Taane Mete is 47 years old and a professional dancer and choreographer with the Okareka Dance Company. He has an impressive career spanning over three decades as a dancer, and is incredibly passionate about teaching others his skills. He prepares his own food every morning, whether it’s leftovers from the night before or vegetables from his garden. He’s been growing micro greens for a while — he finds it’s a fun thing to do and an easy way to get nutrients into his day.
Would he say his diet is typical of others in his profession? “Yes. As dancers we have to keep our bodies in top condition— we train hard every day so we have to make sure we re-fuel the right way to keep healthy physically and mentally”
5.45am
Wake up and have a cuppa, either Dilmah or peppermint tea before yoga class.
8am
Fruit salad, 2 poached eggs on toast with juice and a cup of coffee. Dance class starts at 9.30am.
11am
Banana and apple and a cup of tea. Eating as I am rehearsing the opening sequence of Mana Wahine.
1pm
Grilled chicken thighs with salad (3 types of lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes, grated carrot and beetroot) from my organic garden, leftovers from the night before.
3pm
Chocolate!!! Just a few squares, and a cup of tea. Perfect, I definitely need this, we have been rehearsing since 2pm and won’t finish until 5.30pm
7.30pm
Roast veges with a piece of snapper and a glass of wine. Yum. It’s been a full-on day so a glass of pinot gris well earned.
Nadia Lim’s nutrition quick fix
I think if we all ate like you, we’d be full of energy and leaping from the couch into a dance! This snapshot of your diet ticks all the boxes — plenty of fruit and vegetables (and a great variety and colour), a good amount of lean protein and carbohydrate, and a little indulgence (chocolate and wine!) that you don’t feel guilty about. I get the sense that you appreciate your food and savour your treats, hence you only need a few squares of chocolate or one glass of wine to satisfy your cravings. Well done!
