Reese Witherspoon's 'leafy' breakfast she makes every day to look half her age at 50


The star of Legally Blonde and The Morning Show turned 50 on March 22 – get the secret to her radiant skin according to a nutritionist


Reese Witherspoon in coral jacket over picture of fruit and veg © Getty Images
Katie Daly
Katie DalyLifestyle Writer
March 24, 2026
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Reese Witherspoon turned 50 on March 22, and there is one special drink that we have no doubt that she'll take into her next decade to maintain her undeniable glow. 

The Legally Blonde actress, who is also a mother of three, has long been loyal to a green smoothie, the recipe for which she borrowed from Scandal star Kerry Washington.

Reese witherspoon holding green smoothie in selfie
Reese drinks Kerry Washington's green smoothie every morning

"I sat next to her at an award show, and I didn't really know her. And I said to her: 'Your skin is so beautiful, what do you do?' And she said: 'I think it's from this drink that I drink. It's really changed my skin and it makes my hair and nails really strong,'" Reese recalled in 2020. "So I was in. Thank you, Kerry, for sharing the recipe!"

The smoothie recipe involves blending the following ingredients:

  1. 2 romaine lettuce heads
  2. ½  cup spinach
  3. ½ cup coconut water
  4. 1 whole banana
  5. 1 whole apple
  6. 1 whole pear
  7. 1 whole lemon
  8. Celery (optional)
  9. Almond butter (optional)
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Reese's green smoothie broken down by a nutritionist

British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine-registered nutritionist Hannah Alderson tells us that there is a lot to like about Reese's smoothie from a health perspective. "It's a simple way to increase colourful fibre, hydration, and micronutrient intake first thing in the morning, which can support gut health, energy and skin," she tells us.

reese witherspoon maroon dress© WireImage
Hannah says Reese's smoothie is a great source of fibre

"Because it uses whole fruits and leafy greens, it helps feed beneficial gut bacteria and keep you feeling fuller for longer and it is not a juice, it's a smoothie."

Giving Reese's green smoothie a glow-up

However, the nutritionist says that some small adjustments to Reese's smoothie can increase its nutritional benefits. "It's rather fruit-heavy and low in protein, so for better blood sugar balance and sustained energy, I would style it with some extra healthy fat and protein," Hannah explains.

Reese wearing a blue tank top© Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Reese rose to fame in her twenties

"This could be adding in a collagen powder and flaxseeds, or chia seeds and a good quality protein powder alongside the almond butter, or even eating a hard-boiled egg with it. This would elevate it as a morning smoothie when adapted with a source of protein or healthy fats, and it may need adjusting for anyone prone to bloating."

Reese's balanced diet at 50

Reese Witherspoon in a black dress© Variety via Getty Images
Reese's favourite snack is apple with peanut butter

Reese's smoothie isn't the only health-conscious diet decision she makes each day to maintain a glow. When it comes to a snack, the star of The Morning Show told Table Manners podcasters Jessie and Lennie Ware that she eats an apple with peanut butter every day at 11 am, and tea and a cookie at 4 pm.

The author of Gone Before Goodbye also enjoys chicken or fish with dark greens for dinner and has learned that protein-heavy meals for lunch and dinner are a must.

Reese's food mantra

"I didn't always have good eating habits, coming from a little town in Nashville, Tennessee," she previously confessed to Marie Claire Australia. "I didn't understand health or nutrition, I went completely off the rails. I was lucky enough to have people come into my life and say, 'Look, you're not going to be able to sustain energy for 12, 14, 15-hour days if you don't start eating right and exercising'."

Reese walking down street on phone holding yoga mat© GC Images
Reese's exercise regime supplements her healthy diet

If one thing's certain, Reese will not entertain a fad when it comes to what she eats. "I don't believe in crash dieting or anything like that...I work out all the time anyway just to stay healthy," she told UsWeekly in 2012.

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