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Kristen Bell’s Refreshingly Real Approach to Diet and Fitness: Inside Her Wellness Routine

Actress Kristen Bell shares the diet, fitness, and wellness habits that keep her energetic, balanced, and relatable at 39.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 24, 2025

Actress Kristen Bell shares the diet, fitness, and wellness habits that keep her energetic, balanced, and relatable at 39.

Kristen Bell’s Refreshingly Real Approach to Diet and Fitness

Renowned actress and wellness advocate Kristen Bell is celebrated for roles in Veronica Mars, Frozen, and her unfiltered honesty about health, motherhood, and living with purpose. Her approachable attitude towards food, exercise, and self-care makes her uniquely relatable among Hollywood figures. In this article, we reveal Kristen Bell’s wellness routine—including her fitness and dietary habits, skincare philosophy, favorite recipes, and biohacking experiments—so you can embrace balance and feel good in body and mind.

She’s Always on the Move

Kristen Bell is a master of multi-tasking and squeezing movement into her busy schedule. Even when she can’t make it to the gym, Bell keeps her body active every day. Her approach to fitness is pragmatic, flexible, and defines exercise as any form of movement that gets her blood flowing:

Playtime with her kids in the driveway, running alongside them on their bikes.
Quick 10-minute YouTube workout videos if she’s short on time.
Walking while reading scripts at work, or doing tricep dips in between takes.

Bell stresses that moving every day, even in casual ways, keeps her from feeling stagnant. She inspires busy parents to embrace fitness as a part of daily life—not just something that happens at the gym.

High-Intensity Interval Training: Her Go-To Workout

For Kristen Bell, fast and effective workouts are key. She’s a fan of HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), focusing on exercises that deliver maximum results in minimal time. As Bell explains, “I need fast workouts. I don’t have an hour and a half—I have 25 minutes, max.”

Bell sprints up her driveway, walks back, and repeats this cycle 10–15 times—finishing in under 15 minutes.
According to scientific studies, a 15-minute HIIT session can burn more calories than 60 minutes on a treadmill.
HIIT builds heart health, boosts metabolism, and increases strength in quads, glutes, and hamstrings while shedding fat.

Bell enjoys how sprinting leaves her feeling strong, empowered, and energized—making HIIT her preferred choice for maintaining fitness alongside a demanding schedule.

Eating to Feel Good: Kristen’s Top Nutrition Habits

Bell’s approach to diet is refreshingly balanced. She loves food, celebrates carbs, and isn’t afraid of indulgence. Her plant-based diet is shaped by intentional choices around protein, micronutrients, and portion control. Here’s an inside look at her typical daily meals:

Meal	Description	Key Ingredients
Breakfast	Starts healthy, often with fruits, oatmeal, or scrambled eggs.	Oats, berries, eggs, avocado.
Lunch	Her favorite ‘garbage disposal’ salad, customizable with pantry ingredients.	Lettuce, rice, beans, nuts, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon.
Snacks	Nutritious, plant-based, or sometimes a handful of croutons.	Nuts, fruit, croutons.
Dinner	Always features carbs—especially her beloved pasta dishes.	Pasta (especially chickpea/pea protein-based), cherry tomatoes, olive oil, ghee, eggs.

Balancing Macros

Bell understands the importance of tracking macros—the ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—to optimize her nutritional intake. She pays attention to the nutritional value of each meal, adjusting choices to ensure sufficient protein and healthy fats for muscle growth, hair, and bone health:

Avocados are a staple, providing healthy fats and flavor.
Beans, eggs, nut-based snacks, and protein-rich pastas meet her plant-based protein needs.
She consciously balances “enough protein today” with “carbs for dinner.”

Bell’s philosophy is simple: moderation and variety, never deprivation.

The ‘Garbage Disposal’ Salad: Kristen’s Signature Dish

When it comes to lunch, Kristen Bell has a signature dish she calls her ‘garbage disposal’ salad. She makes use of whatever’s in her fridge and pantry, creating large, nourishing bowls packed with flavor and nutrients:

Base: Leafy greens like lettuce or spinach
Carbs: Rice, beans, or quinoa
Healthy Fats: Nuts, seeds, avocado
Veggies: Broccoli, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes
Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries
Dressing: Olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt

This customizable salad keeps her satiated, supports mental clarity, and delivers plenty of fiber and micronutrients.

Pasta Obsession: Carbs, Protein, and Comfort

Bell is honest about her love of carbs, especially croutons and pasta. As a vegetarian, she prioritizes nutrition without sacrificing flavor. Her go-to dinner features protein-rich pasta from Banza, made with chickpeas and pea protein—boasting up to 25 grams of protein per serving. Bell prepares her life-changing pasta with cherry tomatoes sautéed in olive oil, cooked noodles, optional ghee, and a cracked egg for creaminess. This plant-based carbonara is hearty, satisfying, and “truly divine.”

Chickpea pasta offers both high protein and lower glycemic index than traditional pasta.
Egg, olive oil, and ghee deliver healthy fats.
Tomatoes supply antioxidants (e.g., lycopene) for skin and heart health.

Bell states, “This pasta has changed my life.” Her enthusiasm redefines comfort food for healthy, modern living.

Kristen Bell’s Biohacking Experiments

Bell goes beyond classic nutrition, embracing biohacking techniques to stabilize blood sugar and maximize energy. According to her co-star, Bell will eat spinach or fiber-rich leafy greens before enjoying carbohydrates, slowing glucose absorption and reducing sugar spikes. She’ll also experiment with apple cider vinegar and fiber supplements for similar results.

Biohacking: DIY health optimization using science-backed lifestyle changes.
Fiber First: Eating greens or fiber before carbs blunts glucose spikes.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Sipping it before carb-rich meals may help stabilize blood sugar.
Supplements: Kristen occasionally uses Metamucil (psyllium fiber).

Bell’s biohacking is rooted in curiosity and experimentation, always seeking simple tweaks with meaningful health benefits.

Mental Health, Skincare, and Self-Care

Bell’s wellness routines extend beyond diet and exercise:

Mental Health: Open about struggles with anxiety and depression, Bell advocates therapy, self-compassion, and vulnerability.
Couples Therapy: She prioritizes real communication and counseling for relationship health.
Skincare: Bell favors gentle cleansing, hydration, and sun protection, focusing on practical solutions over trends.
Self-Care: She integrates relaxation, gratitude, and play into daily life, aiming for sustainable routines that nurture her happiness.

Bell proves wellness is holistic—supporting mind, body, and spirit.

Favorite Foods And What She Avoids

Absolute Favorite Food: Croutons—she loves “any and all croutons,” never discriminating.
Pizza: A joy she never skips, customized for her vegetarian diet.
Sugar: Bell avoids added sugars and heavily processed sweets.
Alcohol: Minimal consumption, rarely drinking for health and clarity.
Portion Control: She’s mindful of serving sizes, eating until satisfied but not stuffed.

Practical Tips for a Bell-Inspired Lifestyle

Embrace quick HIIT workouts—sprint, jump, or move for 15 minutes.
Fill salads with grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits for texture and nutrition.
Track macros to optimize balance, but don’t obsess—flexibility matters.
Experiment with fiber-first meals to stabilize blood sugar.
Make indulgence a part of the plan—a pasta night elevates joy and energy.
Prioritize mental health with mindfulness, therapy, and open communication.
Let self-care be playful, creative, and purposeful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does Kristen Bell follow a strict diet?

No, Bell maintains a flexible, plant-based diet focusing on balance. She indulges in favorites like croutons and pasta but is mindful of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Q: What is Kristen Bell’s favorite form of exercise?

HIIT, especially sprints up her driveway, is Kristen Bell’s go-to for quick, effective workouts that fit her busy schedule.

Q: What is the ‘garbage disposal’ salad?

It’s Bell’s daily, customizable salad packed with grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and healthy oil—perfect for both nutrition and variety.

Q: How does Kristen Bell practice biohacking?

Bell eats fiber-rich foods or greens before carbs to stabilize blood sugar, and occasionally uses apple cider vinegar or psyllium fiber supplements for added benefit.

Q: How does Kristen Bell prioritize mental health?

She’s open about her mental health journey, attends therapy, practices self-care, and maintains honest communication in her relationships.

Takeaways: Real Wellness Lessons from Kristen Bell

Bounce Back: Embrace flexibility in food and fitness. Commitment beats perfection.
Honor Balance: Prioritize meals and movement to feel good—not just to look good.
Celebrate Favorites: Enjoy comfort foods and treats alongside nutritious staples.
Self-Acceptance: Wellness is a journey of embracing strengths, setbacks, and self-kindness.
Experiment: Be curious about biohacking and try new routines, but focus on what works for you.

Kristen Bell’s refreshingly real approach to diet and fitness reminds us that sustainable wellness is about joy, balance, and authenticity—both on and off the red carpet.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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