It’s so easy to want to look up something like “what do models eat” and then expect to get a helpful cheatsheet that’ll show you how to lose weight fast.
But when I did my research, I found that it wasn’t so much about the calorie intake or having the perfect diet plan. It was more about lifestyle and adopting sustainable healthy habits.
And I get, there are so many models out there living very unhealthy lifestyles, but I didn’t want to focus on them. I wanted to put the spotlight on models who were able to stay in shape while still caring for their overall health.
When it comes to the supermodel diet and their trim and toned figures, I found that they were more focused on their nutritional needs, having a sustainable eating style, and sticking to a flexible exercise routine.
So if you are curious about model diets and workouts and what they’re actually doing to stay slim (in a healthy way), then here are a few tips from real models!
1. They Have a Set Workout Plan
Model, Stella Maxwell, shares what she does to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle, “I work out an hour a day. I kind of do it whenever—I’m not picky about what time I work out. I’d rather sleep in a little longer, so maybe not quite early in the morning, so I tend to go later at night. I work out as often as I can, in general, four to five times a week. Once you’ve reached an hour, your body’s kind of—you don’t want to exhaust yourself, and I think it’s good to slowly build that and not push it too intensely.”
Key Takeaways:
- 1 hour work sessions.
- 4-5 times a week.
- She works out when it works for her; she’s not overly strict.
- She listens to her body; she doesn’t exhaust it.
2. High Protein + Carbs
Josephine Skriver covers her personal model diet, “I don’t follow anything strictly. I just eat a lot of protein and a lot of veggies, and I make sure I get my carbs because the way I work out, I need healthier carbs like brown rice or sweet potatoes because if I cut out carbs, I would have no energy to do what I do. For breakfast today, I had scrambled eggs, spinach, and a cup of brown rice. I would say most of the time it’s grains, protein, and rice, but sometimes for lunch, I don’t do as many carbs because it makes me sleepy. But for breakfast, it’s such a good start—especially after my workout, I’m dead tired and I need fuel for the whole day. My biggest meal is breakfast—sometimes I have it twice because I’m so hungry.”
Key Takeaways:
- No cutting out healthy carbs. They’re great for energy and especially when you’re working out. And in general, your body has nutritional needs, so never skip anything like healthy fats, proteins, or carbs.
- A big breakfast with protein and carbs is a great way to stay fueled throughout the day.
3. They Have Their Cheat Days Too
Model Gigi Hadid has a healthy lifestyle, but she likes her junk food too! “A few times a week to be honest if it’s, like, a regular schedule,” Gigi claims. “I mean, obviously, there are jobs I have to plan for that sometimes I’ll have to take a month in advance to just kind of focus on eating healthy and working out more, but regularly — as long as I’m working out — I love a couple cheeseburgers a week.”
Key Takeaways:
- It’s great to have a normally healthy diet, but you don’t have to cut out everything.
- If you’re on a more strict weight loss plan, figure out when you want to have your cheat day, and what cheat foods actually matter the most to you. That way you’re enjoying what you actually wanna enjoy and not going overboard.
4. They Base Their Diet Around What Gives Them Energy
Miranda Kerr discusses what energy-giving foods and drinks she takes in during the day, “I always start my day with hot water with lemon and then I’ll have a green juice – a cold pressed organic green juice. I used to juice them myself but it was quite time consuming. Now I pick one up that’s just been made. And then I’ll actually have eggs or avocado on a piece of gluten free toast. After that, an hour and a half later, I’ll have a smoothie with my chia seeds, goji berries, raw cacao, I put all my vitamins in there. That way I don’t have to take all my vitamins separately.”
Key Takeaways:
- See food as the medicine you take 3 times a day. It’s not just about enjoyment, it’s about giving your body energy and health. It’s a form of self-love, so look for minimally processed foods and whole foods for your daily diet.
- It’s ok to also go for convenience when wanting to be healthy. So put all your vitamins into that smoothie or get that pre-made juice.
5. They Have a Healthy Lifestyle
Josephine Skriver also discusses how she goes after a healthy lifestyle rather than just a short-term fad diet:
“I’ve never believed in the word diet—I believe in lifestyle. I don’t believe in quick fixes. There’s no such thing as doing 30 ab exercises and then you get a six-pack. Even if you do really well for three months and you look great, the second you stop … it has to be like a lifestyle thing. I’ve always been active, so in that sense, it wasn’t hard for me to work out, but I do work out a lot. But then you have to let yourself cheat once in a while; you have to give yourself a cheat day and give yourself a splurge—I actually hate the term cheat day, so I call them treat days. Cheat feels like, Oh, I should be ashamed! You shouldn’t feel guilty about eating a burger, but for me, it’s more about knowing the nutritious value of what’s in a good piece of chicken or veggies. Eat the right kind of carbs and think about what will keep you energized throughout the day.”
Key Takeaways:
- It’s a lifestyle of taking care of your body; it’s something you maintain all throughout your life.
- “Cheat days” should actually be “treat days.” You shouldn’t feel bad for enjoying a burger.
- Be mindful of what you’re taking in and what’s keeping you energized.
6. They Focus on What Makes Their Body Feel Good
“I would eat spaghetti Bolognese all day every day,” Lily Aldridge says, “but now I realize that I feel better having farm-fresh organic food and cooking for myself. I’ve never felt better about my body or about being a woman.”
Jospehine Skriver also talks about this, “For me, I travel the world and sometimes have three red-eyes in a week, and if I don’t eat for fuel or eat to stay energized … I can’t live off of burgers! I might not gain as much as some people, but I would be slumping off if I ate sugar all the time—it’s more like health consciousness for me, but I also always do the 80/20: 80% of the time, I eat healthily and work out, and I stay on a schedule because I really am all about taking care of my body. My body is like my temple, and you only get one shot.”
Key Takeaway: Sometimes it’s not just about the weight or fat loss. Sometimes it’s also about nourishing your body and listening to what makes it feel good. You want to take care of it and make it last.
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.