The world is curious about the Kate Middleton diet, seeking the secrets behind the Duchess of Cambridge's consistently slim and fit figure. While there isn't a single, readily available "Kate Middleton diet menu," understanding her approach to food and nutrition can offer valuable insights.
Kate Middleton's General Diet Principles
The Duchess is known to be a disciplined eater who favors healthy food choices over processed or junk food. This aligns with the general understanding that maintaining a healthy physique involves consistent, mindful eating habits.
Pre-Wedding Diet: The Dukan Diet
Like many brides, Kate Middleton wanted to look her best on her wedding day in 2011. To achieve this, she reportedly followed the Dukan diet. This high-protein, low-carb diet, popular among celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, involves four phases:
- Attack phase: A period of 4-6 days where only protein is consumed, excluding fruits and vegetables. The first phase lasts from two to five days, and you are allowed to eat unlimited quantities of low-fat and no-fat protein from the 68 food choices, including chicken, tofu, eggs and low-fat yogurt.
- Cruise phase: Some vegetables are added into the diet.
- Consolidation phase: Introduces fruits, carbs, and cheese, along with two "celebratory" meals per week.
- Stabilization phase: Focuses on maintaining the weight loss achieved.
The duration of the cruise and consolidation phases depends on the amount of weight one aims to lose.
Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum
During her pregnancies with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton experienced severe morning sickness and food aversion, a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition involves severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance. While she never explicitly stated whether she followed the same dietary patterns during her third pregnancy, it is plausible that she replicated successful meal plans from her previous pregnancies. One addition to her routine was the incorporation of ginger to combat morning sickness, a remedy supported by studies indicating its safety and effectiveness in alleviating nausea during pregnancy. Kate’s oatmeal breakfast habit would have come in particularly handy during her severe bouts of morning sickness, as the plain food can help to soothe your stomach while giving you the energy you need to grow another human being. However, when the Duchess of Cambridge recovered from the severe morning sickness in her early pregnancy, she enjoyed indulging in spicy foods, including curries which Prince William found too hot to keep up with.
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Post-Pregnancy and Raw Food Diet
After the birth of Prince George, Kate Middleton reportedly sought additional health benefits from her diet. This led her to incorporate raw foods, such as ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon or lime juice and spices), watermelon salads, gazpacho, goji berries, and tabbouleh. The intention behind this approach is to enhance skin health and overall fitness by consuming foods with higher levels of vitamins and nutrients compared to cooked foods.
Specific Food Preferences and Habits
Beyond general dietary approaches, certain food preferences and habits have been associated with Kate Middleton:
- Smoothies: She reportedly enjoys mixing spirulina powder in her morning smoothies, which contain kale, spinach, lettuce, cilantro, and blueberries. These antioxidant-rich smoothies contribute to healthy skin.
- Seafood: Despite an adventurous palate that includes trying geoduck (a giant clam) during a royal tour in Canada, Kate Middleton enjoys seafood, particularly sushi, which she shares with Prince William.
- Spicy Food: The Duchess is known to enjoy spicy food, especially curries, although Prince William is said to be less tolerant of hot meals.
- Family Dinners: When visiting her family, she values eating dinner together at the kitchen table, emphasizing the importance of shared meals.
- Snacks: Kate Middleton satisfies hunger cravings between meals with raw fruits and vegetables like goji berries. She is also known to enjoy popcorn as a low-calorie snack.
- Oatmeal: The Duchess of Cambridge is a big fan of slow-burn energy oats, which keep her filled up and with enough fuel to attend royal events, exercise and run after her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
- Vegetarian Lunches: The Duchess of Cambridge and sister-in-law Meghan Markle enjoy harmony in their eating habits, with Kate’s preference to eat mostly vegetarian foods for lunch echoing Meghan’s passion for plant-based foods during the week.
- Traditional English Dinners: While Kate mostly sticks to lighter, plant-based foods for lunch, she is known to indulge in traditional English favourites for dinner, including the staple of roast chicken, which is Prince William’s favourite supper.
Indulgences
Kate Middleton isn't always strictly regimented with her diet. During the holiday season, she enjoys traditional treats like roasted turkey, ham, parsnips, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, scones, and fruitcake. She has also been spotted enjoying popcorn at sporting events and a glass of wine on occasion. Kate Middleton is partial to sticky toffee pudding, which Darren McGrady, the previous chef for the royal family, was her favourite.
Kate Middleton's Fitness Routine
Beyond her diet, Kate Middleton maintains an active lifestyle. Her fitness routine includes:
- Running: She is said to run frequently.
- Weightlifting: She incorporates weightlifting into her routine.
- Planks: Planks are reportedly her favorite exercise.
- Cycling and Rowing: She enjoys cycling and rowing.
- Ab Work: She utilizes a Swiss gym ball for abdominal exercises.
- Yoga: Yoga serves as a de-stressor, calming tool, and core muscle/strength builder.
- CrossFit: CrossFit workouts, including weights, resistance training, squats, and running, are sometimes included.
Middleton has clearly prioritized and maintained a consistent exercise routine, including during pregnancy (with prenatal yoga and walks, according to Marie Claire).
Read also: Inside Kate Beckinsale's Workout
Kate Middleton's Fashion Style
Kate Middleton is not only admired for her healthy lifestyle but also for her impeccable fashion sense. She effortlessly combines classic and contemporary styles, inspiring designers and fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Some notable fashion moments include:
- A multi-colored Markus Lupfer dress worn at Clärchens Ballhaus in Berlin.
- A casual Breton T-shirt and skinny jeans for a rowing race against Prince William.
- A bright yellow Jenny Packham dress during a visit to a traditional German market.
- A red off-the-shoulder Alexander McQueen dress at the Queen's Birthday Party.
- A Catherine Walker coat dress in Prussian blue, a nod to Germany.
- A light-blue Preen by Thornton Bregazzi dress for the reopening of Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum.
- A tweed Gucci dress for the opening of new facilities at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
- An emerald green Rochas knee-length frock at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show.
- A pink Catherine Walker coat at a traditional Easter Sunday church service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.
- A ruby red Marchesa dress at the opening night of "42nd Street."
- A lace Erdem dress at a royal reception to mark the beginning of UK-India Year of Culture 2017.
- A blue Jenny Packham dress with a matching Sylvia Fletcher fascinator upon arrival in Canada.
- A forest green Dolce and Gabbana dress in Kelowna, British Columbia.
- A red Thornton Bregazzi dress, accessorized with a maple-leaf brooch, in Bella Bella, Canada.
- A pale blue skirt suit by Catherine Walker during a visit to the Netherlands.
- A pale pink Kate Spade dress with roses for World Mental Health Day.
Read also: Weight Loss the Kate Middleton Way