There is always so much happening over Mardi Gras, eating properly can be a challenge. I'm also vegan, so that really makes it challenging! My favourite place to go is King Street in Newtown because there are great vegan and vegan-friendly places to eat, including Lentil as Anything (a favourite of mine!) as well as Gigi's Pizza.
When I am on the go, though, I always have snacks in my handbag or backpack. I have a block of dark chocolate, a bag of raw almonds and goji berries, and some granola bars (do we even call them granola bars in Australia or have I been living in LA too long?).
If I am really feeling like an over-achiever I make my own, like this recipe. It's great to know exactly what is in them, because so often with those bars you think you're eating something healthy, but its actually full of refined sugar. (Want to know how healthy muesli bars really are, read this.) The recipe uses honey and dates for sweetness and oats, almonds, flax, chia and peanut butter give a really good sustained energy. Great for the big night.
Courtney Act is all for home-made granola bars. Source: China Squirrel
Last year I was on the Qantas Gay380 float and had a half a block of dark chocolate tucked into my bra because I thought I might need an energy boost along the way. The energy from the crowd turned out to be more than enough and when it was all over I just had a melted pieces of chocolate dribbling down my chest. Oh the glamour!
Nothing better than a dance floor snack at the Mardi Gras Party, though I do get some strange looks munching on a granola bar under the disco ball.
Don't get stuck with chocolate down your chest, right Courtney? Source: William Baker
Get the party started
Dancing Mardi Gras gingerbreads
Can't make it to the festival? Watch an international live stream of the parade Saturday 5 March on SBS.
And tune into our special broadcast event celebrating the 38th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, airing 8.30pm on Sunday 6th March. It's hosted by Magda Szubanski, Tom Ballard, Patrick Abboud and Faustina Agolley, so you know it's going to be good!
