Top Chef Padma Lakshmi’s Diet and Workout Plan

Padma Lakshmi, a svelte, 5’9 model and host of TV’s “Top Chef,” may have one of the best jobs on TV – trying food by some of the best chefs in the country – but it also can put a dent in the diet plan of this health-conscious celeb (she usually gains 10-15 pounds per season).

When each season ends, Padma kicks her healthy way of eating into high-gear (and even gets her family in on the action). Padma’s preferred diet is certainly one of the healthiest diet plans among any celeb. Here’s how this gorgeous Indian-American model continues to have one of the best bodies in showbiz.

Padma Lakshmi’s Diet

Padma was brought up on very healthy foods, including lentils, brown rice and minimum amounts of red meat, and this is a diet she continues to follow, with some variations, to this day. One of the main things about Padma’s diet is that she lets herself enjoy food and is not a fan of going starving.  She also lets herself eat carbs, but of course not in exorbitant amounts.

Every morning, Padma always make sure to eat breakfast, but she makes sure to not consume a high amount of calories (which she follows for every meal). She will eat an orange or grapefruit, sliced into rings, and flavored with cinnamon and honey for breakfast as a flavorful yet low cal start to her day.  She’s a big fan of adding spice to all of her food in fact as a way to enjoy her food without needing to add extra fat.  She also drinks copious amounts of water all day, and will usually drink a glass of water every half an hour.

Padma eat three meals a day, but she allows herself to snack twice between each meal. And when she sacks, she’s a fan of the eating things like dried fruit, Middle Eastern yogurt and her favorite snack is an apple, with either low fat peanut butter or cottage cheese with a stalk of celery. For lunch, she always make sure she eats healthy carbs, either lentils are brown rice, and with plenty vegetables.

And for dinner, a typical meal Padma will eat is an omelet with sautéed spinach, mushrooms and chili peppers. She loves healthy one-pot meals, and her favorite is braised lamb with tomatoes and cumin. Padma only consumes red meat however occasionally, opting for chicken instead.

Also, one of her tricks is eating something that she can eat a full plate without feeling guilty, such a kale or a healthy salad. However, she does have one vice – potato chips.

The Workout Plan

Since Padma is such a fan of food, working out is a big part of how she stays in shape. When “Top Chef” is filming, she works out 2 hours a day six days a week, and Padma likes to do a variety of exercises when she works out. One of her favorite workouts is boxing, which she likes to do for her body and her mind (she says it helps her feel empowered). And Padma takeS boxing classes three times a week to make sure she stays motivated during her workouts.

To keep her body toned, Padma also does free weights. At age 42, Padma knows that  lifting weights is essential to keep her body’s muscles in the impressive shape they have been in throughout her career as a model.

Padma’s healthy diet and workout regimen may not be a quick miracle diet that works overnight, but it is a healthy way of life that certainly shows results.