Sarah Michelle Gellar Talks Meal Prep, Nutrition Goals and Iconic Roles Like ‘Buffy’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The actress shares easy, budget-friendly tips for healthy eating—and what she’s filming next!
You’ve seen her take down the undead in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and fight off hook-wielding killers in I Know What You Did Last Summer, but Sarah Michelle Gellar is more than just the incredible characters she has portrayed. The actress is also a mom of two, wife to fellow actor Freddie Prinze Jr. and partner with MyFitnessPal, the #1 nutrition tracking app.
Gellar knows that it can be hard to keep up with day-to-day life while also maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which is why she has worked on mastering the art of balancing a busy career and keeping on track with her health goals. And as a mom, she’s found that using MyFitnessPal can help to keep those goals in line while also tending to her amazing career and her family.
First for Women had a chance to sit down with Gellar to talk about how she keeps up with her nutrition goals, her favorite meals to prep ahead of time and her upcoming projects!
Sarah Michelle Gellar prefers to meal prep
We’ve all fallen victim to being too busy to prepare a healthy meal, especially when frozen dinners and snacks are so much easier to grab in a bind. And Gellar knows that it can be difficult to find the time to make something nutritious during a busy day, which is why she chooses to prep her meals ahead of time.
“Meal planning is something that I have really been working on,” Gellar says. “I find that most poor decisions that are made when it comes to food choices are when you’re in a rush, when you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ll just eat that frozen meal or I’ll just grab fast food or tacos.’ But when you can actually have the home-cooked meal, that’s the way to do it.”
The actress has taken advantage of the MyFitnessPal app to help with her meal prep and keep track of what she eats.
“I find this app in particular to be really user-friendly,” she says. “The interface is easy. You know exactly how to look at the recipe, see how it fits into the week and know what the ingredients are. And then you can also keep track of everything.”
She believes it’s okay to eat dessert
We’ve all heard the phrase “everything in moderation,” and that’s exactly how the Buffy star sees it. When trying to stay healthy, many often think you need to fully cut out dessert or eliminate fatty foods entirely, but that isn’t always the case.
“You have to look at food holistically,” she says. “It’s not just what you eat today, it’s what you eat in a week, what you eat in a month. And that’s why I always tell people, if you want dessert, have it, just maybe not seven nights in a row. Everything is about moderation and balance. If you eat a fattier meal one day, try to eat a leaner meal the next day. That’s how you make the better overall choices.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s favorite prep meals
There are tons of easy, nutritious meals that you can prepare ahead of time to make for an easier experience maintaining health goals. If you’ve been searching for ideas, Gellar has a few that are her go-to!
“I make a lot of chicken burgers, and those are great to put in the freezer,” Gellar explains. “Then depending on who wants to eat them is how you prepare them. For example, my kids want it in a brioche bun. I tend to put it in a lettuce wrap, which we grow in our backyard, and I eat it that way. You can also take a chicken burger and chop it up and put it into a salad.”
Additionally, Gellar shared her recipe for Southwest Turkey Zucchini Boats, which are an easy meal to prepare ahead of time.
“There are so many things you can do with it,” Gellar shared. “You can make it without the chili sauce and without the salsa [for less spice] and put it in a lettuce wrap. You can even put the sauce on top. You have all of those sorts of options to be able to eat how you want to. Whatever appeals to you.”
Don’t underestimate frozen vegetables
If you’re trying to stick to your nutrition goals but need to stay on a budget, Gellar has tips on how to do just that. Buying the most expensive items isn’t the only way to stay healthy.
“I think people really look over frozen vegetables because they think it’s going to be a higher salt content,” Gellar explains. “Usually that’s canned vegetables. Frozen vegetables are frozen at their peak and are one of the best ways to get your nutrients. You don’t have to buy all of them fresh. You can get organic frozen vegetables at a really fair price.”
She adds, “Vegetables are great for in between meals. I like to make zucchini chips. You can take any frozen vegetable out of your freezer, pop it in an air fryer and have a great, healthy snack in five minutes that’s both cost-efficient and healthy.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar reflects on her iconic career
When she’s not at home being a supermom, Gellar is working hard on set, portraying iconic characters. Over the years, she’s starred in memorable projects like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cruel Intentions (1999) and Scooby-Doo (2002). While she is set to star in the new Buffy reboot, the actress shared her thoughts on which character she would revisit if possible.
“I guess all of them and none of them,” Gellar said. “I choose projects because I want to be a part of it, but then it’s also exciting to do new ones and explore new characters.”
As for where you might catch Gellar next, the actress shared some insight into her upcoming projects that you should definitely check out.
“We’re gearing up for the second season of Dexter, which is really exciting,” she shared. “I love being a part of that franchise and lore right now. I’m also currently filming the sequel to Ready or Not (2019), which is just so much fun. I love that movie, and it was just such a treat to be able to play in that world.”
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