Inside Martha Stewart’s Daily Diet: Simplicity, Freshness, and Wellness

Discover Martha Stewart's refreshingly simple yet nutrient-packed daily diet, rooted in farm-fresh ingredients and mindful choices.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach
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Martha Stewart’s Approach to Everyday Eating

Martha Stewart—icon of style, homemaking, and culinary mastery—is renowned not just for her expertise in creating beautiful meals, but for the simplicity and intentionality she brings to her own daily diet. While her public image may conjure images of elaborate feasts and complex presentations, Stewart’s personal food choices are surprisingly minimalistic, focusing on wholesome ingredients, freshness, and routines that support wellness from within. Here’s a detailed look at everything Martha Stewart typically eats in a day, plus the guiding principles that shape her nutritional lifestyle.

Morning Routine: The Secret of the Green Juice

Martha Stewart’s days begin early—rising by 6:15 a.m.—with rituals rooted in both productivity and self-care. After preparing her day and catching up on The New York Times, she turns her attention to health, starting with her signature green juice, a cornerstone of her beauty and wellness routine for years.

  • Key green juice ingredients from her own farm and greenhouse include cucumber, parsley, mint, celery (with leaves), half an orange (including the skin), ginger, and pineapple.
  • Stewart avoids kale and cabbage in her juice, emphasizing taste and enjoyment: “It just doesn’t taste good,” she remarks.
  • She credits this juice as a secret behind her radiant skin and healthy hair.
  • The preparation is hands-on, using a Breville Bluicer Pro juicer, underscoring her commitment to fresh, whole ingredients.

The focus on freshness and produce reflects her dedication to gardening—a practice she pursues with nearly an acre of raised vegetables, including spinach, peas, and herbs that she proudly cultivates for their superior flavor and nutrition.

Mornings on the Move: Routine, Nature, and Coffee

After savoring her green juice, Martha steps outside for an energetic patrol around her property, connecting with the land and tending to her menagerie—horses, donkeys, peacocks, pigeons, chickens, and geese. This active start is followed by a quintessential culinary treat: a perfectly crafted cappuccino.

  • Her cappuccino ritual relies on organic Battenkill Valley milk, frothed to perfection using a professional La San Marco espresso machine, which she describes as “the hub of the kitchen.”
  • By delaying coffee until after her juice has digested, Stewart practices mindful consumption and gentle pacing in her mornings.

The Philosophy: Clean, Organic, and Mindful Eating

Despite an endless array of food samples arriving from brands and restaurants eager for her endorsement, Martha describes herself as “not a snacker.” Her conviction is clear: she keeps sugary and processed treats out of temptation’s reach, preferring instead to focus on meals that are simple yet exceptionally flavorful—and always composed of the highest-quality ingredients she can find or grow herself.

Her approach boils down to a core set of beliefs:

  • Organic: Stewart insists on organically grown fruits, vegetables, and proteins, nurturing them whenever possible on her own farm.
  • Clean eating: Minimally processed, fresh foods are at the heart of every plate.
  • Pleasure and satisfaction: She won’t sacrifice enjoyment for restriction, prioritizing meals that taste good and leave her feeling nourished.

This philosophy is as much about exclusion (avoiding highly processed foods and snacks) as it is about inclusion (embracing nutrient-dense farm produce and artisanal staples).

Light Lunches: Simple Recipes, Superior Ingredients

For lunch, Martha keeps things light—but never boring—anchoring her meals in Mediterranean-style staples with refined touches. One of her favorites is her now-famous tuna salad, but prepared with a level of discernment that transforms it from basic to gourmet:

  • Italian tuna canned in olive oil serves as the base, eschewing water-packed versions for their richer texture and flavor.
  • She adds crisp celery, thinly sliced apple, half a fresh shallot, generous lemon juice, just a touch of mayonnaise, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • The resulting salad is bright, refreshing, and satisfying—with robust flavors from carefully chosen ingredients.

This pattern of light, satisfying lunchtime fare lets Stewart focus on quality and nutrient-density, while minimizing heavy, processed additions that sap energy and vibrancy.

Dinner with Intention: Gathering, Sharing, and Comfort

While the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shrank her dinner parties, Martha Stewart’s love for communal dining endures. Preferably, she prepares dinner for family and friends, weaving in the same farm-fresh themes that define her other meals.

One recently highlighted creation was her roasted organic chicken “nomad style”:

  • Dry-brined in salt and pepper overnight in the refrigerator for optimal flavor and juiciness.
  • Truffle-edged indulgence: Before roasting, Stewart stuffs the chicken skin with black truffles and smears it with room-temperature butter, creating a deeply aromatic, succulent dish.
  • Roasted at a high heat (425°F) for one hour, resulting in crispy skin and delicate, flavorful meat.
  • Accompaniments: Often served with rack of lamb, sautéed green beans, and fresh garden salad—a meal that’s simple in technique but elevated through premium ingredients and thoughtful preparation.

Beverage Choices: Balanced and Discerning

When it comes to drinks, Martha Stewart displays the same measured, selective approach seen in her food.

  • Vodka is her spirit of choice—always with company, never alone. She enjoys high-quality vodka on the rocks, garnished with a thick orange slice, or a classic Greyhound cocktail (vodka and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice).
  • She’ll also appreciate a carefully selected bottle of wine, usually chosen by her own curated wine club.
  • Excess and overindulgence are absent; Stewart stresses enjoyment and moderation.

The Minimalist’s Refrigerator: Staples Only

Despite her access to an impressive, industrial-sized glass-door refrigerator, Stewart’s daily habits reveal a minimalist’s sensibility. Visitors may be surprised at how sparingly she keeps her fridge stocked, opting for essentials that support her core meals rather than a chaotic array of options.

Refrigerator must-haves include:

  • Parmigiano-Reggiano: for grating over salads or pasta.
  • Organic whole milk and plenty of premium butter.
  • Crème fraîche, mainly reserved for omelets and delicate preparations.
  • Dozens of eggs, gathered daily from her own chicken coop—a testament to her commitment to freshness and self-sufficiency.

This streamlined approach reduces food waste, centers her meals around fresh, needed ingredients, and avoids the distractions or temptations of processed foods.

Occasional Treats: Baking for Joy

Although her core routine focuses on savory, clean, and simple, Martha Stewart’s passion for baking emerges on leisurely days. Baking is an occasional treat, not a daily indulgence, but it’s approached with the same attention to craftsmanship and quality.

  • She recently baked two Sally Lunn babka breads, enjoying slices toasted for breakfast or in sumptuous bread pudding recipes.
  • Baking offers her a creative outlet and a way to share her love with those around her—again reinforcing the theme of food as a medium of connection and comfort.

Supplements and Nutritional Support

Though largely reliant on her whole-food-based diet for vitamins and minerals, Stewart occasionally supplements her intake as needed:

  • Her regimen is minimal but may include calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and lysine, particularly when she feels she needs extra support for stress or health.
  • By and large, she credits her devotion to unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods for most of her wellbeing, reserving supplements for targeted needs.

Farm-to-Table: Stewarding Her Own Food Supply

True to her reputation as a pioneer in home gardening and sustainability, Stewart’s diet is deeply shaped by the produce and eggs from her own land. She recently expanded her raised-bed gardens to nearly an acre, boasting bountiful harvests and a rotating array of seasonal vegetables—from vibrant spinach to massive stalks of broccoli that fill her with pride.

This commitment to growing her own food not only ensures optimal nutrition and flavor, but also aligns with her values of sustainability and self-reliance. Stewart often incorporates these garden-fresh ingredients into everything from green juices to elaborate dinner salads.

Celebrating Simplicity: Martha Stewart’s Culinary Mantra

The heart of Stewart’s dietary wisdom is the consistent pursuit of simplicity, quality, and mindfulness. By focusing on fresh, homegrown produce, minimally processed dairy and proteins, and balanced, light meals, she demonstrates that extraordinary health and satisfaction can be achieved without elaborate preparation or deprivation.

Key takeaways from Martha Stewart’s eating routine:

  • Rise early and start your day with a ritual that supports your sense of wellbeing.
  • Choose foods that are as close to their source as possible—organic, seasonal, and ideally harvested by your own hand.
  • Skip processed snacks and focus on satisfying, light meals with vibrant flavors.
  • Cook and eat in joyful community, and treat baking and special dishes as occasions for creativity and connection.
  • Maintain a minimalist kitchen—keep only what you use and love.
  • Enjoy alcohol mindfully, with others, and always focus on quality over quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Martha Stewart’s favorite breakfast?

A: Martha Stewart starts her morning with a fresh green juice made from ingredients like cucumber, parsley, mint, celery, orange, ginger, and pineapple—all sourced from her own garden. She follows this with a cappuccino made from organic milk and premium espresso.

Q: Does she eat snacks between meals?

A: No, Stewart describes herself as “not a snacker.” She tries to keep pastries, breads, and processed snacks out of her reach, preferring to enjoy balanced meals next to minimal to no snacking.

Q: How does she keep her meals exciting if she eats simply?

A: Stewart emphasizes the importance of high-quality, flavorful ingredients—often harvested from her farm. Staples like Italian tuna in olive oil, fresh vegetables, herbs, and lemon juice elevate basic recipes, making even simple dishes vibrant and satisfying.

Q: Does Martha Stewart follow any particular diet plan?

A: Stewart does not subscribe to any formal diet plan. Her approach is intuitive, flexible, and based on eating clean, organic, and minimally processed foods for pleasure and wellness.

Q: What are her indulgences or treats?

A: When time allows, Stewart loves to bake artisan breads and sweets, such as Sally Lunn babka. She also enjoys a good vodka cocktail or wine, but only in social company.

Q: What’s always in Martha Stewart’s refrigerator?

A: Essential staples such as Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, organic milk, high-quality butter, crème fraîche, and fresh eggs from her own chickens.

Sample Daily Menu: Martha Stewart Style

MealTypical Foods & Notes
BreakfastGreen juice (cucumber, parsley, mint, celery, orange, ginger, pineapple); organic cappuccino
LunchLight salad (e.g., Italian tuna in olive oil, apple, celery, shallots, lemon, touch of mayo), no snacks
DinnerRoasted organic chicken (seasoned with truffles, herbs, and butter), rack of lamb, green beans, garden salad; wine or vodka cocktail when hosting
TreatOccasional homemade baked goods, such as Sally Lunn bread, often served toasted at breakfast or turned into bread pudding

In sum, Martha Stewart’s diet is a masterclass in balancing simplicity with quality, nourishment with enjoyment, and routine with creativity—proof that healthy eating is as much about mindful choices as it is about culinary flair.

Sneha Tete
Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

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