Jennifer Garner is in the best shape of her life, and she can thank two main women for her buff body: her trainer, Simone De La Rue, and her nutritionist, Kelly LeVeque. But the real question is: What do the pros themselves eat to stay healthy and give them energy? Us asked registered dietitian Rachel Berman, General Manager at Verywell, to weigh in on healthy breakfast and share Who Ate It Best: Egg Breakfast Edition.
The Similarities: First of all, both De La Rue’s pick (left) and LeVeque’s a.m. choice (right) are great. “Both breakfasts are chock-full of nutrition that provide the energy you need to face the day ahead,” says the NYC-based dietitian. “Eggs give you a dose of protein and fat to fill you up and — this isn’t scientific — but there’s just something about a warm breakfast that is way more satisfying in general.” The avocado in both dishes also gets high points from Berman: “Not only does avocado look pretty and taste delicious, but the monounsaturated fats and fiber it contains are also great for heart health.”
The Differences: In an October 3 Instagram post that pictured two poached eggs with avocado, tomato and pesto sauce on top of slices of baguette, De La Rue revealed that her “breakfast is usually always eggs. I love them, poached, scrambled, omelette, you name it.” She goes on to praise them for their high protein content before recommending people “add in a healthy fat, some fiber and some greens… Try and be as creative as you can.”
Meanwhile, the Body Love author’s healthy breakfast — she posted this one on Instagram on May 20 — contains one poached egg, a half of an avocado, broccoli spears, mixed greens, diced peppers (a surprisingly great source of Vitamin C) and one slice of bacon.
The Verdict: “This is a very close call,” says Berman, “but I am going to have to side with Simone’s breakfast. Simone has a slightly better balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate, which may help you stay more satisfied.” The Body By Simone founder also gets points for her basil-based sauce: “Herbs like pesto add antioxidants that keep your body healthy,” notes the dietitian.
And though Berman says she doesn’t subscribe to the theory that it’s necessary to cut grains from your diet, especially when you need energy for workouts, there’s one improvement she thinks the trainer can make: “In an ideal world, her baguette would be whole grain.”
The Takeaway: It’s easy to learn from LeVeque’s and De La Rue’s go-to morning meals. Says the R.D., “A filling and nutritious at-home breakfast contains eggs without too much added oil or butter — scrambled, poached, boiled are all great options.” The final touch? “Add a a high fiber vegetable and nutrient-dense carbohydrate like whole wheat bread, quinoa or sweet potato and you’re all set!”
