Audrey Hepburn’s Daily Diet Was More Balanced Than Her Critics Assumed

Audrey Hepburn’s Daily Diet Was More Balanced Than Her Critics Assumed

By Shreya MaliAug. 8, 2026 3:30 pm EST

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Contrary to popular misconception, Audrey Hepburn had no interest in following the rigid diet that was expected of celebrities from her era. According to People, in “Intimate Audrey,” a 2026 biography co-authored by her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, he dispelled some major rumors about her diet. “Despite decades of gossip that she had an eating disorder because she was so slim, she cooked and baked and ate what she liked but was careful with portions,” Ferrer wrote. 

According to Ferrer, his mother liked to keep breakfast simple, usually opting for boiled eggs, toast, and some jam. Exclusively chatting with Health Digest, Dr. Mickey Rubin, a nutrition expert, explained why everyone should be adding more eggs to their diet. According to Dr. Rubin, eggs were a quick and easy way to get in essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids and also boost the protein content of your meals. Additionally, a 2020 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that people who ate eggs and toast for breakfast experienced greater satiety levels and overall satisfaction than those who had cereal and juice. 

While some may raise their eyebrows at Hepburn for including a high-sugar food like jam in her daily breakfast, it’s important to remember that many experts agree that all foods can fit into a balanced diet. In a post penned on The Conversation, registered dietitian Charlotte Carlson explained that we triggered the binge-and-restrict cycle when we fed the idea that certain foods were “good” or “bad.” She believed that people could develop a better relationship with food and also meet their fitness goals by truly listening to their body’s cues.

Audrey Hepburn loved a daily sweet treat

Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

In “Intimate Audrey,” Sean Hepburn Ferrer wrote that Audrey Hepburn’s go-to lunch consisted of a salad or a soup paired with a sandwich. To end her meal on a sweet note, the “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” star would eat a bowl of vanilla ice cream with maple syrup. (Interestingly, there are plenty of unexpected benefits to be gained from eating ice cream.)

In a Self Magazine article penned by Brigitte Zeitlin, M.P.H., R.D., C.D.N., she explained why it was perfectly okay to have dessert every day, writing, “By giving yourself a little bit of what you love everyday [sic], you are ahead of the craving game by preventing them before they even start—and if you do have them, satisfying them does not feel like a cheat or guilt-ridden choice.” However, she did recommend practicing portion control and mindful eating with daily sweet treats. Hepburn did notably seem to have understood portion control remarkably well, as her son wrote that she would have a square of dark chocolate as a daily pick-me-up and a “‘finger’ of whisky” around sunset. (Of course, even chocolate has surprising health benefits.) 

For dinner, Hepburn stuck to one plate of pomodoro pasta and a salad. With that, it appears that Hepburn may have been following a principle of volume eating, which encourages people to pair calorie-dense food with high-fiber food to promote satiety. Overall, her diet was undoubtedly more balanced and modern than most people would think.