Marilyn Monroe's "Bizarre" Breakfast Routine
For many, the most shocking revelation about Marilyn Monroe's diet came from her description of her breakfast. In her own words to Pageant magazine, she shared the unique concoction that kickstarted her day. Before her morning shower, Monroe would warm a cup of milk on a hot plate, crack two raw eggs into it, and whip them with a fork. She'd drink this mixture while dressing, believing it was a "nourishing breakfast for a working girl in a hurry".
- The logic behind the habit: In the 1950s, the potential risk of salmonella from raw eggs was not widely known, and some people believed uncooked eggs offered superior muscle-building protein compared to cooked ones. Monroe paired her protein-rich drink with a multivitamin.
- Modern interpretation: Today, drinking raw eggs is highly discouraged due to the risk of salmonella poisoning. A modern nutritionist would likely recommend a cooked, balanced breakfast over this retro, unsafe habit.
Dinner: The Simple, High-Protein Approach
For dinner, Marilyn's method was equally straightforward, particularly during her time living in hotels. She would stop at a local market to buy meat—either steak, lamb chops, or liver—and broil it in her room. Her accompaniment was surprisingly simple: a side of four or five raw carrots. This high-protein, low-carb strategy was far ahead of its time, though lacking in nutritional variety.
The Justified Indulgence: A Hot Fudge Sundae
Monroe didn't practice strict, unwavering discipline, justifying her dietary indulgence with her otherwise protein-heavy diet. After attending evening drama classes, she would often stop for a hot fudge sundae at a local ice cream parlor. She noted that she felt she could afford this treat because her other meals were so lean.
The Two Different Dietary Accounts
Interestingly, the diet Monroe described in her 1952 interview is not the only account of her eating habits. After an auction in 2021, two of her cookbooks were sold, containing notes and recipes that suggested a more varied and what might be considered "standard" for the era. This contrast highlights the potential for public-facing narratives to differ from private realities.
Comparing the Reported vs. Cooked Diet
| Meal | 1952 Interview Diet | Cookbook-Revealed Diet |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Warm milk with two raw eggs, plus a multivitamin. | Orange juice or prunes, toast with butter, cereal, milk, or chocolate. |
| Lunch | Typically skipped. | Egg, potatoes, or spaghetti, often with snacks like crackers. |
| Dinner | Broiled steak, lamb, or liver with raw carrots. | Fish or meat with vegetables, bread, and a baked apple or pudding for dessert. |
| Treats | Hot fudge sundae. | Jelly, eggnog before bed. |
A Modern Nutritional Perspective
Looking back at Monroe's publicized diet reveals both insight and serious flaws. While her emphasis on protein and low-carb meals was intuitive and echoes modern diet trends, it was far from balanced. A modern analysis would point out several concerns:
- Nutrient Deficiency: Skipping lunch and relying on a few carrots meant a significant lack of fiber, complex carbohydrates, and essential micronutrients found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Health Risks: The risk of salmonella from consuming raw eggs is a major concern today.
- Balanced Energy: While high-protein diets can be effective for satiety, her restrictive day-to-day choices could lead to lethargy and mood swings, a problem noted in research on yo-yo dieting.
- Unsustainable: The yo-yo dieting cycle she experienced, likely influenced by emotional states and work stress, is common with highly restrictive eating patterns.
The Pressure of Hollywood
It is important to view Marilyn Monroe's diet in the context of the intense pressure faced by Golden Age Hollywood actresses. Studio contracts often included strict weight clauses, leading to extreme and sometimes unhealthy measures to maintain a certain image. Her comment about worrying about eating "too much" after once worrying about having "enough" is a telling sign of the shift in her life and the pressures of fame.
Conclusion: A Complex Dietary Legacy
What was Marilyn Monroe's diet? It was a fascinating blend of convenience, intuitive eating, and indulgence, reflecting the pressures and nutritional norms of her time. While her high-protein focus aligns with some modern trends, her reliance on raw eggs and her overall nutritional imbalance highlights how much our understanding of diet has evolved. The existence of contradictory accounts from her interviews and cookbooks only adds to the mystique of a star whose life was so heavily scrutinized. Her dietary choices, though potentially unhealthy, continue to captivate audiences as part of her enduring legacy. To learn more about historical diet trends, you can explore resources like the Harper's Bazaar article discussing her routine.
