The 22-year-old runway model has some pretty powerful women in her family — including her older sister and fellow model, Gigi, and her mother and former model, Yolanda, who starred in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the Lifetime show Making a Model With Yolanda Hadid. Now Hadid has taken the torch and seen her career skyrocket since signing on with a modeling agency in 2014 — she’s the face of Dior Beauty, as well as a Victoria Secret Fashion Show veteran. On top of that, she’s part of a famous circle that includes her best friend and fellow model, Kendall Jenner, along with her current boyfriend, the Weeknd. Thankfully, Hadid has supportive family and friends — she’s needed them to pull through some tough health times. The model was diagnosed with Lyme disease (a bacterial illness caused by a bite from an infected tick) in 2012. She still suffers complications from the disease; only a year ago she announced on Instagram that she’s feeling stronger. “Lyme disease can be debilitating to your health,” says Christine Palumbo, RDN, who has a private practice in Chicago. If not treated right away, it can come with serious symptoms, including severe joint pain and swelling, rashes, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and shooting pains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RELATED: How Is Lyme Disease Treated? To handle her busy schedule (and presumably the disease), Hadid keeps to a pretty healthy lifestyle — and she recently reported on Instagram she’s feeling happier and healthier than ever. Discover what we know about Hadid’s diet and fitness routine — plus, see what the pros think about her approach to health and wellness.
1. Hadid Knows How to Stock a Mostly Healthy Fridge
In October 2018, Hadid posted an image of her impeccably organized fridge in an Instagram story with the caption, “If anyone wants me to shop and organize their fridge I work mornings.” Not only is her fridge well arranged, but the foods inside are almost all dietitian-approved. “I love the lineup of packaged berries and veggies,” says Palumbo, referring to the plastic cartons of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, as well as baby carrots and celery sticks. Plus, “having nut butters on hand is always a good idea,” says Alix Turoff, RDN, a National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainer who is based in New York City. Hadid has both protein-packed cashew and almond butters at the ready (which are a perfect pairing with her celery sticks). Turoff is also a fan of Hadid’s stash of Siggi’s yogurt. “It’s an Icelandic style of yogurt, which is very nutritionally similar to Greek with its high protein but doesn’t have as strong of a bite — so clients tend to like it more,” she says. Also great? Siggi’s tends to be lower in sugar than other brands of flavored yogurt. But the one thing you might want to skip? “I don’t recommend San Pellegrino unless it’s for a treat,” says Turoff. Flavored varieties like the ones in Hadid’s fridge can have over 15 grams (g) of sugar — and the American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 g of added sugar per day for women (and no more than 36 g for men). Opt for kombucha instead (which is also stocked in Hadid’s fridge), advises Turoff. The varieties without added juice are lower in sugar than other packaged beverages and a better choice if you want something sweet and probiotic-filled to help your gut. RELATED: 9 Refreshing Alternatives to Soda
2. The Model Enjoys Her Fair Share of Green Juice
In 2017, Hadid told Harper’s Bazaar: “I order a lot of green juices and keep them around on set. I have ginger shots in a cooler, and I’ll drink one if I’m feeling low.” You can also tell she’s a green-juice fan based on what’s reportedly in her fridge (making an appearance: BluePrint’s Kale It Up and Lime Kick flavors). From a nutritional standpoint, there are definite pros and cons to regularly drinking green juice. “Green juice is a good way to get in your vegetables if you don’t like to eat them,” says Leah Kaufman, RD, who has a private practice in New York City. “That said, if you have green juice daily, you also have to make sure you’re taking in fiber from other sources because the drinks don’t have the fiber that you’d get from, say, eating a salad,” she adds. Another issue: the sugar. Although the drinks look mostly veggie-filled (they’re green, after all!), the main ingredients may actually be fruit juice or sweeteners to make the drink more palatable, says Palumbo. So if you do go the green-juice route, check the ingredient list on the back to make sure veggies take up the first few spots and scope out the sugar count.
3. Hadid’s Diet Is All About Healthy Protein, Fats, and Lots of Veggies
To stay in shape for her grueling modeling schedule, Hadid has teamed up with Charles Passler, who often works with celebrities and models to help them make a healthy lifestyle change. “My goal is to help them be able to maintain that actual body composition 365 days a year so that they’re not scrambling at the 11th hour to be sure that they are going to fit into a dress or fit into a bikini,” Passler told People. As for the plan Hadid’s on? “It’s adequate protein, adequate fat, and lots and lots and lots of nonstarchy vegetables,” said Passler in the interview. “That is typically the most bulletproof, easiest, soundproof way to make sure that somebody stays on track.” Based on the hummus, meat, yogurt, and nut butters in Hadid’s fridge, she’s on it with her protein and fat game, and there is no shortage of veggies in her fridge, either. In line with Passler’s plan, she told Harper’s, “I’ll usually have salmon or chicken and veggies. If not, then pasta. I like having a good protein meal because I get really tired if I eat too much, so I try to fill myself up with things that will make me feel good.” As for a dietitian’s view on the plan? “Eating a higher-protein diet appears to boost our satiety and rev our metabolism somewhat,” says Palumbo. “A diet likes this does make it easier to maintain weight,” she says. Adds Turoff: “It’s a good plan as long as it’s not so strict that it would cause disordered eating.” RELATED: 10 Essential Facts About Metabolism and Weight Loss
4. She Has a Soft Spot for Pizza
In a Women’s Wear Daily article from 2016, Hadid said, “Right now my diet is pizza, so recently that’s all I’ve been eating.” She later added: “I promise you, it’s like every day.” While her habits have likely changed based on her nutritionist’s most recent remarks, she, like many of us, does enjoy a good pie. “If you do eat pizza regularly, always have a salad with it,” says Palumbo. “It will give you something else to crunch that will fill you up.” Another pizza trick? When you’re out, Palumbo says, ask the restaurant to go light on the mozzarella, and then when the pizza arrives, sprinkle on a little Parmesan cheese. “Parmesan has so much flavor because it’s aged, so you get by with less cheese,” she says. And that cuts back on calories and fat. Also, these days there are tons of healthy pizza options — for example, you can make your own cauliflower pizza crust, says Turoff. That being said, be sure to enjoy your pie — you shouldn’t feel guilty for craving a slice. “Every diet should include the foods you like in moderation — there’s nothing wrong with pizza once a week,” Turoff adds. And judging by a recent photo of Hadid’s airplane food (fries and chicken tenders), her diet still has room for indulgences.
5. Her Current Diet May Help With Lyme Disease Symptoms
“If you have Lyme disease, you want to make sure you’re eating clean,” says Kaufman. “There’s inflammation associated with the disease, so you’ll likely be advised to stay away from foods that cause inflammation, such as those that are high in sugar as well as processed foods.” Also, if you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme disease, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about whether an anti-inflammatory diet may be the best approach for your body, says Kaufman. Some good news for Hadid — Plasser’s plan that she’s on includes many anti-inflammatory foods, like vegetables and fish. “A diet that has better fish and better fats like salmon can be beneficial. … Healthy fats satiate, healthy fats feed the brain, and healthy fats give you a long-term type of energy,” Plasser told People. RELATED: 10 Essential Facts About Lyme Disease
6. She’s a Fan of Eggs for Breakfast — Along With Sausage
“If I have the morning off, I’ll either make eggs and sausage, and eat breakfast at home, or go to the bagel store below my apartment. … My go-to is an egg sandwich on a plain bagel,” Hadid told Harper’s. Palumbo is all about eggs as a healthy breakfast option. “The eggs are definitely a good source of protein as well as nutrient-dense,” she says. They contain B vitamins, folate, iron, choline, and more. Hadid’s sausage choice, though, is a different story. “Sausage is high in saturated fat and also highly processed,” says Palumbo. “And highly processed meat has been linked to the development of certain types of cancers.” Palumbo suggests that if you do have sausage, consider it more of a “once in a blue moon” type of food. As for the bagels? “They’re very dense — almost the equivalent of six to seven slices of bread — so it’s often too much, unless you’re an athlete,” says Turoff. For an alternative, Palumbo suggests choosing a slice of whole-grain toast to accompany your eggs.
7. Whew, Her Workouts Sometimes Last Two Hours a Day
Hadid told E! News that she works out for two hours when she trains — and she also told People it’s sometimes even three hours before fashion shows. “I train and I work out hard for two hours — I don’t like to do the whole yoga thing. I think yoga is calming, it’s amazing, but if I’m going to go for it, I’m going to go hard,” Hadid said in the E! News interview. As for her workout of choice right now? Her current trainer, Joe Holder, told DailyMail.com: “We’re just really focusing on certain areas such as the hamstrings, the glutes, the posterior chain, making sure the body moves as an integrated unit. If anything, the magic ingredient is hard work.” While it’s great to get in cardio and strength training, as Hadid is doing, Turoff says that for most women, 30 to 45 minutes of exercise is ideal. “Two hours at the gym is a lot of wear and tear on your body.” Also, Turoff adds, “if women don’t have two hours in their day to exercise, I don’t want them to think that it’s not worth even doing.” Words to remember: “Models do this for a living, but for the average women, two hours is likely too much,” Turoff adds. RELATED: 9 Tricks to Help You Start Working Out and Actually Stick to It
8. Hadid Likes to Fuel Up on Lots of Coffee
To get through a long day, Hadid, like most of us, needs ample coffee. She told Harper’s Bazaar: “I’m also a big coffee drinker. I’ll have three espressos before noon.” And good news: A cup of Joe is actually a great source of energy, says Palumbo. On top of that, you’re getting a nutritional boost. “Coffee is an underappreciated source of antioxidants in the diet,” she adds. The key with coffee, though, is to make sure you’re watching what you put in it — sweetened creamers and lots of sugar can turn the warm beverage from a health drink into a diet detractor, says Palumbo. That said, it appears that Hadid likes her java straight-up. One other important thing to keep in mind — coffee is healthy in moderation, says Turoff. “Two cups a day is totally fine for most people,” she says. So those three espressos Hadid has? It might be worth sticking to just two.
9. Hadid Deals With Body Shaming on Social Media
During her 2018 Victoria Secret Fashion Show fitting, Hadid snapped a shot in an item from her “wardrobe” and posted the image on Instagram, along with the caption, “I can’t wait for you to see all of the beautiful outfits. … I’m so grateful to be a part of the show again, feeling happier and healthier than ever.“ The image received a number of negative comments — primarily about how the image showed her rib cage. In response to the backlash, Hadid added an additional sentence to her caption: “All body types are different and react differently to a great workout routine and a healthy diet,” she said. Hadid, as we know, is on a strict diet, which she has admitted in the past. “With celebrities, there’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way, so to take what they’re doing and apply it to yourself is not realistic,” says Turoff. “Understand what your body needs individually, and take what they say with a grain of salt,” she advises. RELATED: The 10 Most Famous Fad Diets of All Time
10. She Likes Her Family Tradition of an Early Dinner
Hadid likes to eat dinner early, she told Harper’s, because growing up, her family used to have dinner at 6 p.m. “All of my friends are like, ‘What do you mean, 7? Let’s go at 10.’ Ten is my bedtime,” she told Harper’s. So when she’s dining alone, Hadid likes to have her evening meal at 7:30 p.m. An earlier dinner is a good idea for many reasons. Why? “If you’re waiting too long to eat dinner, by the time you finally sit down to eat, you’re starving and much more likely to overeat,” says Turoff. “And, often, the later we eat, the more tired we are and stressed from the day, and we’re more likely to make bad food choices.” As for what she typically eats when she dines alone? It’s often takeout — but she does choose healthy options. “I used to make dinner for myself all the time, but now when I leave work I order food, and it’s there by the time I get home. Westville is the restaurant I always order from. The sautéed kale is my favorite,” she told Harper’s. Turoff’s tips for wise take-out orders? “Takeout does tend to have more oil than you would have if you cooked at home, but ordering in a salad with lean protein [and skipping unhealthy toppings] is always a good option.” Turoff also says the portions can be bigger with takeout, so that’s something you want to be careful about. “But you can always save leftovers to have for the next day!” she adds.
