What is Gigi Hadid's diet? A breakdown of her 80/20 approach to nutrition

October 1, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the supermodel herself, Gigi Hadid's motto is "Eat clean to stay fit, have a burger to stay sane". This statement is the foundation of her food philosophy, which is based on an intuitive and balanced 80/20 approach rather than strict dieting or calorie counting. This balanced lifestyle answers the question of what is Gigi Hadid's diet and why it is a more sustainable eating model than extreme dietary restrictions.

Quick Summary

Gigi Hadid follows an 80/20 nutrition plan, prioritizing clean, wholesome foods most of the time while allowing for occasional treats. Her diet features lean proteins, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates, balanced with an active lifestyle and regular exercise.

Key Points

80/20 Rule: Gigi Hadid's diet is centered on the 80/20 rule, which balances nutrient-dense, clean eating with occasional indulgences.
Balanced Meals: Her meals typically consist of lean proteins, fresh vegetables, and whole grains, ensuring her body is properly fueled.
Indulgences Included: Favorites like burgers, pasta, and even sugary cereals are enjoyed occasionally, proving that treats are part of a balanced approach.
Middle Eastern Flavors: Her diet is also influenced by her Palestinian heritage, with Middle Eastern staples like falafel, hummus, and labneh.
Exercise is Key: Gigi's diet is paired with an intense exercise routine, particularly boxing and HIIT, which helps maintain her physique.
Intuitive Eating: Rather than counting calories, she listens to her body's needs and focuses on the quality of her food.
Focus on Sustainability: Her approach is designed for long-term health and mental well-being, avoiding the pitfalls of extreme dieting.

The 80/20 Philosophy: The Core of Gigi Hadid's Diet

At the heart of Gigi Hadid's eating habits is the 80/20 rule, a well-known principle in the nutrition world. For 80% of the time, her focus is on consuming nutrient-dense, whole foods to fuel her active lifestyle and support her overall well-being. The remaining 20% is reserved for enjoying favorite foods and indulgences without guilt, which is the 'eat a burger to stay sane' portion of her personal motto. This flexible approach helps prevent mental burnout and makes healthy eating more sustainable in the long run. She emphasizes food quality and listening to her body's needs over strict calorie or macro tracking.

What Gigi Hadid Eats in a Typical Day

While her busy schedule and personal cravings mean her daily intake can vary, interviews have revealed some of her go-to meals. These selections showcase her balanced approach, blending healthy staples with comforting favorites.

Breakfast

To kickstart her day, Hadid often enjoys a classic, protein-rich breakfast:

Scrambled eggs with toast: A simple and reliable option, sometimes with additions like bacon or baked beans.
Coffee: A morning staple, either black or with unsweetened almond milk.
Smoothies: On days when she needs something lighter or is looking to shed excess weight, she opts for a nutritious smoothie.
Kodiak pancakes: An occasional, more hearty breakfast choice.

Lunch

For lunch, she alternates between light, fresh meals and more substantial options, depending on her mood and schedule.

Arugula salad: A favorite, often topped with smoked salmon, cherry tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.
Burger: When she's in the mood for a treat, she heads to her favorite New York City spot, JG Melon.
Falafel pita sandwich: A healthy, fiber-rich alternative.

Dinner

Dinner for Hadid can range from home-cooked comfort food to a meal out with friends.

Pasta with vodka sauce: A well-known and delicious recipe she has shared with the public.
Sushi: A go-to option when dining out.
Mediterranean dishes: Her Palestinian heritage influences her love for dishes like veggie-packed salads, labneh, and falafel.
Zoodles and coodles: She enjoys frozen cooked carrot spirals and zucchini noodles for a healthy, vegetable-focused meal.

Snacks and Drinks

Her kitchen is stocked with a variety of snacks, proving her diet isn't overly restrictive.

Healthy snacks: Hummus, carrots, and fruit.
Indulgent snacks: Salami, chips, and even nostalgic sugary cereals like Lucky Charms and Froot Loops.
Beverages: Water (Evian), soda, orange juice, and lemonade.

Exercise and Activity: A Crucial Component

Gigi Hadid complements her diet with a demanding workout routine. She is a fan of boxing for cardio and toning. Her fitness plan includes:

HIIT Training: Full-body circuits to increase heart rate.
Boxing: A key part of her routine for intensity.
Bodyweight Exercises: Focusing on core, leg, and glute toning.

Gigi Hadid's Balanced Approach vs. Common Restrictive 'Model' Diets


Feature	Gigi Hadid's Diet Approach	Common Restrictive Diets
Core Philosophy	Balanced 80/20 rule	Strict calorie cutting and food group elimination
Flexibility	High; allows for weekly indulgences	Low; treats are often forbidden
Food Quality	Focuses on whole, nutrient-dense foods	Can prioritize low-calorie foods, regardless of nutrient content
Sustainability	High; designed for long-term maintenance	Low; difficult to maintain long-term due to extreme nature
Relationship with Food	Intuitive and non-obsessive	Can lead to a negative relationship with food due to guilt
Exercise Pairing	Intense workouts balanced by proper nutrition	Often involves excessive cardio or punishment-based exercise

Conclusion: The Takeaway from What is Gigi Hadid's Diet

Gigi Hadid's approach provides a realistic view of celebrity nutrition, prioritizing balance and sustainability over strict perfection. Her 80/20 rule, combined with exercise, shows that a healthy physique doesn't require constant restriction. Her philosophy of balance and intuition offers a valuable lesson for a more sustainable eating approach. You can learn more about her lifestyle choices from interviews like the one published by Harper's Bazaar: Gigi Hadid: What I Eat In a Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gigi Hadid's popular food motto is: "Eat clean to stay fit, have a burger to stay sane". It captures her philosophy of balancing healthy eating with moderate indulgences.

No, Gigi Hadid does not count calories or macros. Instead, she follows an intuitive eating approach, focusing on food quality rather than strict restriction.

For breakfast, Gigi often has scrambled eggs with toast. Other options include smoothies, Kodiak pancakes, or coffee.

Gigi Hadid's favorite foods include burgers, pasta with vodka sauce, sushi, Middle Eastern dishes like falafel and tabbouleh, and classic comfort food like grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Yes, Gigi Hadid's diet includes meat, such as bacon with her eggs and the burgers she enjoys. She also eats fish like salmon and sushi.

Gigi Hadid's snacks are a mix of healthy and indulgent items. She keeps carrots, hummus, and fruit on hand, but also enjoys salami, chips, and even sugary cereals.

Yes, Gigi Hadid's diet is considered sustainable because it is based on the flexible 80/20 principle and avoids extreme restrictions. This makes it easier to maintain over the long term.

Gigi Hadid combines her diet with intense exercise, focusing on boxing and HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) to achieve a great cardio burn and tone her body.