Here's What Tracee Ellis Ross Actually Eats In A Day

As a Golden-Globe winning actress, CEO of her own hair care company, and a dedicated activist, it's safe to say that Tracee Ellis Ross wakes up with a lot on her plate each day, so to speak (via NPR). The question isn't, however, whether or not she's bitten off more than she can chew but instead what she is actually eating throughout the day to give her the fuel needed to accomplish her goals with such vibrance and vigor. Luckily, she broke down her daily menu for People magazine.

Based on what she shared with People, Tracee eats approximately 1,880 calories a day, which falls within Healthline guidelines of a 1,500-2,000 calorie daily allotment for women 26-50 years old.  She avoids dairy, except for on Christmas, when she indulges on cheese (via Health), and whole foods make up a generous portion of her daily diet, which ensures that she consumes a lot of natural fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients throughout the day (via Very Well Fit). In addition, a lot of the sugar she eats throughout the day comes from natural sources, whether from a smoothie, a snack, or atop her side salad.

In her interview with People, Tracee Ellis Ross stated that drinks 4 liters of water per day, which is almost double the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's daily recommended intake of 2.7 liters for women (via the Mayo Clinic). According to Insider, hydrating first thing in the morning helps to re-infuse the body with water it went six to eight hours without. After rehydrating, Tracee fuels up with a serving of Special K and almond milk: a plant-based milk alternative that is naturally rich in Vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant that helps fight against disease (via Healthline). After breakfast, Tracee rounds out her morning with a workout before continuing on to her midday meal.

After her workout, Tracee drinks a berry power vegan protein drink from Erewhon that contains almond milk, dates, blueberries, bananas, and Vega protein powder. Since she avoids dairy, the protein in Tracee's vegan protein powder is derived from peas instead of whey (via Supreme Nutrition). Pea protein powder is both high in protein content and jam-packed with fiber. In addition to making a smoothie with nutritious protein powder, adding blueberries provides the smoothie with more antioxidants than 40 other fruits and vegetables would (via The Healthy).

In her interview with People, Tracee Ellis Ross shared that a typical lunch consists of one hard-boiled egg with quinoa paired with sautéed zucchini and crushed Brazil nuts. According to Healthline, one single egg contains all the essential amino acids our bodies need but do not produce naturally, making it a complete protein. In addition, quinoa is naturally high in fiber and also contains all nine essential amino acids (via Man of Many). After lunch, Tracee enjoys a pink lady apple with peanut butter: a snack that offers natural carbs and a robust serving of fiber via the apple and healthy fats and protein via the peanut butter (via Healthline).

Before dinnertime, Tracee snacks on avocado toast with lemon, salt, and crushed red pepper on Udi's bread. According to the Mayo Clinic, avocados are considered a superfood due to their robust nutrient content: They contain more potassium than bananas, and their high monounsaturated fat content can provide fuel for the body. For dinner, Tracee feasts on broiled steak paired with an arugula side salad topped with apples, onion, olive oil, and lemon. Broiling steak melts away some of the saturated fat found in the meat, which is healthier for the consumer (via SF Gate). In addition, arugula, which is rich in fiber and antioxidants, is 90-percent water, which makes it an excellent whole-food hydration source to end the evening (via EcoWatch).

For a late-night snack, Tracee enjoys Boulder Canyon potato chips and olives.