My Food Philosophy: Jennifer Lopez swears by these 8 food and nutrition habits
Her PT's and nutrition coaches reveal all
There's no denying that Jennifer Lopez is a total badass - whether dancing on stage, starring in movies, walking red carpets or just doing her thing with her family and beau, Ben Affleck.
She certainly puts in work in the gym, which shows up in her strong legs, arms, and that phenomenally strong core. J.Lo has an intense fitness routine—it involves plenty of abs workouts (duh), heavy lifting, and plenty of dancing.
To keep up with her incredibly active lifestyle, J.Lo also has to fuel her days accordingly. It should come as no surprise that she's just as disciplined with her eating and nutrition as she is with fitness.
The singer, actress, and dancer maintains balance, but still makes smart choices about what ends up on her plate. After all, she needs to fill up her tank with healthy foods to keep her energy levels up, and her performances fierce.
J.Lo eats all organic whole foods
'She needs really good fuel for all the things that she’s doing,' her trainer Tracy Anderson told People. 'It’s all organic and it’s all very well thought out, with the balance of very high quality proteins and a lot of nutrient-dense food.'
Jlo drinks water all day long
Hydration is so crucial for the singer that it's a whole category in her five-pronged nutrition philosophy.
These are: protein, vegetables, fats, carbohydrates, and water, according to her trainer and life coach, Dodd Romero.
'She drinks a minimum of seven glasses a day,' he told US Weekly.
It's a safe bet her famous bling cup she takes everywhere is filled with H2O.
Jenny has also long-avoided alcohol and caffeine. 'I haven't had caffeine in years,' she told Hollywood Life.
We...cannot relate.
J.Lo avoids processed, packaged foods
'Everything is fresh,' says the star's trainer, Anderson. 'There’s nothing processed–just [protein powder] in a shake if we do a protein shake one day.'
J.Lo 'stays away from processed foods and gets her nutrients from whole sources,' Romero confirmed to US Weekly.
Her main protein sources are egg whites, white meat turkey, chicken breast, and grass-fed beef. (It's worth noting that at WH we heartily endorse eating the whole egg to make the most of the healthy fats contained in the yolk.)
Romero also shared that Jennifer eats fish for the protein as well as the omega-3s and 6s while grabbing 'a handful' of nuts each day for healthy fats.
J.Lo loads her plate with leafy greens
Jennifer prioritises eating vegetables each mealtime. Notably leafy greens like spinach and kale.
She also adds complex carbohydrates to meals. Some of her faves are sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, rice bread, and porridge according to Romero and US Weekly.
J.Lo maintains balance
'She is a very balanced person, so she’s not going to miss out on Thanksgiving or a holiday with her children,' says Anderson of Jennifer's balaned approach to eating well.
'Throughout the years I’ve learned the importance of maintaining a healthier […] diet,' J.Lo told People. 'I still eat some of the foods I love, but in moderation. I don’t deprive myself.' Her fave desserts? Jennifer loves chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate chip cookies.
Now, on this point, we can relate.
J.Lo goes for the healthy dish at restaurants
'I'm a very social person and love spending time with my friends and family, so when we out to eat I try to make healthy choices,' she told Hello!.
'Most restaurants offer healthy meals, so I watch for things on the menu that fit my lifestyle. I'll have a salad or some fish with veggies. And I make sure I drink lots of water throughout the meal.'
H2o for the win.
This is what J.Lo's typical day-on-a-plate looks like
Breakfast: Jennifer's breakfast is usually a protein-packed smoothie, she told People. It has a scoop of protein powder, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, Greek yoghurt, cinnamon, honey, ice cubes, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Lunch: She often goes for a salad with protein and veggies like broccoli, zucchini, and capsicum and a vinaigrette. She also shared another lunch salad recipe with People in 2015: finely chopped kale with cheese, pumpkin seeds, fresh lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, and a minced shallot.
Snacks: J.Lo's busy schedule (hello filming, rehearsals, mum-life and much more) means she needs on-the-go fuel. 'Being constantly on the go, I always like to have healthier snack options like fruits or vegetables with me,' J.Lo told People.
Dinner: When dinner rolls around, J.Lo typically goes for a protein paired with quinoa. 'It feels like rice and beans, which I grew up with. And I like pork and chicken—especially Puerto Rican style!' she said.
As an alternative, she'll also pair her protein with veggies like sautéed Brussels sprouts and baked yams.
For J.Lo, it's all about fuel and never about restrictions.
J.Lo never eats salmon or berries (but PSA, you should)
Okay, so this isn't one that you should steal.
Her former personal chef Kelvin Fernandez says who you’ll never find J.Lo eating salmon.
'I know Jennifer doesn’t love salmon, so if I’m cooking salmon for the [table], I always got to do a sea bass or a halibut or cod for Jennifer,' he told Us Weekly.
It’s not because salmon is an unhealthy food - FAR from it, it's one of the healthiest things you can eat - J.Lo just isn’t into it. 'She’s just not a fan of the texture and the taste of salmon,' Fernandez explained.
The other food J.Lo won't touch? Berries. But her 12-year-old twins, Max and Emme, love them, so she always has them in her fridge. 'Jennifer is not a big fruit person,' Fernandez added.
Despite J.Lo's taste bud preferences, salmon and berries are two nutritional powerhouses you should consider adding to your diet if they aren't already a staple.
Why? As well as being incredibly versatile and (in our opinion, at least!) delicious, salmon boasts a whole host of benefits. Hard-working ingredients include
- Essential omega-3 fatty acids
- High-quality complete protein (a serving contains approx. 25g)
- B vitamins, including B12
- Potassium
- Selenium
- Heart-healthy antioxidant astaxanthin
Meanwhile, berries are more than just an excellent topper for porridge, pancakes and smoothies.
They can benefit your bod in more ways than one: - Their range of antioxidants help protect cells and fight skin ageing
- They contain soluble fibre
- They are very high in vitamin C
- They can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
So, with this one, team, don't do it like J.Lo.
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