The newest Miss USA winner, Olivia Culpo, who described herself as a nerd, sits down for a chat with SHAPE magazine and reveals what she eats every day in order to look so fit and fab. The 20-year-old brown-haired beauty says that when it comes to snacking, she loves nuts. “I love unsalted almonds, especially if I’m about to do a photo shoot or compete. There’s no mess, and they’re so easy to pack in a little Ziploc bag to take with you,” Culpo says. “It’s my number one go-to-snack!”
Olivia, who confessed that she was “short and chubby” growing up, explains that for a daily dose of protein she chooses Special K bars. “I like the meal replacement bars the best. No offense to the 90-calorie ones, but they just don’t do it for me! There’s more protein in the meal bars, and I think a high-protein diet with low carbs is a great choice,” the beauty queen explains.
Well, it seems that sweet potatoes are some of her favorites! “I love them! I cook them in the oven, take off the skin, and then mash them. You can also put them in the microwave, which is really easy,” she says. “I top them with cayenne pepper and a little salt… but not too much. Greek yogurt on top is also delicious.”
Besides potatoes, other foods that the stunning brunette includes in her daily diet are bananas, yogurt and steamed veggies. “I think it’s easier to digest them when they’re steamed, as opposed to raw,” The Rhode Islander shared with Shape.
Culpo says bananas calm her down. “We have little bags we pack specifically for touch-up makeup if you’re chosen for the top 16. I knew I had to sneak in my banana because nothing calms my nerves like it! I don’t know if it’s the potassium, but I need it before I get on stage because it always calms me down,” she says. As for yogurt, she chooses Dannon Light’n Fit. “It’s low in sugar and high in protein,” she tells in the interview.
In her little chat with the magazine, the 20-year-old beauty queen also explains why pineapple is perfect for pageants. “Pineapple reduces swelling. You’re filmed that one very special day of the pageant, and you want to make sure you’re as ready to go as you can be,” Olivia says.
What about her guilty pleasures? Culpo admits that she’s into peanut butter and jelly. “This is such a random craving, but all throughout the pageant I was craving peanut butter and jelly! Oh my goodness, it is so good. I could live off of it,” she confesses.
Photos: Getty Images
