Christie Brinkley's Evolving Dietary Journey
For decades, supermodel Christie Brinkley has been a vocal advocate for plant-based eating, a commitment she began as a teenager. Yet, her approach has never been static. To understand the question, "Does Christie Brinkley eat eggs?", one must examine the different phases of her nutritional philosophy, which she describes as an intuitive, learning-based process rather than a strict set of rules. Her journey highlights how personal health and dietary choices can adapt over a lifetime.
The Early Years: Vegetarian and the 'Lacto-Ovo' Phase
Brinkley first became a vegetarian at the age of 14, influenced by her reading and a desire to distance herself from the meat industry. She actively educated herself on nutrition to ensure she was replacing lost protein, exploring various plant-based approaches along the way. At one point, her diet was best described as lacto-ovo vegetarian, which includes both dairy and eggs. This is the phase of her life where eggs were a confirmed part of her diet. This was not a fleeting trend but a core part of her lifestyle for many years, during which she was known to prioritize a healthy, colorful diet for herself and her children.
During her lacto-ovo phase, her breakfast often featured an egg-white omelet. In a 2017 interview with Harper's Bazaar, Brinkley explicitly mentioned that on days she needed an extra protein boost, she would opt for an egg-white omelet packed with spinach and mushrooms. This reveals that, at that time, eggs were a deliberate, functional part of her meal planning, used specifically for protein.
Her dedication to incorporating diverse nutrients led her to create what she calls her "Rainbow Diet". This involves consciously consuming a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables each day to ensure she gets a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This philosophy has been a constant throughout her life, even as other aspects of her diet have evolved.
Common Foods in Christie Brinkley's Diet:
- Fruits and Berries: Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and papaya are frequently mentioned.
- Grains and Seeds: Raw oatmeal, chia seeds, and walnuts are breakfast staples.
- Dairy (Past/Current): Sheep's-milk yogurt and occasionally mozzarella cheese.
- Protein Sources: Beans, nuts, and fish (at certain times) have been part of her routine.
- Vegetables: Spinach, mushrooms, and leafy greens are regular features.
The Move Toward Veganism and the "Sort-of-ish" Approach
More recently, Brinkley has embraced a diet that leans more heavily toward veganism, especially noted in recent sources from 2024 and 2025. This shift means a more deliberate effort to eliminate animal products, including eggs and dairy. A May 2025 source from Fox News stated she is "now a vegan". However, this dietary change is not portrayed as rigid. As she famously told The Cut in 2018, she is "sort-of-ish vegan now" and will listen to her body, noting that sometimes it tells her she needs an egg. This highlights her flexible, intuitive approach to eating, where she prioritizes wellness over strict dietary labels.
This evolution is consistent with her overall wellness philosophy, which she calls a "lifestyle, it's a foundation for your future". She has publicly stated that she no longer believes in "deny-eting" and instead focuses on fueling her body with good things. This approach allows for occasional deviations from a strict vegan regimen if her body indicates a need.
The Brinkley Diet: Past vs. Present
To best understand her dietary habits, including the role of eggs, it is helpful to compare her eating patterns at different points in her life. This shows a clear progression from a broader lacto-ovo vegetarianism to a more focused vegan approach, though never without exceptions based on intuitive eating.
| Feature | Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian (Earlier) | Primarily Vegan (More Recently) |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs | Included in her diet, often as an egg-white omelet for protein. | Generally excluded, though she has stated she might occasionally eat one. |
| Dairy | Included, with sheep's-milk yogurt as a regular breakfast item. | Generally excluded, with her mentioning she is "addicted" to vegan ice cream. |
| Fish | Came and went in her diet, particularly when she was in places like the Seychelles. | Explicitly excluded, along with red meat and fowl, which she hasn't eaten since becoming vegetarian. |
| Fruits & Veggies | A central focus of her diet, emphasizing her "Rainbow Diet". | Remains a core component, emphasizing her "Rainbow Diet". |
| Processed Foods | Generally avoided, focusing on whole foods. | Continues to avoid processed foods and focuses on whole foods. |
| Dietary Philosophy | Focused on replacing protein and following a healthy, balanced vegetarian diet. | More aligned with veganism, but with a flexible, "sort-of-ish" approach that prioritizes intuitive eating. |
Conclusion: A Personal and Evolving Choice
The definitive answer to "Does Christie Brinkley eat eggs?" is that her relationship with eggs has changed over time. While they were a documented part of her lacto-ovo vegetarian phase, her more recent dietary shift toward veganism means they are now generally excluded. However, her flexible philosophy of listening to her body leaves the door open for occasional exceptions. This makes her an example not of rigid dieting, but of conscious, evolving, and intuitive eating for sustained health and well-being. Her commitment to a plant-based diet, full of colorful whole foods, remains a constant, regardless of the specific dietary label she may follow at any given moment.
For more insight into her philosophy, you can explore the details of her approach to health and wellness as she told The Cut in 2018.
Brinkley's Diet: A Summary
Her dietary approach is based on filling her body with nutrient-dense, colorful foods. She champions plant-based eating, avoids restrictive "deny-eting," and prioritizes balance and intuition over strict rules. Her inclusion or exclusion of eggs reflects this evolving, mindful process.
A List of Brinkley's Dietary Principles:
- "Rainbow Diet": Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables daily.
- Intuitive Eating: Listening to her body for what it needs, which can sometimes mean an occasional egg.
- Whole Foods Focus: Prioritizing unprocessed foods over artificial ingredients.
- Hydration: Staying well-hydrated throughout the day.
- Probiotics: Incorporating probiotics into her diet for gut health.
Her food choices are part of a larger, active lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a focus on overall wellness.
