Eva Mendes Likes Her Meals Sumptuous & Simple

Being part of the star-studded movie industry comes with the baggage of looking like a million bucks at all times – whether it’s a man or a woman. And for many, the road to achieving this is through a stringent – read, almost unreal – diet. But there is one celebrity who is eating to restore our faith in celebrity diets – Eva Mendes.

“I try to think about [food] as fuel for my body,” she told SHAPE for the magazine’s April cover story. “I grew up eating rice and beans, so I want some kind of grain in every meal. For lunch, I usually have salmon and rice or quinoa, and I try to include a salad. I’ll eat the same thing for dinner. I’m a creature of habit in that way.”

Mendes, who clearly is not a believer in fad diets or starving herself, is very practical when it comes to planning her meals. And her strategic approach to eating makes sense, given the fact that she is a working parent. Though she does crave a few things now and then. Sit down dinner regimes, for example. “What I am looking forward to is the time when dinner becomes a sit-down situation again,” she said. “Right now I’m in survival mode with two babies, eating on the go.”

While her lunch and dinner mirror each other, the Hitch actress’ breakfast is different than the other two meals. Mendes takes eggs in the morning, as she believes the food to be “magic” because “you can do so much with them,” and the protein helps her start her day with energy. She prefers scrambled eggs and Ezekiel, with the occasional muffin.

Speaking of occasional, Mendes also sometimes like snacking on black beans, Cadbury eggs, and sweets in general, which are melted away during the actress’ workout sessions. “Working out allows me to spend time on myself,” she said. “Knowing that I have an hour to dedicate to my wellness is a priority for me now.”

And that’s how you eat everything and look like you eat nothing.