Jenna Bush Hager has opened up about her healthy diet, from her morning powdered greens to her love of turkey tacos, after undergoing a physical transformation last year.
In a new interview with Women’s Health, the Today star shared how she has recommitted to eating foods that keep her energized after realizing her packed schedule was keeping her from properly fueling herself.
‘I have to be really cognizant of what I put in my body, and I think I realized [in the past] that I wasn’t doing that to the best of my ability,’ Bush Hager, 41, told the outlet. ‘My kids were eating really healthy, and I was just grabbing whatever I could.’
The Read with Jenna book club founder shared that she starts her mornings with a breathing meditation before having not one, but three different beverages for breakfast.
Jenna Bush Hager, 41, opened up about her diet in a new interview with Women’s Health
The Today host shared that she starts her mornings with a breathing meditation before having not one, but three different beverages for breakfast
She explained that she reminds herself to drink as much water throughout the day as she can. She keeps a bottle of water by her coffee machine and makes herself ‘chug it’ while she is waiting for her coffee to brew.
In addition to her water and coffee, she has a scoop of Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder in a glass of water, which has two servings of fruits and vegetables.
Bush Hager has a paid partnership with the brand, and she recently shared a sponsored video of herself making her morning green drink on Instagram.
The mother of three, who practices intermittent fasting, doesn’t have anything else for breakfast before heading to the NBC gym, where she will do a Peloton class or lift weights before work.
She also works out with dance fitness instructor Amanda Bartolomeo, whom she has been training with since last year.
‘I’m obsessed with jumping on mini trampolines or doing dance cardio,’ she told Women’s Health. ‘But those things are hard to do before work.’
For lunch, she likes to have a hearty salad, and while the ingredients may vary from day to day, she always makes sure to include protein, beans, broccoli, and other veggies.
She did not inherit her love of broccoli from her later grandfather, former President George H.W. Bush, who famously hated the vegetable and was vocal about his distaste for it.
Bush Hager has water, coffee, and a scoop of Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder in a glass of water, which has two servings of fruits and vegetables
Bush Hager then heads to the NBC gym, where she will do a Peloton class or lift weights before work. She also works out with dance fitness instructor Amanda Bartolomeo (pictured)
Bush Hager noted that she’s ‘not a huge snacker,’ but when a craving strikes, she will grab a Chobani yogurt and add peanut butter and almonds.
After a day of work, she will sit down to dinner with her husband, Henry Hager, and their three children, Mila, nine, Poppy, seven, and Hal, three.
Typical family meals include fish and broccoli or the Texas native’s personal favorite, tacos with lean turkey.
‘My kids are usually like, tacos again?’ she admitted. ‘But I’m like, [they’re] the best.’
Bush Hager’s interview with Women’s Health comes a year after she discussed her new workout regimen on the Today show in January 2022.
She was talking about new year’s resolutions when her fourth-hour co-host Hoda Kotb commended her on her appearance, saying viewers have been writing in about how great she looks.
‘Can I tell you something that I’ve noticed and our viewers have noticed over the past few weeks?’ Kotb said. ‘People have noticed that there’s like a transformation that’s been happening with you. You are — they are just saying, “Jen is looking amazing. She’s never looked this good.”‘
‘That’s so sweet,’ Bush Hager replied, but Kotb wasn’t done gushing.
Bush Hager likes to have protein-packed salads for lunch and tacos with lean turkey for dinner with her husband, Henry Hager, and their three children, Mila, Poppy, and Hal
Bush Hager opened up about her six-month physical transformation last year, saying she started working out in the morning. She is pictured in August 2021 (L) and December 2021 (R)
Bush Hager showed off her figure while dressing up as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader for the Today show’s Halloween special in October 2021
‘Something is happening,’ she insisted. ‘I think for someone like you and me who constantly is berating and belittling, I think one of the things we should do in January is celebrate when something good happens. Celebrate it!’
Bush Hager, who welcomed her third child, Hal, in 2019, explained that getting back in shape has been a process for her.
‘I will say I think I have figured out what works for me,’ she said. ‘And I think the hard thing is I think we expect things to happen overnight. This has actually been almost six months.’
The mother of three credited her toned physique to her grueling early-morning workouts with her personal trainer.
‘The difference is I wake up before the show and work out — and really work out. I work out with an awesome woman named Amanda. Donna joins me sometimes,’ she said of Today contributor Donna Farizan.
‘Donna is a great inspiration,’ she added. ‘She gets up at the crack of dawn and meets me. And another friend of mine comes.’
While Bush Hager was feeling good, she encouraged others who are struggling with their weight to be kind to themselves.
‘Here’s the other thing — anybody that’s either gained weight during the pandemic or had babies and gained weight, it just takes time, and you have to give yourself that grace,’ she said. ‘Because my body isn’t 18 anymore.’
