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When celebs become diet gurus

LONDON — Gwyneth Paltrow (picture), the movie star and sometimes cookbook author, recently partnered American exercise guru Tracy Anderson to provide take-out meals at the latter’s upmarket workout studio in East Hampton in the United States. Gwyneth isn’t cooking the food herself, of course — that honour falls to restaurateur Maurizio Marfoglia — but her avocado-loving spirit clearly imbues every dish in the 3 Green Hearts range.

Gwyneth Paltrow. Photo: Reuters

Gwyneth Paltrow. Photo: Reuters

LONDON — Gwyneth Paltrow (picture), the movie star and sometimes cookbook author, recently partnered American exercise guru Tracy Anderson to provide take-out meals at the latter’s upmarket workout studio in East Hampton in the United States. Gwyneth isn’t cooking the food herself, of course — that honour falls to restaurateur Maurizio Marfoglia — but her avocado-loving spirit clearly imbues every dish in the 3 Green Hearts range.

How healthy is it? Marfoglia said: “I keep everything low in fat, sodium, and calories with entrees like poached chicken breast and salmon. Nothing is scientifically tested, but it’s easy to keep dishes healthy by keeping things simple and sourcing locally. Everything for 3 Green Hearts gets a minimal touch, with basic ingredients. I’m not looking for a culinary adventure here.”

Of course, Paltrow isn’t the only celeb to turn into a diet guru. During her fifth marriage, Elizabeth Taylor ballooned to over 180 pounds (81kg) and ended up writing a diet book in 1987 called Elizabeth Takes Off. The bizarre regime included dry toast every day for breakfast and steak served with peanut butter. She did, however, have one very commendable rule: “When you are dieting, be discreet. You don’t have to report to your acquaintances as though they were the commanding officers of your Great War Against Fat. Even your most supportive friends can become bored.” Truer words were never said.

Karl Lagerfield, head designer of Chanel, wrote an entire book dedicated to his diet — The Karl Lagerfeld Diet by Karl Lagerfeld and Jean-Claude Houdret — which espouses a mix of lean proteins, vegetables and “protein sachets”. Bread, cheese and alcohol are banned, as are cherries, lentils, prunes and bananas. “I think I adapted to the diet fairly easily because I have never smoked or taken drugs and have never drunk much alcohol,” he said. “In other words, you have to be a real bore like me for the diet to work.”

More famously, actress Jane Fonda, who reinvented herself as an exercise and healthy-living guru, published a book in 1996 called Cooking For Health Living. Oddly enough, she didn’t write any of the recipes. The book was put together by a close friend and chef, Karen Averitt. “I don’t cook and the recipes in the book are for foods we eat, not the ones I make,” Fonda told the LA Times. At least she was honest. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

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