Kelly Ripa’s Daily Diet and Wellness Routine: Insights From Her Nutritionist and Her Own Morning Rituals
How Kelly Ripa stays energized, fit, and vibrant in her 50s—revealed by her nutritionist and daily practices.
Exactly How Kelly Ripa Eats and Stays Energized in Her 50s
Kelly Ripa is known for her remarkable energy, toned physique, and vibrant presence as the co-host of Live with Kelly and Mark. Even at 53, she manages an exceptionally busy schedule while maintaining a consistent wellness routine. Ripa’s diet, mindset, and fitness routines reveal that her secret is not deprivation, but rather a conscious approach to eating and living well. Here’s a comprehensive look at what Kelly Ripa eats in a day—as revealed by her longtime nutritionist Daryl Gioffre—as well as her food philosophy, wellness hacks, and healthy living tips you can try yourself.
Kelly Ripa’s Food Philosophy: Balance and Moderation
Rather than following extreme diets or cutting out entire food groups, Kelly Ripa centers her eating habits around wholesome, mostly plant-based foods, with an emphasis on variety and moderation. According to Ripa and her nutritionist, Daryl Gioffre, the focus is always on foods that support consistent energy, good digestion, and long-term health—not on strict deprivation.
- Whole foods take priority (think fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and healthy proteins).
- Moderation over restriction: Ripa avoids “all or nothing” thinking when it comes to treats or less-ideal ingredients.
- Listening to your body: She adapts her diet based on what helps her feel best.
A Typical Day on Kelly Ripa’s Plate
Kelly Ripa’s daily eating pattern is structured, but leaves room for flexibility and enjoyment. Here’s what a typical day looks like, including her favorite foods, drinks, and snacks:
Morning Hydration and Green Start
- First: A tall glass of water mixed with a greens powder supplement (such as Alkamind Daily Greens) to flood her system with phytonutrients and antioxidants before any food or caffeine.
- Coffee Ritual: After hydrating, Ripa enjoys her beloved coffee, typically blended with grass-fed butter and an alkalizing additive for extra nutrients and taste. She occasionally adds cream to her coffee, showing her preference for moderation over strict veganism.
Breakfast: Energizing and Simple
Ripa prefers a light, nutrient-dense breakfast after her morning show (usually around 10:00 a.m. EST), as she doesn’t like eating before going on air:
- Green Apple with Almond Butter: She slices up a green apple and pairs it with several tablespoons of almond butter plus a sprinkle of cinnamon, mixing it all together for a porridge-like consistency that’s energizing and keeps her full.
Midday Snack
- Raw Nuts: To keep energy steady between meals, Ripa munches on raw nuts—especially before and after lunch. They’re packed with healthy fats and plant-based protein.
Lunch: The Signature Kelly Ripa Salad
Lunch is where Ripa packs in fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Her signature salad includes:
- Microgreens
- Avocado
- Sprouts
- Raw Nuts
- Sometimes extra veggies or a simple dressing of lemon and olive oil
This salad is designed to fuel her for the rest of the day and is always loaded with seasonal, fresh ingredients. Occasionally, she’ll complement it with additional snacks like Greek yogurt with fruit and pistachios, or protein bars with flaxseed snacks. Ripa also enjoys simple unprocessed foods—she appreciates the honest taste of high-quality ingredients without too many sauces or dressings.
What others are reading
Dinner: Lighter, More of the Same With Protein
Dinner echoes lunch in its focus on green, plant-rich foods but is usually lighter in portion size. Ripa will often have:
- A smaller salad with microgreens, similar to lunch
- Grilled or steamed vegetables
- Protein side: Choices include grilled tofu, tahini-based dishes, or occasionally fish protein (salmon, light white fish), showing her flexible mostly plant-based approach
Dessert and Evening Rituals
- Avocado Chocolate Mousse: A dessert made from avocados, vanilla extract, raw cacao, dates, and sea salt
- Chocolate Chia Pudding: For a fiber and antioxidant boost
- Detox Tea: Before bed, she drinks a soothing tea blend made from turmeric, ginger, lemon, and black pepper to close the nutrition loop for the day
Key Principles Behind the Kelly Ripa Diet
Several core guidelines ensure Ripa’s eating style is sustainable and supportive of her busy lifestyle:
- Prioritizing alkaline foods: The majority (about 80%) of Ripa’s diet is made up of alkaline-forming foods such as fresh vegetables, salads, and raw nuts, with the remaining 20% including items like fish, yogurt, or the occasional processed snack.
- ‘Clean eating’—Mostly unprocessed whole foods. Ripa chooses foods with simple ingredients and avoids overcomplicating her meals.
- Listening to her body: If she craves a treat (like Goldfish crackers or cream in her coffee), she’ll enjoy it without deprivation or guilt.
- Emphasis on plant-based and anti-inflammatory foods: Leafy greens, sprouts, and avocados are frequently featured in her diet for their fiber, vitamins, and inflammation-fighting properties.
What Does Kelly Ripa Avoid?
- Highly processed foods and excessive sugar—though she’s not militant about the occasional indulgence.
- Alcohol: Ripa has openly discussed choosing sobriety, noting she feels better and more energetic since removing alcohol from her routine.
Kelly Ripa’s Favorite Snacks and Guilty Pleasures
Despite a mostly clean and plant-centric diet, Kelly Ripa isn’t above a few beloved treats:
- Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers: Ripa admits they’re her unwavering go-to snack and refuses to cut them out.
- Protein bars and flaxseed snacks for a post-work pick-me-up.
- Greek yogurt with fruit and pistachios, emphasizing her preference for snacks with simple, real ingredients.
Movement and Mind-Body Wellness: More Than Just Food
Kelly Ripa pairs her nutrition strategy with an active, multifaceted fitness routine to support her energy and physique. With her personal trainer Anna Kaiser, Ripa works out up to five times per week—varying routines that include:
- Endurance exercises
- Strength training
- Dancing and flexibility work
- Mindful breathing and lymphatic drainage (as promoted in AKT workouts)
Ripa is an advocate for consistency over perfection, often reminding fans that motivation can ebb and flow but routine keeps her progress steady.
Insights from Kelly Ripa’s Nutritionist: Daryl Gioffre’s Tips
Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a functional nutritionist, provides guiding principles for Ripa’s, and by extension, anyone’s, healthy living journey:
- Moderation is key—it’s not about what you eliminate, but about finding a healthy balance that supports energy and joy.
- Front-load your day with greens and hydration to boost antioxidant intake and support gut health.
- Optimize for digestion by emphasizing fiber-rich plant foods, healthy fats, and minimizing heavy, late-night meals.
- Customize your routine—adapt eating patterns to your unique schedule and needs, just as Ripa does with her early mornings and late show tapings.
| Time | Meal/Snack | Main Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Early Morning | Hydration + Greens | Water, greens powder (dehydrated veggies) |
| After Show | Breakfast | Green apple, almond butter, cinnamon |
| Late Morning | Snack | Raw nuts |
| Lunch | Salad | Microgreens, avocado, sprouts, raw nuts |
| Afternoon | Snack | Protein bar, flaxseed snacks, Greek yogurt with fruit & pistachios (optional) |
| Dinner | Light Salad + Protein | Small salad, steamed veggies, grilled tofu/fish/tahini |
| Evening | Dessert + Tea | Avocado chocolate mousse or chia pudding; detox tea with turmeric, ginger, lemon, black pepper |
Why Kelly Ripa’s Diet Works for Her
Ripa’s approach isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about finding what works. Her food routine supports her:
- Early call times as a morning show host
- On-the-go lifestyle with family and work
- Desire for long-term vitality and mental clarity
Her flexibility—allowing for personal favorites, moderate treats, and simple substitutions—makes her routine relatable and sustainable for people seeking more balance without extreme discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Kelly Ripa’s Diet and Routine
Q: Is Kelly Ripa vegan?
A: While her diet is plant-centric and is based about 80% on alkaline-forming, mostly vegan foods, Kelly Ripa still enjoys fish, yogurt, and occasionally cream in her coffee, so she is not strictly vegan.
Q: Does Kelly Ripa still drink alcohol?
A: No, Kelly Ripa has chosen to stop drinking alcohol and has discussed feeling more energetic and healthy since giving it up.
Q: What are her favorite indulgences?
A: Ripa’s main guilty pleasure is Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers, alongside the occasional protein bar or Greek yogurt parfait.
Q: Why does she use green powder supplements?
A: The greens powder helps Ripa quickly boost her intake of micronutrients and antioxidants first thing in the morning—a strategy that supports her energy and digestion after waking up early.
Q: What kind of exercise routine does she follow?
A: Ripa works out up to five days a week with routines combining endurance, strength, flexibility, and dance, guided by her trainer Anna Kaiser and promoting variety to prevent burnout.
Takeaways for Readers: What You Can Learn from Kelly Ripa’s Diet
If you’re seeking inspiration for a sustainable, energizing approach to food, Kelly Ripa’s method is worth considering. Here’s what you can incorporate into your own routine:
- Start your day with hydration and greens for a micronutrient boost.
- Prioritize whole, plant-based foods and mix in healthy fats for satiety.
- Adopt an 80/20 mindset—focus on nutritious foods most of the time, but allow room for mini indulgences and personal favorites.
- Keep your meals and snacks simple, fresh, and visually appealing.
- Partner a smart nutrition plan with an enjoyable, consistent movement routine.
Remember: Wellness is about feeling good and living in a way that suits your unique needs. As Kelly Ripa and her nutritionist emphasize, “It’s not about deprivation. It’s about moderation.”
References
Similar Articles
Read full bio of Sneha Tete
