Marilyn's High-Protein Morning Ritual
In the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe's physical appearance was a topic of widespread fascination, and she openly discussed her dietary habits with magazines like Pageant. Her breakfast was a simple, yet highly unconventional, concoction that she prepared in her hotel room. According to her own account, she would warm a cup of milk on a hot plate, crack two raw eggs into it, and whip the mixture with a fork before drinking it. This was always followed by a multivitamin pill. She famously defended her choice, stating, "I've been told that my eating habits are absolutely bizarre, but I don't think so".
The Logic Behind the 'Bizarre' Breakfast
While the idea of consuming raw eggs and warm milk may seem unappetizing or even dangerous today, there was a rationale behind it in the mid-20th century. Bodybuilders and health enthusiasts of the era often embraced raw eggs, believing they offered a superior dose of muscle-building protein compared to cooked eggs. Monroe's high-protein intake was a deliberate choice to fuel her body for her work, which included a daily exercise routine. This protein-centric approach, combined with her minimalist dinner of broiled meat and raw carrots, was seen by Monroe as a way to maintain her figure while allowing for a nightly indulgence.
The Modern Perspective: Why It's Risky Today
Modern nutritional science and food safety standards have shed new light on Monroe's breakfast. Today, health experts strongly advise against consuming raw eggs due to the risk of Salmonella contamination. Though the risk was lower in the 1950s, it was still present. Monroe's diet stands as a testament to the differing health beliefs of her time. Today, a similar protein-rich breakfast would likely include cooked eggs, a protein shake, or a safer eggnog-style drink made with pasteurized ingredients.
Other Aspects of Monroe's Diet
Monroe's unusual breakfast was part of a larger eating plan. She reportedly skipped lunch and focused on a heavy protein dinner. She would stop by a local market to pick up steak, liver, or lamb chops, which she would broil in her room and serve with four or five raw carrots. Her one exception to this strict, low-carb diet was a guilty pleasure she enjoyed regularly: a hot fudge sundae from Wil Wright's ice cream parlor. This combination of rigorous protein consumption and a sweet treat reveals a surprisingly balanced, if eccentric, approach to managing her figure.
Marilyn Monroe's Breakfast vs. Modern High-Protein Alternatives
To better understand how Monroe's breakfast stacks up today, here is a comparison with modern, safer high-protein morning meals.
| Feature | Marilyn Monroe's Breakfast | Modern High-Protein Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Main Ingredients | Raw eggs, warm milk, multivitamin | Cooked eggs (scrambled, omelet), Greek yogurt, protein shake |
| Preparation | Simple mixing with a fork in a hotel room | Varies; requires more cooking time, or is a ready-to-drink formula |
| Safety Concern | High risk of Salmonella contamination | Minimal to no risk with pasteurized ingredients and proper cooking |
| Taste Profile | Reportedly bland, like a creamy, milky drink | Highly variable, can be spiced, sweetened, or savory |
| Portability | Easy to prepare anywhere with a hot plate | Cooked meals less portable; protein shakes are easy for travel |
| Nutritional Profile | Primarily protein, some fat, limited vitamins without the pill | Excellent protein source, often includes diverse vitamins and minerals naturally or fortified |
Conclusion
Marilyn Monroe's high-protein, two-ingredient breakfast of warm milk and raw eggs was a defining element of her diet, revealed in a 1952 interview with Pageant magazine. While this regimen was considered a practical and nourishing choice for a busy working woman in her time, it is now viewed as both unusual and potentially risky due to modern food safety standards. Her diet, which combined this peculiar morning drink with a simple meat and raw carrot dinner, paints a fascinating picture of celebrity health trends from a bygone era, proving that even a global icon's eating habits can reflect the unique—and sometimes strange—ideas of their time. For those curious about her full diet, further details from the Pageant interview offer a more complete picture.
