Here's Exactly What Jennifer Lopez Has for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Jennifer Lopez is 53 and in the best shape of her life. The singer and actress appears to be aging in reverse—but there is plenty of hard work and discipline behind her stunning looks and strong physique. "You hit a stride where your spirit, body, and mind all come together... I embrace who I am. I feel sexy, I feel youthful, I feel pretty sometimes! Very rarely will I skip my workout," she says. "Sometimes, I work too late the night before and I'm like, 'Ugh, I can't do this.' But I tell myself, 'Just do it. It's only an hour.' It's just talking yourself off the ledge of being a lazy bum.” Lopez is stringent about her diet—no alcohol, no caffeine, and plenty of vegetables, something she has taught her children Max and Emme. "I try to teach them the right things to eat: a lot of greens, fruits, and grains. They're starting to learn that's a way of life… '[I exercise] so I can maintain a good weight and run around with you.'" So what exactly does Lopez enjoy for her breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Here’s what she eats in a day.

1. Protein Smoothie For Breakfast

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Lopez enjoys a protein-packed smoothie for breakfast. Her typical smoothie is made with whey protein powder, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, Greek yogurt, cinnamon, honey, fresh lemon juice, and ice. “The benefit of the protein shake is that it takes longer to digest so it tends to keep you feeling full,” says Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CCSD, LD, who recommends drinking a protein shake within an hour of working out. “If you’re trying to lose weight, your body is going to use that protein efficiently to preserve your muscle and break down body fat instead for energy. If you’re lactose-intolerant, there’s a form of whey protein called whey protein isolate. The isolate is almost 100% lactose-free so it’s really tolerable for people with a lactose intolerance.”

2. Kale Salad For Lunch

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Lopez loves her greens, and likes a kale salad for lunch. A typical salad includes olive oil, lemon, queso, shallot, and pumpkin seeds. “Kale is a nutrition superstar due to the amounts of vitamins A, B6, C, K, folate, fiber, carotenoids and manganese it contains,” says Caitlin Terpstra, RD, LD. “One cup of raw kale has just 20 calories. The Department of Agriculture's MyPlate recommends any child and adult who is over the age of 9 eat at least 1.5–2 cups of dark-green vegetables every week.”

3. Chicken and Veggies For Dinner

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Lopez keeps dinner light yet filling, with lean chicken breast, baked yams, and cruciferous vegetables such as brussel sprouts. “Cruciferous vegetables are easy to find in most places and are some of the most nutrient-rich veggies around,” says registered dietitian Amber Sommer, RD, LD. “A healthy diet should include a wide range of produce. We encourage people to ‘eat the rainbow.’ That is, enjoy a variety of colors and flavors in your fruits and vegetables. That way, you can be certain you’re getting an array of the vitamins and minerals that keep your body healthy.”

4. Fruit For a Snack

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Lopez enjoys apples for a healthy on-the-go snack. “A medium sized apple is equivalent to about 1.5 cups of fruit and contains vitamin C, fiber, and potassium,” say the experts at UC Davis. “Vitamin C helps with wound healing and boosts the immune system, while potassium supports blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and bone and muscle strength. In addition, fiber promotes digestive health. Did you know unpeeled apples have twice as much fiber and contain more antioxidants than peeled apples?”

5. Organic Food—No Extreme Dieting

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Lopez enjoys organic, whole foods for the most part. “I have her eating very clean because she needs really good fuel for all the things that she’s doing,” says trainer Tracy Anderson. “It’s all organic and it’s all very well thought out, with the balance of very high quality proteins and a lot of nutrient-dense food. Everything is fresh. There’s nothing processed – just [protein powder] in a shake if we do a protein shake one day.” According to Anderson, Lopez makes room for the occasional treat. “She is a very balanced person, so she’s not going to miss out on Thanksgiving or a holiday with her children. That’s one of the reasons why the workout is important, and it’s so consistent – so we don’t do any kind of extreme dieting.”

Jennifer Lopez does it all. She’s a successful singer and performer. She’s a fashion icon. She has an amazing new Netflix documentary out called Halftime. She’s reunited with Ben Affleck. And fittingly, she just posted a tribute to him. “Happy Father’s Day to the most caring, loving, affectionate, consistent and selfless Daddy ever. #HappyFathersDay my love.” One of the pics included her in a swimsuit. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Jennifer Lopez stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing-Suit Photos!

1. She Lifts Weights

Lopez has been tight-lipped about her fitness routine and favorite exercises in the past. But she has given her fans an inside look on her Instagram. Lopez revealed in this post, that she likes to do weight and strength training to stay in shape. In the photo, Lopez is seen doing arm workouts at her home gym.

2. She Eats To Keep Her Skin Clear

Lopez has flawless skin, and she has it for a reason. In addition to skin-care, Lopez says that when she’s choosing what she wants to eat, she keeps her skin in mind. "What you eat doesn't just affect your body; it can also affect the way your skin looks,” she told Hello!.

3. She Eats A Lot Of Protein

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When it comes to her diet, Lopez says that she tries to eat healthy and make sure that she has enough energy to get through her busy days. She says that she makes sure to eat a lot of protein. "Protein is my go-to whenever I start having cravings," she says to Hello!. "It fills me up and keeps me full longer. It's a great muscle fuel."

4. She Stays Hydrated

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According to one of Lopez’s trainers, Dodd Romero, the singer makes sure to drink a lot of water each day. And he means a lot. “She drinks a minimum of seven glasses a day,” Romero told UsWeekly.

5. She Avoids Processed Food

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Romero also told Us Weekly that Lopez tries to eat a lot of natural and organic food, while avoiding processed food and other indulgences. “She stays away from processed foods and gets her nutrients from whole sources.” "There’s also not oneingredient that can be singled out as being addictive. For some people, it’s greasy fast food. For others, it’s sweets. But even then, you wouldn’t binge on a bowl of granulated sugar. It seems to be processed foods with some combination of ingredients that become problematic for people," says the Cleveland Clinic.