What Christina Anstead Really Eats In A Day

Christina Anstead is known for her sunny SoCal disposition on hit HGTV show Flip or Flop and its spin-off, which focuses on the busy lady herself, Christina on the Coast. She first rose to prominence opposite now ex-husband Tarek El Moussa, but Anstead is assuredly a star in her own right these days. Given her good looks and healthy appearance, everybody is wondering what the busy mother does to stay in such good shape and what food she eats every day.

In fact, she told House Beautiful the number one topic of conversation in interviews is her diet and exercise regimen, so much so it led her to write a whole book about it with nutritionist and friend Clara Clark, called The Wellness Remodel. As Anstead put it, "I decided that it'd be a great idea for us to write a book together because that's the number one question I always get asked."

If you're a working mother with multiple commitments, chances are you know how difficult it can be to squeeze in healthy meals throughout the day, for both you and maybe even the kids. However, that's something that Christina Anstead has on lock, according to her nutritionist Cara Clark. "Even with two kids and a popular hit TV show, Christina manages to stay healthy and strong," she wrote in a blog post. Hey, if the busy Flip or Flop star can do it, perhaps there's hope for the rest of us!

One of the major reasons that Anstead has the stamina required for her active lifestyle is because of the diet plan that Clark has her follow. "Christina eats four to five times a day every three to four hours to allow her blood sugar to stay stable all day long," she continued. "With the proper balance of carbs, fat, and protein at each meal, her body is a fat burning powerhouse!"

That also explains why Anstead has such a rocking bod, too. She's prioritized her nutritional needs, and she doesn't let anything get in the way of that.

What's a meal that's healthy, easy to prepare, and convenient for folks with super busy schedules? Why smoothies, of course. That's what Christina Anstead reaches for when it's time for a snack or a meal. "I meal prep my smoothies," she told HGTV. "I cut up all the ingredients except milk and put [them] in plastic baggies in the freezer or fridge and just throw them and milk in the blender when I'm ready." That way she can have a nourishing snack or meal in about five minutes.

Furthermore, Anstead has two snacks throughout the day, consistent with her need to eat four or five times per day. "Some of my favorites are: Mother's Market juice Goddess of Greens (it really helps cure my sugar cravings), peanut butter on rice cakes, and healthy granola bars," she shared in a chat with Cara Clark Nutrition. She added that her sister makes really delicious granola bars from scratch, which sounds just heavenly.

It's often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as it kickstarts your metabolism and keeps you healthy. But that doesn't mean you should sleep on a healthy lunch, either, and that's clearly something Christina Anstead believes. "With a full filming schedule and being a mom to two littles, lunch can often be overlooked," nutritionist Cara Clark penned in a blog post, "but Christina is prepared with go to salads or simple one pan or crockpot dishes." She added that combining lean meat, grains, and vegetables are a surefire way to get the nutrition you need from your afternoon meal.

Specifically, Anstead prefers a classic lunch staple with a bit of a healthy spin. "Her fave is a traditional Cobb salad with extra veggies or a quinoa salad loaded with veggies," Clark continued. That way Anstead doesn't hit a slump in the middle of her long work day, and she can power through until her next snack or meal.

With important medical conditions to consider and energy levels to balance out properly, Christina Anstead has to be very careful about the kinds of food that she consumes on a daily basis. That means that some foods are completely off the menu at all times. "I don't eat fast food, I don't eat fried food," she told Parade, adding, "I don't eat anything processed." That means you'll never catch Anstead at the McDonald's drive-thru or chowing down on fair foods like deep fried candy bars. 

That's not all that Anstead cut out of her diet, either, as she had to ax yet another item when she started feeling poorly again. "I went back to my naturopath doctor and we discovered that I have an intolerance for gluten now, so I cut that out," the Christina on the Coast star continued. "Things are constantly evolving for me, and I think that's kind of how it is for everyone." Hey, whatever makes you feel your best is best for you, right?

According to Harvard Medical School, people who cook at home a lot are more likely to have a healthier diet than folks who dine out at restaurants or eat takeout food on the reg. They're also less likely to have conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes. But that doesn't mean that dining out has to be unhealthy, as we can customize our orders to suit our nutritional needs, says nutritionist Cara Clark. "We all have the rights to order the way we want," Clark told E! News. So there's no shame in asking for your dressing on the side, or opting to have something grilled instead of fried.

That's a skill that Christina Anstead, who's had a stunning transformation over the years, presumably deploys every time she dines out. "Most people don't take advantage of it, but she does," Clark continued. "Plus, she is going to places that have health-conscious restaurants and people."

If there's one thing that Christina Anstead makes sure to do every week, it's to plan out what she and her family will be eating for all of their meals. To that end, Anstead keeps her kitchen stocked with everything she might need in order to put healthy and delicious food on the table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. "It just leaves out like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm starving, there's nothing to eat,'" she shared in an interview with Us Weekly. "'I'm gonna order pizza,' right?" 

That's why Anstead is not afraid to flex a little bit of her judgment muscle, especially when she sees people around her eating whatever they want whenever they want and seeing "people snacking on all this junk." So, to make sure her family stays healthy and doesn't give into temptation around unhealthy foods, she sticks to a meal plan. That way, they won't regret eating certain foods later on.

It's pretty clear that Christina Anstead has her day-to-day diet on lock. With an incredible body and enough discipline to stick to a regimented yet healthy meal plan, Anstead's eating habits are goal worthy. But all of that being said, Anstead isn't just doing all of it for herself — she very much has other people in mind. "Nutrition is very important to me for both my own health and wellness, but also for my children," she revealed to People. "It's all about everything in moderation." Louder again for the people in the back, Christina!

That means a few nights a week Anstead is indeed human and indulges in a sweet snack or a beverage to help her unwind. "If I want a glass of wine I'm going to have it, or some chocolate — sure why not!" she continued. "For me, my nutrition routine is a way of life, and I have so much energy when I exercise and eat a healthy balanced diet." That's plenty of motivation for Anstead to treat her body like a temple, which she very much does.