Lizzo has opened up about how her diet has changed during her health journey, and says learning to eat what her body truly needs has made a major difference. The Grammy-winning singer has discovered "what my body wants," which has helped her feel healthier and more in tune with food overall.
In July, Lizzo, real name Melissa Jefferson, told Women's Health that she has stopped approaching eating from a restrictive mindset and is instead leaning into what her body actually craves. "If your body wants salty, crunchy chips, go eat some chips or eat a pickle," she said. “If your body wants sweets, eat them cookies. If your body wants bread, eat the bread. If your body wants butter, eat the butter."
The 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) singer, 37, has had a rocky relationship with food, and she admitted she has experienced both extremes while trying to find balance. "There have been times when I've undernourished myself. There have been times where I was bingeing," Lizzo explained. "I feel like right now, when I intuitively eat and listen to my body, that always works out for me."
Now, Lizzo says she is focused on avoiding what she calls “nasty food,” and building meals around protein and vegetables. “If it has a lot of chemicals in it, that ain't doing s*** for you,” she said, adding that people should “avoid those kinds of foods like the plague." Lizzo also revealed she slowly introduced animal protein back into her diet following a trip to Japan, and has since created a protein-and-veggie-heavy menu for herself.
The chart-topper then broke down her daily meals, beginning with breakfast, where she revealed she has swapped sweets for savory options to stop her blood sugar level from spiking. On the morning she shot the interview, Lizzo ate two scrambled eggs and a cup of bone broth with Celtic sea salt, along with chicken sausage and a cauliflower hash brown. She also shared that since January 2023, she has reduced her body fat by 16 per cent and her BMI by 10.5 points by eating filling, flavorful dishes.
Her carb-filled lunch ranges from sandwiches and wraps, particularly tuna stuffed lettuce options or sliced chicken breast ones, or a shredded Thai chicken salad. “Go-to lunch is usually carb-y protein-y and flavorful,” Lizzo said, while also emphasizing the importance of carbs in a way that reflects her more balanced outlook.
"Get a carb in there. Because by the time noon comes, you need to take control. You need to remind your body you’re alive. You’re happy. You’re having a good time. Your body loves carbs. Carbs are the secret to happiness."
Lizzo's daily meals end after her dinner, before or at 5pm, because she gets “very burpy” if she eats “super late” due to her gastroesophageal reflux disease. “My body needs time to digest so the acid doesn’t come up when I sleep,” she explained. Her dinner is typically a “really protein-rich dinner,” including dishes like soup, turkey meatloaf, cauliflower mash, and green beans.