Kelly Rowland is 41 and arguably in the best shape of her life. The singer posted a picture of herself wearing a two-piece lime green swimsuit with the cheeky caption, “Hey Beeeach!!!!!!!” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Rowland stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don’t miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!
Rowland enjoys eggs for breakfast, whether it’s part of a big breakfast with bacon, or an egg white-based snack after a workout. “Eggs are rich in protein, which is more filling than either fat or carbohydrate,” says registered nutritionist Jo Lewin. “As a food choice, eggs score well, being high on the satiety index, a measure of how filling a food is. In fact, studies show that an egg breakfast is more sustaining than the equivalent calorie counted carb breakfast and, what’s more, may help reduce your calorie intake later in the day.”
Rowland loves cheese, especially in dip form. “I’m a Texas girl, and I love queso with chips,” she says. “It doesn’t taste better than Papasito’s or Lupe Tortilla in Houston, so I’m working on that.” Cheese can have many health benefits when incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet. “Dairy isn’t necessary in the diet for optimal health, but for many people, it is the easiest way to get the calcium, vitamin D, and protein they need to keep their heart, muscles, and bones healthy and functioning properly,” says Vasanti Malik, nutrition research scientist with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Rowland is a big fan of delicious oysters, which are rich in vitamin D, copper, zinc, selenium, iron, and vitamin B12. “Yes, oysters are very good for you,” says Julia Zumpano, RD, LD. “In fact, you probably didn’t know that it’s hard to beat all the health benefits of oysters from a nutritional standpoint. As women get older they can really benefit from this entire list of minerals, especially copper and zinc, which can assist in preventing macular degeneration.”
Rowland can’t get enough of tacos, but usually subs the tortilla with butter lettuce. “Tacos make everybody happy,” she says. “I eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner sometimes. We have a chef come in and make food every day because I like to eat really clean — she’ll make a Texas breakfast taco, then for lunch I’ll have turkey tacos, and for dinner I’ll also have turkey tacos.”
Rowland’s favorite food indulgence is a strange Chick-Fil-A combo: fries and ice cream. “Waffle fries and ice cream are just—whaaaat?! Amazing,” she says. “You’ve got the salt with the potato and the sugar; it’s just so good. It’s even better with vanilla ice cream.”