Celebrity Recipes We’re Loving (And How to Make Them Healthier!)

I was browsing TikTok/Instragram the other day and noticed so many celebrities sharing their favourite recipes. I was especially intrigued by this as the previous blog entry on this blog had to do with health – both physical and mental. We don’t realize this until we have to, but nutrition has so much to do, far more than we ever imagined, with one’s health.

Have you ever wondered what your favorite celebrities cook at home or what ends up on their perfectly styled plates? If you’ve watched Meghan Markle’s show and seen her flower-topped toasties or heard of Gigi Hadid’s viral spicy vodka pasta, these recipes are more than just click-worthy and they’re totally doable in your kitchen, too.

 

I invited renowned Women’s Nutritionist, Emma Lisa of Eat Nourish Glow to join me in sharing some of the most popular celebrity recipes making headlines. Emma Lisa breaks down thepractical ways to make these celeb recipes healthier without compromising flavour. Whether you’re into clean eating, low-carb swaps, or just looking for inspiration, you’ll find some celebrity-approved deliciousness here.

 

 

Meghan Markle, Edible Flower Donuts and Cream Cheese Toasts

 

On Meghan Markle’s Netflix show, ‘With Love, Meghan’, the duchess is known for her love of nasturtiums, a vibrant, peppery edible flower she sprinkles on everything from donuts to tea ice cubes. She’s even served flower-garnished toast with whipped cream cheese at brunches. And I’ll let my guest and renowned Women’s Nutritionist, Emma Lisa, tell you why it’s well worth trying. 

 

“Donuts might not scream healthy, but Meghan’s version focuses on visual beauty and botanical flavour rather than sugar overload. To make her donuts yourself, I recommend you use a high-fibre, wholegrain flour base and reduce the sugar in the glaze with something like stevia. Topping with edible flowers like cornflowers or nasturtiums not only makes the donuts Instagram-worthy, but they also contain small amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants.”

 

In a previous blog entry, I was very harsh on my views on Meghan Markle’s cooking show. I certainly had a choice of words. But I can’t deny that she has some great choice of healthy comfort foods. I love donuts, but can never have them in-store because I don’t know what’s in them. Meghan’s version is great. It’s one filled with healthy ingredients; ones I know I can have without triggering my seizures.

 

Jennifer Aniston’s Viral Chickpea Salad

 

This is the salad everyone’s been talking about since Friends went off the air. Jennifer Aniston’s salad took over TikTok and as Emma Lisa will tell, it was for good reason. 

 

“.. made with high-fibre quinoa or bulgur, plant-protien from chickpeas, and hydrating, cucumber, this salad provides a well-balanced meal. The tangy feta cheese, red onion, fresh herbs, and pistachios, give a punch of strong flavour, and its all tossed in a simple lemon and olive oil dressing. This is clean eating recipe that definitely gets my tick of approval!”

 

I never had anything negative to say about Aniston. She’s a talent not to be messed with. I learned English thanks to her when I watched multiple episodes of Friends a day when I first came to Canada. Now, I’m happy to say that she’s my inspiration to stay healthy and fit. Anything that’s plant-based is great to have when you live with a chronic illness. It adds so much to your body that it needs to stay healthy.

 

Gigi Hadid’s Spicy Vodka Pasta,The Dish That Broke The Internet

 

Gigi’s creamy spicy vodka pasta is made with tomato paste, garlic, chili flakes, vodka, and heavy cream. It’s a cozy, comforting dish that’s high on flavour but not necessarily low on calories. When I asked Emma Lisa how to make a healthy version, she had several ideas.

 

“You could replace the heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut cream, if you’re vegan, for a lighter, creamy base. I’d also trychickpea pasta for added protein and fibre, or use spirailised zucchini noodles for a super low carb version. Add sauteedspinach and butter-beans to the sauce to boost nutrient density.”

 

If you struggle with a seizure disorder like me, alcohol, vodka included, might be a trigger for you. You can pour just A LITTLE bit of vodka in the pasta; enough for the taste and feel of it. That amount won’t be enough to trigger a seizure. Don’t skip it entirely, as it definitely adds more texture to the meal.

 

 

Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie, Soul Food Staple Turned Iconic

 

Patti LaBelle is a conic, but I never in a million years thought I’d take cooking advice from someone as legendary as her. Patti’s rich and spiced sweet potato (yam) pie is a holiday favourite. Shemakes it with roasted sweet potatoes (yams), ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and evaporated milk, all baked in a buttery crust. Sounds so good, but calorie rich, so I asked Emma Lisa how to make it healthier.

 

“Love the sounds of this one, Stacie. Sweet potatoes or yams, are already a fantastic source of vitamin A and dietary fibre. To make the pie a touch healthier, you could opt for a wholewheat crust or even a crustless version, and reduce the sugar content by using stevia, a leafy plant that is 100x sweeter than sugar.”

 

Sweet potatoes are my favourite addition to ANY meal. They’re so filling that when I have a meal with them, it usually lasts me the entire day. They’re high fibre, which slows down digestion. The best part about it is that you don’t have to eat a lot of them to feel full.

 

 

Chrissy Teigen’s Cheesy Jalapeño Tuna Casserole, Her Take on Nostalgic Comfort Food

 

I found Chrissy’s spin on tuna casserole and in it she uses cheese, jalapeños, peas, and cream of mushroom soup, all baked with pasta into a warm, spicy casserole. Emma Lisa told me, you can make a healthier version if you swap out canned soup for a homemade version with unsweetened almond milk and sauteed mushrooms. She suggests using whole wheat or lentil pasta for the dietary fibre. You can also cut back on the cheese or use a strong-flavored cheese like aged cheddar, so you need less of it.

 I love cheese and anything Tuna. I had to make little adjustments to the meal because I can’t have anything canned as it will trigger a seizure, but once I did, it was perfect. It was healthy , filling, and easy (and quick) to make. It’s also a great meal if you’re a busy mom and don’t have enough hours in a day. Teigen most certainly understands that life as she’s a mom to 4 little ones.

Jennifer Garner’s Daily Sweet Potato Salad, The Salad She Eats Every Day (Seriously!)

 

With the right ingredients, a salad can be the most healthy and the most filling meal of the day. It’s especially important to remember when you’re living with a chronic illness such epilepsy, chronic fatigue, or other. Jennifer Garner is known for her love of clean eating and simplicity and one of her staple recipes is what she calls her “big fat salad.” While she hasn’t published a formal recipe, the internet has taken notice and TikTok creators have recreated their own vibrant versions of Jennifer’s daily salad.

 

Another tick of approval. The Jennifer Garner salad is plant-based, protein-rich, and packed with colourful roasted veggies and leafy greens. I’ll be honest, this recipe needs no healthy tweaks, it’s a nutritional powerhouse. Toss together arugula (rocket), roasted sweet potatoes, cauliflower, steamed broccoli and green beans boost the crunch. Add a serving of plant-based protein such as beluga lentils, and top with chopped pistachios, cashews, and a little plant-based feta. It’s the perfect balance of healthy fats, fiber, and flavour.” The best part about this is that these are all safe ingredients if you’re struggling with a seizure disorder.

 

Kardashian’s La Scala Chopped Salad

 

The Kardashian family might seem talentless, but they actually have MANY talents that one might not realize. Cooking is just one of many. The “Kardashian Salad” is one everyone is copying, and packed with lettuce, chickpeas, salami, and mozzarella, tossed in a zesty red wine vinaigrette. It’s the lunch of choice for Kim and her sisters. To make it healthier, Emma Lisa suggests replacing the salami with a leaner meat like grilled turkey or even crunchy air-fried tofu. She recommends going for low-fat cheese or skipping it altogether.

 

I love this idea, as it will make the salad more filling and richer in taste. You can make the salad your own no matter what your preference in food is; whether you’re a meat lover or a vegetarian, this salad is for you.

 

Selena Gomez Makes Her Nana’s Spicy Sausage Pasta, The Family Recipe She Always Comes Back To

 

Gomez has been an avid advocate for everything and anything relating to health. She was diagnosed with Lupus in 2015, and living with bipolar disorder. In 2017, she went through a kidney transplant her friend, actress Francia Raisa became a match. You might know Gomez as a singer and actress, as she now stars in Only Murders In The Building, but she’s so much more than that. She’s a businesswoman and…a chef! Selena + Chef is a cooking show she started in 2020. In it, she invites professional chefs, where they cover tips and tricks and how to deal with disasters in the kitchen. For each episode, the show donates $10,000 to the charity of the Chef’s choice, often food related.

Gomez’s favourite comfort food is reportedly a hearty pasta dish she learned from her grandmother, affectionately called “Nana’s Pasta.” It’s rich, warm, and full of flavor, made with spaghetti, hot Italian sausage, mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, and a good dose of Parmesan cheese. It’s everything you want from a family recipe: satisfying, nostalgic, and packed with bold flavour thanks to the sausage and garlic.

 

“Let’s be honest—this recipe is a very calorie-rich meal. But with just a few small tweaks, you can turn this comfort classic into something more balanced for everyday eating. I simply swap the sausage for lean ground turkey or a plant-based alternative to reduce saturated fat. Choose wholegrain or chickpea pasta to increase fibre and lower the glycemic load. I’s also add in extra greens like spinach or kale for volume and nutrients without extra calories. A smaller sprinkle of aged Parmesan still adds the salty umami flavor with less sodium.”

 

This particular recipe is true to its name. It actually reminds me of my grandma’s cooking that I miss so much. And because Gomez herself struggles with an illness, you can be sure that she won’t ever recommend anything that she even remotely feels will trigger a flare up; so if you’re worried about that, don’t. If you have your own dietary needs, or if you’re worried that it will trigger you, you can always put your own spin to Gomez’s recipe, just as Emma suggested. No matter the case, it’s easy and quick.

 

 

As Emma Lisa has shared with us, eating like a celebrity doesn’t mean blowing your health goals. She simply suggests you consider what goes into these recipes, your individual dietary needs, and then tweaking where it makes sense. Everyone can enjoy these iconic dishes and in a way that aligns with a healthy diet and lifestyle. The key is balance, variety, and a little creativity. Channel your inner Meghan or Selena and get cooking!

 

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Emma Lisa is a Nutritionist & Women’s Health Practitioner with over 14+ years experience in clean eating nutrition, meal planning and health coaching. She is a Certified Personal Trainer & Fitness Instructor, a published cookbook author, passionate Recipe Developer and lifestyle blogger, and an advocate for women’s health. When she’s not in clinic, Emma is mum to five kids, found in her test kitchen or sharing her creative talents for wellness content. She lives in Sydney, Australia. FOLLOW: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest