Meet Mel Cabey of the Not So Starving Artist
I don't want to write too much here because I am SO eager for you to read Mel's responses. They are so refreshing, kind, smart and inspirational. As a fellow performer, it gives me so much hope for our industry's future to have someone like Mel in the position to educate performers. It is clear she speaks from her own experiences as a dancer, and has taken it upon herself to ensure her peers are healthy both in mind and in body. I hope her answers resonate with you as much as they did with me!
Where did the inspiration to start your own business come from?
I've always been extremely interested in learning about nutrition and how to properly fuel my body. I think that came from being around performers throughout college and beyond who were always doing different fad diets or following certain "food rules". My gut instinct always told me that what my fellow performers were doing could not actually be good for their bodies. I would always do tons of research about nutrition, so I decided over quarantine to go ahead and get certified! I knew that my business had to be centered around artists. I feel so passionately about giving them the correct knowledge and inspiration to make well informed decisions about their diets, ultimately helping people feel mentally and physically prepared to do what we do for a living!
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Why do you think it is so important to educate performers about how to properly nourish their bodies?
I think it is important because there is a lot of incorrect information out there. Along with that information, there is this undeniable pressure for performers to look "perfect". People will go to extremes to make their bodies look a certain way, and I am determined to break the mindset that people should be constantly dieting or limiting what they eat in order to "look perfect". If you nourish your body well, you will be able to have long lasting energy, an amazing memory, and your mood will be much better all around. Physical fitness will follow if you are actually treating your body with the love and respect it deserves.
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What's the biggest thing related to nutrition and the stigma around a "Broadway body" you wish you knew when first entering the business?
I wish I recognized that EVERY body type belongs on Broadway. I, along with many other dancers that I know, tend to think we are only hireable because of how our body looks. We fill our minds with thoughts like, "If I can get my arms a little more toned I'll definitely get a callback for a Broadway show this season". I'm also not saying it is a bad thing to want to be toned and strong and fit, but I think that we need to undo the mindset of doing it for the callback or job and instead do it for the mindset of seeking overall wellness. I think we need to reinvent the idea of a "Broadway Body". A Broadway Body has nothing to do with what you physically look like -- but what you are able to do! Are you nourishing your body every single day in order to perform an 8 show week? Are you taking care of your mental health so you can show up to your show everyday with a clear and prepared mind? Are you cross-training to prevent injury? THAT is a Broadway Body.
Fun Facts:
- What is your favorite meal?
I LOVE Avocado Toast with whole wheat toast and an egg on top. I also load it up with red pepper flakes. YUM!
-What is your favorite season?
It's hard for me to choose, but I think I love fall the best. It starts to get so cozy and I also love fall foods, like butternut squash soup and literally anything pumpkin flavored.
- Who is your celeb crush?
I am madly in love with both Armie Hammer and Margot Robbie. If they both proposed to me, I'm honestly not sure who I'd pick.
- Where is your dream vacation?
I have been dying to go to Austria my entire life. It's the Sound of Music lover in me, haha!
