What you eat before you sing can either help or hinder your singing performance. You should never sing on an empty stomach or a full stomach. Here are some tips on the best foods to eat before your singing event.
When to Eat Meals before the Performance
Eating immediately before you perform can trigger harmful throat clearing before or during your performance. Singing on a full stomach can impede your diaphragm movement making it difficult to take a full breath when needed. You also might begin burping which will definitely turn off any audience!
On the other hand, don't perform when you're starving. Your stomach might begin growling during the performance. Also, you’ll need enough energy put on a vibrant performance. Skipping a meal before singing could cause fatigue, nausea, or headache, which can get in the way of your singing voice and performance.
With these in mind, try to eat a "normal" balanced meal about an hour or two before singing. This will give your body a chance to digest your food. Eat non-heavy foods that are easy to digest. Eating foods that sit heavy in your stomach or overeating can cause you to become extremely sleepy. Eggs are great because they offer high protein, but are low in density.
Foods to Avoid before Singing
Avoid foods that can cause you to experience an increase in nose and throat mucous while singing. These include dairy products such as milk or ice cream. Avoid citrus fruits, as they tend to dry the throat. Spicy foods and coffee are throat irritants. Also, avoid food choices that can cause too much air in the stomach such as sodas and other carbonated drinks. Ice-cold food or drinks can cause your throat to constrict. Stay away from alcohol and large amounts of junk food on the day of your performance. And, go easy on the salt!
Foods to Enjoy before Singing
While there are foods and drinks that do harm your throat, there are a few foods that soothe the throat such as candy or licorice tea. Drink lukewarm drinks like herbal tea or water. Some healthy meal choices for your body and voice include chicken, almonds, fish, yellow vegetables, apples, eggs, and rice.
Salt water or baking soda gargles, sugar lozenges or some hard candies, and honey can help soothe the throat if it's irritated just before a performance.
When you take time to choose the right foods to eat on the day of your singing performance, you'll be amazed at how they affect your singing voice. Go for the healthy stuff to give your singing audience a real thrill!
