A vocal advocate of clean living, the 170m (approx. 5ft7ins) actress even has her own company, The Honest Company, selling natural household products and personal care essentials, so it’s no surprise that she is just as careful with what she puts in her body as what she puts on it. Jessica Alba’s famous 123lbs (56kg) figure popped back into shape after the birth of her two kids, Honor, six, and Haven, two, thanks to a diet rich in locally-sourced, organic produce and regular dance-inspired workouts. Here is how she does it.
JESSICA ALBA’S DIET
Jessica is often snapped shopping up a storm at farmer’s markets and health food stores, and organic fruit and vegetables are the cornerstone of her diet. She combines them with lean proteins, mostly organic chicken breasts and fish, and stays away from stodgy carbs as much as possible. She also practises portion control (her trainer reportedly taught her to only eat half her starter when eating out) but will allow herself the occasional treat, like a glass of wine or dessert.
FOODS BANNED FROM JESSICA ALBA’S DIET:
- Anything pre-packaged
- White sugar
- White flour
- Fatty foods
- Refined carbs
JESSICA ALBA’S DIET ADVICE:
“We mostly eat lean protein and fresh fruit and vegetables, nothing processed or from a box, if we can” says Jessica. “For me, when I don’t eat a ton of carbs, I have more energy. But I’ll for sure have a piece of chocolate. I’ll mow through a bowl of guacamole. If I’m not going to have dessert, I’ll have a martini.”
EXAMPLE OF MEALS (TAKEN THE 321 BABY BULGE BE GONE PROGRAMME DESIGNED BY PERSONAL TRAINER RAMONA BRAGANZA)
Breakfast
- 1 cup oatmeal with berries
- 3-4 scrambled egg whites
Lunch
- Salad with 170g (6oz) of chicken breast or fish (salmon, tuna)
Evening meal
- Sashimi or or 170g (6oz) of petit filet of beef or other lean protein with unlimited veggies and three small red potatoes
- Snacks
- Handful of almonds or hot air popped popcorn
JESSICA ALBA’S WORKOUT
Jessica works with dance instructor and choreographer Jennifer ‘JJ Dancer’ Johnson – who recently got her in shape to play Nancy Callahan in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. “Jen Johnson’s dance studio is super-fun. You’re dancing and the music is loud and you don’t feel like it’s a workout, which is what I love. She also does private lessons so if you’re uncoordinated and you don’t want to show everyone your sweet moves, you can try it alone,” says Jessica. She combines dance workouts with cardio and circuit training, as well as small strength-training routines. She admits it takes a lot of discipline to get her to the gym, but she tries to go six days a week, and mixes it up with outdoor calorie-burning hikes.
JESSICA ALBA ON HEALTH & FITNESS:
“Working out every day even just for 45 minutes is good for my mental state. But getting dressed and actually doing it is the worst. It’s hard to get motivated.”
“In the gym, I have like five things to distract me: TV, iPod, magazines. Workout partners are good too so you can chat and not just drown in your own misery. Sorry does that sound bad? I just really hate working out.”
“When putting a meal together or going out to eat, try to use as much local food as possible. You can make an amazing, indulgent meal with fresh, organic produce and food. I do a delivery service where I get a box of fresh produce weekly.”
“I think what is healthy is indulging once in a while. I think balancing a strict diet with moments of indulging is fine. I think too much of anything is not the right way to go, at least not for me. Obviously you don’t want to indulge all the time, but a little here and there, sure.”
An example of a Jennifer ‘JJ Dancer’ Johnson workout:
Words: Aoife Stuart Madge
Images: Getty and Instagram
