Here's How To Eat Breakfast Exactly Like a Celeb Nutritionist

Serena Poon, Kerry Washington's nutritionist, shares her go-to breakfast.

We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. As the name suggests, breakfast is a time when you break your fast. And the foods and drinks you choose to fuel your body with are essential to your overall health.

Serena Poon, celebrity chef and nutritionist for celebrities like Kerry Washington and Jerry Bruckheimer, shares more about what she eats for the first meal of her day.

“I personally practice intermittent fasting and recommend that many of my adult clients do the same,” says Poon. “Intermittent fasting can elicit benefits in many populations (it’s not right for everyone though, so make sure to check with your practitioner). Intermittent fasting can help reduce inflammation and improve gut health, heart health and memory, just to name a few benefits.”

Fasting also triggers autophagy, a crucial process for cellular health and longevity.

“All of that is to say that my personal definition of breakfast is the first meal that I eat when I break my fast, so it’s not necessarily the morning’s meal,” Poon explains. “No matter when you have your first meal, it is important to reach for fresh, wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. These foods will supply your body with the necessary nutrients and energy to take on your day.”

Poon’s First Meal of the Day

“I start with a cup of warm lemon water and a tall glass of my luminous elixir, which is full of fresh, green vegetables to get my digestion moving and to supply my body with easily absorbed nutrients,” says Poon. “After, I’ll make myself a cup of matcha or a matcha latte with homemade nut milk. Matcha is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances. For this reason, I prefer matcha to coffee.”

Related: 11 Decadent Matcha Recipes

For food, she usually reaches for a piece of avocado toast on vegan, gluten-free, sprouted bread topped with broccoli sprouts, sliced cucumbers, hemp seeds fresh black pepper, sea salt with a high polyphenol extra-virgin olive oil drizzle, or some unsweetened coconut yogurt topped with hemp seeds and blueberries.

“These meals are nutrient-dense, supply an array of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein and fiber—the perfect combination for breaking fast,” says Poon.

Healthy Swaps for Traditional Breakfast Meals

In terms of breakfast foods (and really, all meals), Poon’s number one recommendation is to keep it real.

Related: 55 Satisfying Vegan Breakfasts to Power Your Day—Minus Meat and Dairy

“Eat real, wholesome unprocessed foods for every meal and your body will thank you,” she suggests. Poon also recommends including protein in your breakfast to start the day with sustained energy, but warns against processed foods "like breakfast meats (which are known to be carcinogenic) and vegan breakfast meats (often very high in sodium).”

When selecting bread, reach for whole grain and sprouted bread, which is going to deliver more nutrients and fiber than white bread. You'll also want to reach for cold-pressed vegetable juices, which are lower in sugar than fruit juices. In general, don’t be afraid to add vegetables to your breakfast.

Just because it’s not the norm in our society doesn’t mean that breakfast isn’t a great time to fuel your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants that will help you feel great, Poon adds.

Next up: 10 Healthy Ten-Minute (or Less) Breakfasts for Busy Mornings