By Grigory Popov
I am often asked if I have a special diet regimen. I do not. I eat well and love meat, both cold cuts and steaks. Ballerinas may be more likely to diet than male dancers. I seem to be fortunate that my metabolism is naturally fast.
Dancers have to be healthy, and they always need a lot of energy. They say 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'. It is true! Apples, other fruits, berries and vegetables are full of taste and vitamins. I eat them daily year round. My favourite dinner is a steak and a garden salad, but sometimes I eat pasta and even bakery items.
I eat sushi whenever I can. I first tried sushi in Japan while touring there with Mariinsky Ballet, and I fell in love. In my native St. Petersburg they do not make top quality sushi. How lucky I was to find really good fresh sushi in Canada! It makes me happy to go for sushi in Toronto. It is SO good here!
My favourite grocery store is Loblaws. It has all the types of food I need, with such a variety of everything! Amazing! I even found buckwheat at Loblaws. I find that North Americans do not eat a lot of buckwheat but Russians eat buckwheat as a side dish with almost every meat course. Buckwheat is a grain containing lots of iron which is a must for any dancer. A gruel of buckwheat combined with onions is very healthy and improves the metabolism. The famous Soviet ballerina, Olga Lepeshinskaya, ate only buckwheat gruel for many years. And she did it on purpose - not to save money, but to remain healthy, fit, slim and strong.
While I am happy to find my usual foods in Toronto, I often go to Tim Hortons. I'll get a coffee and doughnuts or a breakfast sandwich, just like a real Canadian. :)