Austin Improv

Eating-wise, what works for you with regards to getting your energy levels up before rehearsals or shows?

I've been doing research off and on into what to eat and when for maximum energy before rehearsals and shows. I can't find much specific to theatrical performances, so I've been reading about sports.

The general consensus seems to be that you should try to eat your large meal about 3 to 4 hours before gametime... err, showtime. And that carbs are good for energy.

But doing a show is a little different than running up and down a field for an hour.

What say you?

The Ideal Diet for High Energy & General Health
by Madeline M., Esq.

Foods to eat:
Proteins like chicken, tofu, almonds.
Whole grains like brown rice and quinoa.
Vegetables like greens, asparagus, broccoli, salads.
Also, sprouts are an AMAZING source of energy. You're basically eating tiny plant babies. And they're delish.

Foods to avoid:
Wheat, caffeine, most grains, sugar (including natural fruit sugars, esp. in concentrated amounts, i.e. juice)
These cause your body systems to go on a crazy upper-downer rollercoaster journey of mayhem, so you may find yourself crashing at a most inopportune show moment.

How to eat:
1. Drink your foods, chew your drinks. Chewing until your foods are liquid helps your body assimilate nutrients and digest smoothly.

2. Eat only until 80% full. Confucius said it way the eff back in 500 BC, and modern docs support this. Think of your digestive system as a stove. If you stuff a stove too full with wood*, all it produces is smoke. If you put the right amount of wood in your furnace, it becomes an efficient energy source.

3. Eat in small amounts throughout the day. Furnace metaphor.

*Suggestion box for "wood" jokes is officially...semi-closed.

Well if you're like me you've been eating your whole life. You've probably figured out what your body likes and dislikes. I just eat a medium amount of what I know my body likes, and I do it about 2 or 3 hours before a show.

Every body is different. That's the title of my documentary where I eat only McDonalds for a month and end up totally fine. We filmed it last year while on the road.

An apple on the way to the theater always = good show.

I just avoid dairy. Don't need to be phlegming up during a show.

Asaf said

Don't need to be phlegming up during a show.

Would that be Peter Phlegming?

I almost always have a really big coffee or red bull upon arriving at the theater, burn a lot of nervous energy in the hour before the show, then have to poop really bad right before I go on stage.

Anyone from The Starter Kit can confirm this.

I'm not sure if it is the ideal preparation.

Yes, caffeine is key.

I like to play hungry, I eat after shows. I think it's a weird blood sugar thing but food is like Valium to me. Everything slows down and I get foggy after meals.

So there you go - heavily caffeinated with mild hunger pangs = sharp.

mpbrockman wrote:Yes, caffeine is key.

I like to play hungry, I eat after shows. I think it's a weird blood sugar thing but food is like Valium to me. Everything slows down and I get foggy after meals.

So there you go - heavily caffeinated with mild hunger pangs = sharp.

I work the same way.

The Zimmerman Diet:

-Energy Drink (preferably an Amp Recharge or Rockstar Punched) - caffeine content
-Beef jerky (preferably Jack Links Prime Rib) or Fast Food - protein/fat content
-Chocolate/Chips/Junk food - Carbohydrates

Preferably, I like to keep my foods 1/2 protein content, 1/4 carb content, and 1/4 fat content, somewhat based on the Zone diet.

I have a banana and some OJ before every show I do at the Hideout. It's usually the healthiest meal I've had all week.

Spaztique wrote:The Zimmerman Diet:

-Energy Drink (preferably an Amp Recharge or Rockstar Punched) - caffeine content
-Beef jerky (preferably Jack Links Prime Rib) or Fast Food - protein/fat content
-Chocolate/Chips/Junk food - Carbohydrates

Preferably, I like to keep my foods 1/2 protein content, 1/4 carb content, and 1/4 fat content, somewhat based on the Zone diet.

bro, you forgot freezer pops.

I get all stabby if I don't eat at regular intervals. My cholesterol was almost high last year. I went on a 'caveman' diet(google it) for six months. When I went back, my cholesterol had dropped 20 points(that's really good).

So...there's that.

I have to eat small portions every few hours. I get hypo glycemic if I don't. Not conducive to creative flow.