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Discover Jane Fonda's Longevity Diet Secrets

The star has a moderate but efficient approach to eating.

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.

1

Her Secret? A Balanced Diet​


Jane Fonda is seen in New York City at the Marie Curie Legacy Gala at The Rainbow Room

Jared Siskin/PMC via Getty Images

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.

2

​She Eats Breakfast

Fonda hits the red carpet for the 2024 Women In Film Annual Gala

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

"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."

3

She Cheats, in Moderation​

Jane Fonda playfully walks the runway during "Le Défilé L'Oréal Paris – Walk Your Worth" Womenswear Spring-Summer 2025 show

Kristy Sparow/Getty Images

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."

4

​She Fills Her Plate with Plants

Jane Fonda at the Climate Summit

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"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."

5

​When She Eats More, She Exercises More

Pretty in pearls. Jane wore a pearl embellished top for The WMC 2024 Women's Media Awards

Craig Barritt/Getty Images

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."

Leah Groth
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related. Read more
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