Decoding What is a Drew Barrymore Protein Breakfast?

October 5, 2025 •

4 min read

According to reports, actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore loves starting her day with savory, protein-rich meals to boost energy and promote satiety. This focus on a balanced and fulfilling morning plate makes her eating habits a popular topic for anyone asking, "What is a Drew Barrymore protein breakfast?".

Quick Summary

Drew Barrymore's breakfasts emphasize savory options with a focus on healthy fats, fresh vegetables, and quality protein. Her go-to meals include a hearty salad topped with a fried egg, Greek-inspired tostadas, and avocado toast, aligning with her flexitarian diet and commitment to balance.

Key Points

Savory is Key: Drew Barrymore prefers savory breakfast options like eggs, cottage cheese, and savory oatmeal to avoid a sugar crash.
Breakfast Salad: A standout choice is her breakfast salad, often topped with a fried or poached egg and quinoa for extra protein and fiber.
Greek Tostadas: She enjoys quick, protein-packed Greek-inspired tostadas with scrambled eggs, fresh veggies, and feta cheese.
Flexitarian Approach: Barrymore follows a flexitarian diet, focusing on plant-based foods but occasionally incorporating animal protein like fish and chicken.
Focus on Balance: Her nutritional philosophy emphasizes balance over strict rules, allowing for treats while prioritizing nutrient-dense meals.
Gut Health: With guidance from her nutritionist, Kimberly Snyder, she has incorporated practices like drinking a green smoothie and consuming anti-inflammatory foods to improve gut health.
Quick and Easy: Many of her go-to options, like avocado toast and scrambled eggs, can be prepared quickly, making them ideal for busy mornings.

The Appeal of a Savory Start

While many people reach for sugary cereals or pastries, Drew Barrymore is a vocal advocate for starting the day with savory, nourishing foods. She has spoken about her appreciation for options like congee, savory oatmeal, and vegetable soups, noting that these meals provide sustained energy without the sugar crash associated with sweeter alternatives. This approach is central to understanding what constitutes a Drew Barrymore protein breakfast, highlighting her focus on nutrient-dense ingredients that promote lasting fullness. Her flexitarian philosophy, which emphasizes a plant-based diet with the occasional addition of animal protein, also shapes her breakfast choices, making her meals both versatile and gut-friendly.

Drew Barrymore's Go-To Breakfast Ideas

Drew Barrymore doesn't stick to a single recipe but rather a collection of high-protein, flavorful options. Her breakfasts often include fresh, whole ingredients, demonstrating a balanced and flexible approach to nutrition.

The Power Breakfast Salad

Perhaps the most notable of Barrymore's breakfast revelations is her love for a breakfast salad, topped with a perfectly fried or poached egg. This creative meal is an excellent way to incorporate a significant amount of vegetables and protein first thing in the morning.

Here’s a simple recipe for a Drew-inspired breakfast salad:

Greens: A generous handful of mixed greens, spinach, or arugula.
Protein: A sunny-side-up fried egg or poached egg.
Grains: Cooked quinoa for added fiber and protein.
Veggies: Diced bell peppers, red onion, and cucumber for crunch and flavor.
Healthy Fats: Sliced avocado for creaminess.
Dressing: A simple drizzle of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Greek-Inspired Breakfast Tostadas

On The Drew Barrymore Show, she and chef Geoffrey Zakarian prepared Greek-inspired breakfast tostadas, a quick and vibrant meal packed with protein and fresh flavors. This dish showcases how simple ingredients can come together for a delicious and nutritious start.

Base: Toasted corn tortillas.
Protein: Soft scrambled eggs.
Veggies: A medley of diced cucumbers, red onion, and avocado.
Herbs and Seasoning: Fresh dill, parsley, salt, and pepper.
Toppings: Crumbled feta cheese and sliced radishes for a finishing touch.

Avocado Toast with a Kick

For a simpler option, Barrymore is also a fan of classic avocado toast, elevated with some key seasonings. Her version often includes red pepper flakes, olive oil, and sea salt. This provides a great source of healthy fats and can be paired with an egg for an extra protein boost.

Drew's Broader Nutritional Philosophy

Her approach to breakfast is part of a broader, more balanced nutritional view. She advocates for listening to her body, which is why her diet has evolved over the years. In the past, to shed weight, she worked with a nutritionist who focused on gut health and incorporating ginger and a Glowing Green Smoothie. While her past weight loss regimen involved a vegan-leaning diet with added fish or chicken, her current philosophy is one of flexibility and balance, not deprivation. She embraces a variety of whole foods and avoids restricting entire food groups like carbs.

Comparison of Drew Barrymore's Favorite Breakfasts


Feature	Breakfast Salad	Greek Tostadas	Avocado Toast
Protein Source	Egg (Fried or Poached), Quinoa	Eggs (Scrambled), Feta Cheese	Egg (optional)
Key Ingredients	Mixed greens, egg, quinoa, avocado, veggies	Scrambled eggs, corn tortillas, cucumber, onion, feta	Avocado, whole-grain toast, red pepper flakes
Main Nutrients	Protein, fiber, vitamins, healthy fats	Protein, vitamins, calcium, healthy fats	Healthy fats, fiber (from toast)
Flavor Profile	Savory, fresh, tangy	Savory, herby, a little spicy	Rich, creamy, a bit of heat
Preparation Time	Moderate	Quick (5 minutes, as seen on her show)	Very quick

Making It Your Own: Tips for a Barrymore-Inspired Breakfast

Embrace Savory: If you're used to sweet breakfasts, start by swapping out sugary additions for savory ones. Try a sprinkle of black pepper on oatmeal or add a fried egg to your quinoa bowl.
Add Veggies: Find creative ways to incorporate vegetables into your morning. A small side salad or some diced veggies scrambled with your eggs can make a big difference.
Prioritize Protein: Ensure your meal has a solid protein source, whether it's eggs, cottage cheese, quinoa, or tofu. This will help you feel full and energized.
Embrace Healthy Fats: Incorporate ingredients like avocado, olive oil, and nuts to add healthy fats that aid in satiety.
Focus on Balance: Remember that Barrymore's approach is about balance, not perfection. Feel free to indulge in a treat sometimes and return to nutritious meals afterward.

Conclusion

Drew Barrymore's protein breakfast is less a single recipe and more a versatile, savory approach to morning nutrition. Her favorite meals, from the protein-packed breakfast salad to the vibrant Greek-inspired tostadas, all reflect a consistent philosophy: prioritize whole foods, healthy fats, and quality protein for sustained energy. By embracing her balanced and flexible eating habits, you can create a breakfast routine that is both nourishing and delicious, setting a positive tone for the rest of your day.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main protein sources in Drew Barrymore's breakfasts are often eggs, cottage cheese, and plant-based options like quinoa or tofu scramble.

While she has followed vegan-leaning diets at times, Drew Barrymore is a flexitarian. This means she primarily eats plant-based meals but includes animal products, like eggs and sometimes fish or chicken, in moderation.

The Greek tostada recipe features scrambled eggs served on toasted corn tortillas, topped with a mix of fresh cucumbers, red onion, avocado, feta cheese, and herbs.

Drew Barrymore often adds simple yet flavorful ingredients like red pepper flakes, olive oil, and sea salt to her avocado toast for a boost of flavor and healthy fats.

Drew Barrymore follows a philosophy of balance, prioritizing wholesome, nutrient-dense foods and listening to her body rather than adhering to a strict or restrictive diet.

In addition to eggs and salads, she has expressed interest in savory breakfasts like congee, savory oatmeal, breakfast soups, and cottage cheese bowls.

Her preference for savory breakfasts is to start the day with sustained energy and avoid the sugar highs and crashes that can come with eating sweet, processed breakfast foods.

Yes, Drew Barrymore starts her day with a glass of lemon water and also takes a probiotic supplement.