The Ballerina Diet a Pro Dancer Swears By

She might look like the epitome of a lean, lithe ballerina now, but NYC Ballet principal dancer Sara Mearns says that hasn't always been the case. "In my 20s, I had such poor eating habits and struggled with my weight," she tells MyDomaine, admitting that sweet treats were her downfall. "While my metabolism does cater to these types of foods, it took me a long time to come to terms with the realities that I was sustaining myself on sweets—[I've] stopped eating them altogether," she says. "Now, I would rather eat a balanced, healthy meal than dessert."

Making healthy food choices isn't the only lesson she has learned over the years, thanks in part to a rigorous schedule as one of New York's top ballerinas. "In order to have longevity in this industry, you need to think long-term about your physical health and your mental well-being," says Mearns, who is the star of Cole Haan's new Fall 17 campaign. "I've overcome many serious and short-term injuries, learned to listen to my body, and not take it for granted."

When physical strength is at the core of your career, how do you take care of your mind and body? Ahead, Mearns lets us in on what a real day consists of in the life of a top ballerina, including the stress rituals she swears by and the foods she chooses to fuel her body with.