This classic combo is what she recommends to all of her friends.
Zooey Deschanel is a busy bee.
As an actress, singer and entrepreneur, she isn’t slowing down.
Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
Keep reading for more on what the multi-faceted star had to say in our interview.
EatingWell: How do you start your day and what is your favorite part of your morning routine?
Deschanel: Yeah, my coffee.
I can’t live without coffee.
It’s very important to me.
And I would say that I’ve always made it the same way.
I change machineslike my coffee delivery system changes.
I’ll go from espresso or espresso-throw in drinks to drip coffee to cold brew.
The common denominator is coffee, and I need it.
EatingWell: How long are the days on set?
Deschanel: Well, it depends on what I’m doing.
The scripted shows are longer days.
The unscripted shows are shorter days.
LikeWhat Am I Eating?I think probably 8 or 10 hours a day.
But the scripted shows, it’s possible for you to work 12, 14, 16 hours sometimes.
EatingWell: Do you have any snacks that you eat regularly to keep you energized through filming days?
Deschanel: I do, actually.
My favorite snack, I recommend it to everybody, because I just think it’s the best snack.
Can’t go wrong.
It has fiber and vitamins, carbs, protein and fat.
It’s got everything, and it sustains you [for] a long time.
EatingWell: What motivated you to debunk some myths about food by filmingWhat Am I Eating?
Anybody could watch this and get something out of it.
Whether you like to cook or just like to eat, it’s how we connect.
It’s how we sustain ourselves.
It’s how we keep our energy.
EatingWell: Was there one fact about food that shocked you the most in the filming process?
Deschanel: I was shocked at how different potatoes tasted fried in different oils.
We did an experiment with fried potatoes in different oils.
It made a huge difference in the taste and texture.
And everybody’s different, too.
I would like to inspire people to do these experiments themselves and see what they liked the best.
EatingWell: What would be the ideal meal you would make on your not-so-busy days?
Deschanel: Well, my kids are not crazy adventurous, you know, because they’re kids.
So, [I’m] always trying to make it fun for them.
And having them help cook really makes a difference, engaging them in that kind of food play.
Like doing pizzas, having them decorate their own.
I’ll either make pizza dough or buy pre-made pizza dough.
Then, we’ll roll it out, and each person gets to decorate their own pizza.
That’s really fun.
No matter what, they always like the pizza they make.
EatingWell: Have your eating habits changed since you started to dive further into the food world?
Deschanel: Yeah, the kind of precursor to [What Am I Eating?]
was this show calledYour Food’s Roots.
So, I have been doing this for a while.
So, now I eat fish which is a very sustainable protein source as far as animal protein.
No judgment on anybody eating red meat!
EatingWell: What does eating well mean to you?
Growing up, meal time was so important, and my parents love to cook.
I think food is so much more than just how we nourish our bodies.
It’s how we nourish our souls.
It’s how we nourish our friendships and our relationships.
