Inside Julianne Hough’s Vibrant Diet and Wellness Routine

Discover the energizing vegan, gluten-free approach Julianne Hough follows for daily nourishment, balanced pleasure, and sustained wellness.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 28, 2025

Discover the energizing vegan, gluten-free approach Julianne Hough follows for daily nourishment, balanced pleasure, and sustained wellness.

Julianne Hough stands out not only for her dancing prowess but also for her balanced approach to health and nutrition. Known for her dynamic energy and dedication to fitness, Julianne’s approach to food reflects her commitment to feeling her best from the inside out. She embraces a vegan and gluten-free diet, prioritizing whole, nourishing foods, while also allowing herself moments of joy and indulgence. Explore how this philosophy translates into her daily meals, wellness practices, and overall lifestyle.

Julianne Hough’s Food Philosophy: Nourishment Meets Pleasure

Food, for Julianne, is more than just fuel—it’s an opportunity to nurture both body and soul. Over years of performing, Julianne discovered which foods help her feel energetic and well, ultimately settling into a vegan and gluten-free pattern. Importantly, her choices are rooted in self-awareness and feeling good—she avoids dietary labels for trendiness and instead listens to her own body’s cues.

“It’s because my body needs it… I’m really just trying to focus on my health from the inside out,” Julianne has emphasized, underscoring her view that food choices should be both mindful and enjoyable.

The Essentials: What Julianne Hough Eats in a Day

100% vegan and gluten-free: Focusing on fresh, whole ingredients.
Lots of hydration: Begins and ends her day with water.
Meals tailored to her energy needs: Flexible with meals, but maintains core staples.
Joyful indulgence: Allows herself pleasures like wine or sweets in moderation.

Morning Rituals: Kicking Off the Day Right

Hydration First: Lemon Water

The first thing Julianne does upon waking is drink lukewarm lemon water she preps the night before. She believes that this habit helps cleanse her system, setting the tone for her metabolism and digestive tract. Lemon water is thought to help flush out toxins and awakens the palette for a fresh start.

Preps water at night with half a lemon.
Drinks upon waking to help refresh the body after sleep.

Morning Workout & Green Juice

Julianne is an advocate for morning movement, typically exercising before her first meal. To keep her energy high, she often enjoys a fresh green juice before or after her morning dance or fitness session.

Common juice ingredients Julianne favors:

Spinach and kale
Green apple (for sweetness)
Carrots, if she wants more sweetness
Beets (occasionally)
Ginger and lemon (for zing and digestion)
Cucumber and celery (hydration)

Each juice is tailored to her mood and whatever fresh produce she has on hand.

Protein-Packed Breakfast: Steamed Eggs or Light Meal

If not fasting after her workout, Julianne will often have steamed eggs—one of her favorite ways to start the day—served with tomato and avocado for flavor and healthy fats.

Steamed eggs
Fresh sliced tomatoes
Avocado

On other days, she may opt for a smoothie made with Greek yogurt, almond milk, banana, and apple, or simply stick to her juice if she’s not feeling hungry.

Lunch: Nourishing Soups and Hearty Salads

Lunch for Julianne often consists of a combination of soup and salad, packed with nutrients, fiber, and vibrant vegetables to keep her fueled for the remainder of the day. She’s a fan of batch-cooking soups—like vegan butternut squash with carrot—so she always has healthy options at hand.

Her go-to lunch staples include:

Vegan butternut squash and carrot soup
Fresh salads packed with:

Asparagus and broccolini
Beets and watermelon radishes
Fresh ginger (for flavor and digestion)
Spinach or mixed greens as a base

Apple cider vinegar as dressing (aids digestion)

She sometimes adds chickpeas, hearts of palm, almonds, edamame, and cucumber for crunch, protein, and nutrients. On busier days, a wrap with salad greens and vegan proteins like tofu or tempeh serves as a practical option.

Dinner: Variety, Wholesomeness, and Global Inspiration

Julianne’s dinners are never boring. She celebrates variety, regularly changing up her meals while keeping them both hearty and nourishing. One of her rotating favorites is mung daal (also spelled moong dal), a traditional Indian lentil stew, which she pairs with gluten-free crackers and a rainbow of vegetables.

Mung daal (lentil-based dish)
Gluten-free crackers
Toasted black sesame seeds (for added texture and healthy fats)
Vegetable sides, such as:

Sweet potato
Asparagus
Ginger
Collard greens, Swiss chard, or spinach

Sometimes, she’ll swap out the main protein or side based on what’s fresh or in season. The emphasis is always on nutrient density, plant power, and personal satisfaction.

Snacks and Between-Meal Choices

While Julianne generally doesn’t snack heavily, she keeps nourishing foods on hand for when she needs energy between meals. Her preferences include:

Fresh fruit (apples, oranges, berries)
Vegetable sticks with hummus
Nuts (in moderation)
Occasionally, a smoothie or green juice

On occasion, she mixes up a peanut butter and banana sandwich—sometimes with a dash of childhood nostalgia by adding salt-and-vinegar crisps, a quirky addition she developed with her brother.

Finding Pleasure in Food: Moderation and Mindful Indulgences

Julianne’s dietary philosophy isn’t about deprivation. Instead, she builds space for pleasure—in whatever form it takes. She’s learned to honor cravings and balance health with joy.

Wine or Sweets? Finding Her Treats

When it comes to indulgence, Julianne says she’s shifted from a “huge dessert person” to preferring a glass of wine or a cocktail when the mood strikes. Still, she never denies herself a sweet tooth when warranted. Her favorites include:

Ice cream
Sticky toffee pudding
Sour Patch Watermelon or Milk Duds (her go-to movie candy)

She feels that moderation is the key to sustainability. “If you’re gonna have a drink, if you’re gonna have a yummy sweet tooth, enjoy it. Take the pleasure in it,” Julianne encourages, highlighting her belief that enjoyment can coexist with healthy choices.

Mental and Physical Wellness: Beyond the Plate

As the creator of Kinrgy—a movement program fostering mind-body-soul connection—Julianne ties her wellness approach to more than just eating right. Her daily routine also centers on:

Hydration: She carries a 40-oz water bottle everywhere and makes sure to drink water throughout the day, especially before bed.
Movement: Daily exercise, often dance-based, helps her stay energized and positive.
Self-awareness: Refined food choices from years of performance and listening to her body’s needs.
Balance: Makes health enjoyable rather than restrictive.

Julianne Hough’s Sample Plant-Based Daily Menu

Meal	Sample Foods/Drinks
Upon Waking	Lukewarm lemon water (prepped overnight)
Pre-Workout	Green juice (spinach, kale, green apple, celery, ginger, lemon)
Breakfast	Steamed eggs, sliced tomato & avocado or smoothie (Greek yogurt, almond milk, banana, apple)
Lunch	Vegan butternut squash soup, salad (spinach, beets, broccolini, apple cider vinegar)
Snacks	Fruit, nuts, veggies with hummus, sometimes a PB & banana sandwich
Dinner	Mung daal, gluten-free crackers, sweet potato, sautéed greens, toasted sesame seeds
Treats	Glass of wine or cocktail, ice cream, sticky toffee pudding, movie candy (occasionally)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does Julianne Hough ever eat animal products?

A: While she has previously included eggs and fish in her meals, Julianne is currently committed to a vegan diet, focusing solely on plant-based foods.

Q: Is Julianne Hough’s diet suitable for everyone?

A: Her vegan and gluten-free diet is personally tailored to what makes her feel best. Always consult a nutritionist before making significant changes to your eating habits.

Q: How does she navigate eating out or social situations?

A: Julianne focuses on moderation and enjoyment, choosing the healthiest available options but indulging on occasion, such as enjoying wine or dessert at gatherings.

Q: What role does fitness play in Julianne’s routine?

A: Fitness is central to her lifestyle—she often works out daily, usually with dance-based movement, supporting both her physical and mental well-being.

Q: What advice does Julianne offer to those seeking to eat healthier?

A: Julianne emphasizes enjoyment, self-love, and listening to your own body—advocating for balance, moderation, and choosing foods that genuinely nourish and delight you.

Simple Recipes Inspired by Julianne Hough

Feeling inspired to eat like Julianne? Try these easy ideas at home:

Overnight Lemon Water: Fill a bottle with room temperature water and half a sliced lemon. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy as soon as you wake.
Quick Green Juice: Blend spinach, kale, green apple, cucumber, celery, ginger, and lemon. Enjoy post-workout or as a refreshing breakfast substitute.
Steamed Eggs with Tomato and Avocado: Gently steam eggs. Plate with thick-sliced tomatoes and avocado, seasoned with sea salt and pepper.
Mung Daal with Roasted Veggies: Cook moong dal with turmeric, cumin, ginger, and garlic. Serve with roasted sweet potatoes, asparagus, and sautéed chard.

Parting Wisdom: Savoring Health and Happiness

Julianne Hough’s diet is an illustration of how mindful choices, self-love, and joy can shape a sustainable and fulfilling approach to wellness. Her habits demonstrate that prioritizing health doesn’t mean sacrificing pleasure.

“Everything in moderation, and if you love your body and love what you’re putting into your body, your body’s gonna know,” she explains, encouraging everyone to savor not just the foods they eat, but the act of living well itself.

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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