It's been 18 years since actress Ali Larter made jaws drop in Varsity Blues — and to see her today, you might think she's been hoarding the fountain of youth. Or sleeps in a Cryogenic Chamber. But, for the cookbook author and mom of two, staying fit is all about trying your best to stay healthy — and being okay with good enough.
She Believes In Second Breakfast.
Larter doesn't do the standard, three-meals-a-day routine. Instead, she prefers to eat 5 to 6 smaller meals. That rounds out to an early breakfast, a mid-morning snack or green juice, a small lunch, a late afternoon snack, and dinner.
She Breaks Every Rule When It Comes To Eating Clean.
After two months of nonstop traveling, events, and eating out, Larter wanted to give her body a break. "I wasn't eating well or taking care of myself, really, so I needed to simplify things," she said.
The Kitchen Revelry author started the Clean Program, cutting out alcohol, sugar, and dairy. The 21-day regimen involves starting and ending the day with plan-approved shakes, as well as supplements and probiotics, and lean, low-carb lunches.
You're not supposed to have caffeine, but that was one thing Larter couldn't give up. "I always start the day with coffee," she said. "The kids wake me up, and I go straight for coffee with a little half-and-half."
She'll be honest, though — she wasn't 100 percent disciplined, and she's fine with that. "I probably broke every rule on the plan, but even doing it halfway was better than nothing," she admitted. "I didn't lose any weight because I put so many nuts in my shakes and things, but it was nice to give my body a rest."
She Swears By These On-The-Go Snacks.
Whenever Larter's dashing out the door, she throws her mid-morning and late afternoon snacks in her purse. Her go-to's? A green juice in the morning — "without fruit in it, to give me a nice energy boost" — and Hillshire Snacking Small Plates, AKA little packs of meat and cheese that are like a mini charcuterie board.
"They're the perfect balance of sweet and savory," said Larter, who's big on the Apple Chardonnay pack.
When she's snacking at home, she'll often grab fresh cherries and raspberries, or an apple with almond butter.
She's All About 10-Minute Dinners.
Larter cooks two to three times a week, and when she does, she tries to keep it simple — and ultra-fast. "I love making scallops with leeks and mushrooms," she said. "It's a really quick dinner that comes together in five or six minutes, instead of an hour."
The actress also loves making soups she can store in the fridge and heat up for dinner, serving lentils over wilted spinach, and grilling steaks.
She Works Out At Least Four Times A Week.
Larter's ultimate motivation for hitting the gym is thinking about lunch. Or dinner. Or happy hour. "I work out at least four days a week to enjoy my life, so I can cook and enjoy great food with friends and family," Larter said.
She does a mix of Core Power yoga classes to strengthen her abs and circuit training. The latter amounts to "a lot of squats and lunges, which I do not enjoy, but I do them anyway," she said. If Larter's short on time, she'll skip the gym and go for a 30-minute run.
"My workouts aren't very long, but even when I don't have much time, I do them," she said. "I just go for it."
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