When Cameron Diaz isn't being the most charming actress in Hollywood, she's co-authoring books about longevity, the human body, and wellness. In The Longevity Book: The Science of Aging, the Biology of Strength, and the Privilege of Time, Diaz applies her sunny disposition to anti-aging, lauding the health benefits of eating pork belly on a fun night out with friends. Though, most of the time, Diaz is just home-cooking like the rest of us.
What does your breakfast routine look like?
I’m a protein girl in the morning. That’s a big thing for me. A lot of my friends can't stomach breakfast, but I have a first and a second breakfast.
What happens at each breakfast?
At my first breakfast, I just put something in my stomach before my workout—usually scrambled eggs, toast, an avocado, an apple with almond butter, overnight oats, or a piece of chicken. It's just enough to kick things into gear. Then I work out. After that, at second breakfast, I joke that I eat dinner for breakfast. It's a full meal with chicken, grains, and sautéed or roasted vegetables.
Has your diet changed at all after researching and writing this book?
Since my mid-30s I've been conscientious about my eating and good nutrition. It's not really something I grew up with. What I really learned about aging was the five pillars of well-being. They're integrated and we need 'em all.
What are they?
First and foremost, we need good nutrition, good sleep, good physical activity—and I don't mean just working out a gym for two hours then sitting for eight. We need constant movement, periodically, throughout the day. Then we need to learn how to release stress. We also need to find a connection or purpose with the community around us. Like, when I sit down to a meal with a friend, it's really just part of improving my well-being. It's not just the food I'm eating. I can restrict the hell out of my eating generally, but when I sit down with a friend, no matter what I eat, it's good for me.
What do you mean?
I don't eat pork belly when I'm home by myself, but when I'm at a restaurant with a friend? That's another story. I'm just loving the moment with my friend and it's feeding my soul in a different way.
Is there a secret ingredient you swear by in the kitchen?
Everything tastes better with a squeeze of lemon. I really put it on everything. Lemon, garlic, olive oil, and salt can make anything taste good. It's almost like cheating—there's just no way to make it taste bad.
Would you rather cook or be cooked for?
Cook, always.
Do you have a signature dish?
My husband [Benji Madden] would say it’s my lamb chops. It’s not why he loves me, but he also tells me it helps.
Wow. What's in these lamb chops?
It’s so simple and the same as everything else I like: garlic, lemon, oil, salt, and oregano. But I think the magic is in the ratios and the amount of time that it sits in the marinade. Then I grill them so they get nice and caramelized.
Are there any family recipes from childhood that you just love?
Anything my mom would cook. We had white rice at every meal, because my dad is Cuban. There would just be a pot of white rice on the counter next to the stove, and I would eat it throughout the day—just take a spoonful here and there. When I'd get hungry, I'd scoop some into a pan with water to reconstitute it, add salt and vinegar, and flavor it with whatever condiments or leftovers we had.
Do you still do that?
Oh, yeah. I do the same thing now. Instead of snacking on chips, I always go for my grains. I throw them into a pan with chicken stock, and drop in vegetables, lemon, and garlic. That's my main snack. Even if I'm going to be out all day, I'll pack a veggie stir-fry from the morning in a to-go container with a silverware set.
What's your favorite midnight snack, though?
I'm not really a nighttime eater, but, if I'm up late for some reason, and I know I'm going to be too hungry to go to sleep, I'll do a spoonful of almond butter.
The Longevity Book by Cameron Diaz is available now.