In an interview with GQ from 2023, Elba went into specifics on what a typical day of eating looks like for him.
Beginning his day at 5am, Elba knocks back some lion’s mane (a fungus which, when compressed into a pill or powdered form, can provide energy and boost long term brain health) and a few eggs. He drinks decaf coffee, as he says he doesn’t need caffeine for energy but still enjoys the taste of coffee.
At lunch time Elba is usually on the go, but he still tries to have something high in protein. He mostly avoids snacking throughout the day, but loves a good banana. His dinners are usually low-carb and again, high in protein. But some nights he won’t eat at all and instead opts for a simple teaspoon of honey to curb hunger pangs.
Here is everything Elba has said about his diet.
Breakfast
“After I’m up, I go downstairs and take a multivitamin and some lion’s mane, which is really great for the brain. Then, I toss back a ginger shot and have some decaf coffee and a couple of hard-boiled eggs. That’s my breakfast,” Elba told GQ.
“I just like the taste of coffee. I don’t need caffeine, so I decided that I should just give it a break. I’ve been on that break for about a year now.”
Lunch
“Usually, I’ll have one meal. I might have some eggs or some chicken sausage because I’m on a high-protein diet at the moment,” Elba said. “I try to avoid eating too much or snacking, but I do love a banana which is great for energy.”
Dinner
“[Dinner] varies, but I like a lot of African food. The problem is that it’s typically carb-heavy, and since I’m not on carbs at the moment, I’m not eating African food. So, I’m eating a lot of chicken and meats, maybe a bit of fish here and there – all of it seasoned very well.”
“Otherwise, if I get home any later than 9pm, I don’t eat, and I’ll go to bed hungry. I will make sure to have a teaspoon of high-quality honey, though. That usually curbs any hunger pangs, and I’ll sleep all through the night when I do that. Then when I wake up in the morning, my metabolism really kicks in.”
