Fueling the Body and Mind

Abstract

This chapter addresses nutrition and sleep as they relate to music performance and college life. These two topics are presented together because of the significant amount of research demonstrating their interconnectedness. The first part of this chapter discusses the challenges university students face in achieving a balanced diet, the components of proper nutrition, and guidelines for healthy eating habits. Eating disorders, as well as ways to support students who may be dealing with difficulties related to eating, are discussed. The second half of the chapter presents an overview of sleep. Foundational information such as sleep/wake cycles, factors that affect sleep, and the impact of sleep deprivation on nutrition are followed by descriptions of common sleep disorders and strategies for developing good sleep hygiene.