre mode, my day usually starts at 10 a.m. and I won’t be done until 11 p.m.,” says Leier.
To ensure he performs at his best, the National Ballet’s second soloist strategizes snacks and meals throughout his 13-hour day to keep himself nourished.
Concrete evidence on how much energy a professional ballet dancer uses throughout their day is difficult to find. But one study that looked at the daily self-reported energy of female dancers found that they typically burned between 3,154 to 3,571 calories a day, compared with the average woman who needs about 2,000 calories a day.
To give him energy, Leier eats a balanced diet rich in protein and starts his day with eggs, a simple toast and spinach. Throughout the day, he relies on a protein shake with spinach, bananas, chia seeds, turmeric and black pepper, and a lot of chicken, rice and vegetables to keep him going.
“I’m also very environmentally conscious with my diet, so I try to stick to protein sources like chicken or turkey, which are less environmentally impactful than beef or pork,” says Leier, who is also a co-founder of the Artists Climate Collective, a project he started with other fellow dancers to raise environmental awareness.
How I save money on groceries: I save money by meal-prepping for the weekdays. I try to shop at Farm Boy, mostly because that’s where I tend to find the best deals for good-quality stuff. It’s in my neighbourhood. I also live about 25 minutes – walking – to work, so by keeping everything nearby, I can save on transportation.
How I splurge on groceries: I usually have one day a week that I consider my “cheat day.” I’ll usually go out with friends and be more social, and I’ll splurge on a meal out.
The hardest shopping habit to keep up: I really like to buy cooking ingredients and other household items in bulk at a local grocery store called Unboxed Market. They sell all sorts of things in bulk where you can bring your own refillable container. They have amazing options but it’s a bit further away (since I moved) so it’s hard for me to keep that up.
How I’ve changed my eating habits recently: I no longer eat red meat, pork or ocean-caught fish and crustaceans. All of these for the reason of their environmental impact and how farming or fishing affects climate change.
Five items always in my cart:
- Kombucha – GT’s Living Foods – $3.49: I love the taste of this kombucha. It’s the first one I tried, and it’s what got me hooked on kombucha. I really feel like the probiotics help my stomach.
- Chocolate-chip protein bars – NuGo Dark – $3.99: I’m really picky with my protein bars, I’ve been using these for a while – but would love to try some Canadian alternatives. They give me energy throughout my rehearsals.
- Bananas – $0.99/pound: I usually toss these in my smoothies. The carbohydrates give me energy throughout my day.
- Spinach – Earthbound Farm Organic – $5.50: This is another ingredient I toss into my daily smoothie. I was vegetarian for a while before I realized I wasn’t getting enough energy from only plant-based foods, but spinach became a staple for me during that time. It’s a good source of iron, has a lot of antioxidants and I enjoy the taste.
- Dark-chocolate hazelnut bars – Ritter Sport – $4: I’m very guiltily addicted to chocolate. I need something sweet after dinner. This one has pretty simple ingredients and I love the hazelnut for the crunch.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Keaton Leier is preparing to perform in four ballets over the next month. He will perform in two ballets. This version has been updated.