"Eat Clean and Dance Dirty"
That's the phrase stated boldly across the tshirts my home dance studio sells. The phrase takes on many meanings but I love the implications especially since I take pole dancing classes at the studio. Considering the phrase, it wasn't long before I began noticing a lot of my pole dancing friends, including myself adhere to one version of a clean diet; many of us are vegans. There's just something about those veggies that fuels our bodies and makes us look and feel so incredibly sexy....especially as we dance. Oh, right. Nutrients! Knowing the value of a clean diet, I have tried eating mostly vegetarian or vegan foods, on and off, over the years. In addition to the way clean eating physically makes me feel, this summer I was also influenced by a book I read about the ethics of animal rights. It inspired me to be more consistent with making plant-based eating choices.
QUICK & EASY MEAL INSPIRATION
Quinoa Veggie Salad - I cook a lot quinoa inspired meals. I usually throw something together like:
- Quinoa
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Kale
- Beans (I like to experiment and try all different kinds, like pinto, red, black and others)
Vegan Tacos - I also like to make this as a quick meal. Ingredients include:
- Corn tortillas
- Avocado
- Black beans
- Vegan Shredded Cheese
I'll use extra-virgin olive oil in the pan while preparing the tacos, for the antioxidants and healthy fats. Or, I'll drizzle olive oil over my quinoa and veggie plate.
SUPER SIMPLE SEXY SMOOTHIE - I LOVE making smoothies! I usually combine the following ingredients in a blender:
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Almond Milk
- Acai (They sell them in convenient one-serving packets at health food stores)
- Flax Seed or Hemp Seed. (Bonus ingredient I sometimes add for extra nutrients.)
- Kale or Other Greens (Another bonus ingredient I sometimes add! Drinking my veggies is one of the most delicious and quick ways to get my nutrients)
SWEET SUCCULENT SNACKS - When I'm craving sweet food, I go for:
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
Slice the strawberries and bananas, combine them with the berries in a bowl, and eat them just like that. Sometimes I drizzle agave on top of them, but the fruits are naturally sweet so adding sweetener isn't really necessary.
DELICIOUS DRINK OPTIONS I've become a big fan of beverages with health-boosting properties. I'll drink alkaline water, lemon water, beet juice, carrot juice, veggie juice that includes ginger, kombucha, chia seed beverages and apple cider vinegar beverages. Nourishing my body in these ways gives me clean, sustained energy. It gets me through taking three or four dance classes in a row on most nights, after busy days of work. When I stray from eating this way, I notice that I get crazy breakouts. Sometimes in place of fruits and veggies, I might have a lot more starches (like bread and pasta), empty carbs and desserts. I'm trying a lot harder these days not to stray. I'd much rather eat clean and then dance dirty.
Have you seen benefits from trying a plant-based, vegetarian or vegan diet? What are your favorite easy recipes for plant-based, vegetarian or vegan diets?
Tinie writes about sexuality, open relationships and pole dancing at DanceTinyFox.com. Her favorite hobbies are conducting life experiments and writing about them. Tinie is also an active member of the #PDBloggers.
Editor's Note: This blog post is how Tinie personally feels about healthy eating options. If you find you are able to eat clean by eating a meat based diet or strictly fruit based diet or any other way, your experience and views are just as valid as her's. The Bodybinds brand is not trying to tell you how to eat. Tinie has found her own way to eat clean and dance dirty and if it inspires or helps you, how very awesome!