Discover Jane Fonda's Longevity Diet Secrets

It's almost impossible to fathom that Jane Fonda is nearing 90. The actress and fitness legend turned 87 in December but somehow looks a fraction of her age. How has she managed to slow down the aging process? According to her, it all has to do with a few simple dietary rules that she follows. Here is what you need to know about her longevity diet.

Fonda's main secret? It's all about moderation. "Most diets focus on weight loss on the scale, and they impose temporary and often unhealthy restrictive behavior," she said in a 2012 video for BeFiT. "Unfortunately, this scenario sets us up to fail." She cited research stating that 80% of dieters "will regain all or most of the weight that they lost within two years." You won't find her on a diet. "Fad diets are the ones promising unrealistic results. You should not try to lose more than two to three pounds per week, max," she said.

"Every morning, commit to starting the day with a nutritious breakfast. People who do so tend to lose weight," she said in the video. "Breakfast, by the way, is the most important meal of the day, and making a good choice there will set you up for success for the rest of the day."

Fonda also indulges on occasion. "You don't want to feel deprived," she points out in the video. "You can't sustain that over the long haul. So, if you have a piece of chocolate, it's OK—just don't eat the whole box, or maybe take a longer walk tomorrow."

"I eat a fairly healthy diet. I'm not rigid," she dished to Vogue. "I have cut way back on red meat. I've cut back on fish because fish supplies are dwindling. I eat vegetables. I eat salads. I eat fresh food. I'm just careful about what I eat. I don't eat a lot of sugar, except lately I have."

When Fonda indulges in "unhealthy" food, she exercises more. "I was in Italy for two and a half months making the sequel to Book Club, and ate gelato and pasta every single day while I was there," she told Vogue. "But I never gained weight. I would get up at six in the morning before the heat hit and walk for an hour, hour and a half, two hours on days when the work permitted me to do that. I walk a lot, and that helps me."