We love Drew Barrymore's humor and down-to-earth attitude about celebrity life. And when she showed off her slimmer figure at the premiere of her new Netflix series, Santa Clarita Diet, earlier this month, we were left wondering just what the secret was to her recent weight-loss success.
It looks like the answer could be fairly simple — and, thankfully, easy to emulate. During an appearance on the TODAY show last month, Barrymore hinted that it was the result of life imitating art.
In Barrymore's new show, her character morphs into a flesh-eating member of the undead, and the actress let this (sort of) guide her new eating regime: She incorporated lots more filling protein into her diet, she said, and she saw the pounds drop off as a result.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Barrymore revealed that filming for her new role came at just the right moment in her personal life. Following her 2015 divorce from her third husband, Will Kopelman, Barrymore said that her weight had crept up.
"It came at the middle of a moment in my life where I had sort of let myself go due to personal circumstances, and I thought I could come alive with Sheila (her character in the show)," Barrymore explained.
But she was keen to point out this was no crash diet.
'The weight loss was subtle and un-gimmicky," she told TODAY, noting that viewers will probably notice her transformation as the series progresses. "You notice from the beginning of the season to the end. I was heavy going in to it."
Thinking of following Barrymore's diet plan? We asked the Good Housekeeping Institute's Nutrition Director her thoughts about Barrymore's diet plan and she gave it a big thumbs up. "Drew's super smart to add more protein for weight loss to her diet! Foods like seafood, poultry, low-fat dairy, lean cuts of beef and especially plant-based foods (chickpeas, nuts,seeds, beans and legumes) are key for optimizing long-term weight loss, since it helps keep blood sugar stable and helps to keep you fuller, longer," said Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN.
If you're trying to add more protein to your diet, but are struggling a bit, London suggests starting with your breakfast. "Nut butter, Greek yogurt, eggs, and even low-fat/skim milk in your coffee can add protein which will help offset cravings for sweets later in the day."
