Celebrity diets: a nutritionist's take

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I normally don't pay much attention to what celebrities eat, but when the PR firm for Us Weekly sent me some information from the current issue's "What I Ate Today" (where stars give Us a day in their diet), I thought it was interesting to see how dietitian, Joy Bauer analyzed their choices. See what you think…

Cat Deeley

BREAKFAST
Hot water with ½ lemon, Starbucks Grande Skinny Mocha Latte, 2 pieces whole wheat toast, 1 sliced tomato, ½ glass orange juice

LUNCH
3 cups salad with ½ avocado, basil olive oil, ½ squeezed lemon, 3 tbsp pine nuts; 6 slices smoked salmon with lime, 2 crisp breads with low-fat cottage cheese; 1 small glass watermelon juice

SNACK
Baby carrots with 3 tbsp hummus

DINNER
Tuna ceviche, 8 chips, ½ rib eye steak, spinach and radish salad, 2 glasses champagne, 1 glass red wine

SNACK
3 squares dark chocolate

CALORIES 2,695
FAT 120 g
CARBS 213 g
PROTEIN 141 g
SUGAR 73 g

JOY SAYS:
"Her coffee has calcium-rich milk for strong bones," but overall, the morning meal for the So You Think You Can Dance host, 33, is too carb-heavy, says Bauer, who suggests adding low-fat cheese to up her protein. Lunch and snacks are spot-on! Swap in sirloin for the rib eye at dinner for a beef fix with less fat.

Lauren Sanchez

BREAKFAST
Power Crunch Triple Chocolate protein bar, Starbucks Venti Vanilla Latte

SNACK
10 almonds

LUNCH
Caesar salad with 4 oz grilled chicken, 2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette; 1 Neuro-Gasm energy drink

SNACK
2 bites of son's mac 'n' cheese

DINNER
4 oz grilled chicken, small salad, 1 cup steamed veggies, 1 glass red wine

EVENING
½ chocolate chip cookie

CALORIES 1,565
FAT 68 g
CARBS 118 g
PROTEIN 99 g
SUGAR 66 g

JOY SAYS:
Better find a new breakfast bar! "Lauren's has 5 grams of saturated fat and hydrogenated oil," says Bauer, who urges the Extra weekend host, 40, and mom to eat a nonfat Greek yogurt with berries instead. Chicken for lunch delivers lots of protein, plus Bauer commends the topping: "I love that she swaps calorific creamy Caesar dressing for vinaigrette with heart-healthy olive oil." And while dinner is definitely healthy, Bauer suggests a turkey burger, a salmon fillet or a pork tenderloin. Says the pro, "Otherwise, I'm afraid she'll get bored."

Ciara

BREAKFAST
2 scrambled egg whites, 2 turkey sausage links, ½ cup breakfast potatoes, ½ cup pineapple chunks and grapes

LUNCH
4 oz turkey meat loaf, 1 cup asparagus and red peppers, grilled, 1 cup salad, ½ cup mashed potatoes

SNACK
¼ cup almonds, 1 orange, 1 Luna chocolate protein bar

DINNER
3 oz filet mignon, 1 cup steamed broccoli and cauliflower, 1 cup salad with peppers and asparagus, 1 baked potato

SNACK
3 oz grilled chicken, ¼ cup almonds, ½ cup watermelon chunks

CALORIES 2,300
FAT 123 g
CARBS 187 g
PROTEIN 117 g
SUGAR 62 g

JOY SAYS:
"A+ on the breakfast!" proclaims Bauer of the singer, 24, now at work on her fourth CD. "Her protein choices contain half the calories and fat of traditional scrambled eggs and sausage." Ciara's turkey meat loaf lunch also gets praise, but trading mashed potatoes (often laden with butter and whole milk) for a baked sweet potato provides fiber and nutrients. Calcium-rich almonds and the fiber-filled oranges are smart snack choices, she adds. Ciara's dinner, though, could be better. "Enough with the potatoes," says Bauer, who suggests a nutrient-dense whole grain like quinoa.

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I love hearing from a dietitian about what these celebrities should do differently. And of course, it's good to know that these three stars actually eat!

Also see:
4 diet destroyers from Dr. Oz
How Pink gets her buff bod
Weight loss success stories