Top Nutritionists Spill Their Beauty Food Secrets

What you consume can have a major effect on how you look—and no one knows this better than nutrition experts. That’s why we tapped seven savvy nutrition pros to share their personal secrets for everything from glowing skin to endless energy. So make a commitment to turn over a new, even more beautiful leaf in the New Year with their look-good, feel-good secrets.

Citrus Sipper

“I add orange slices to my water to boost flavor and add vitamin C, which helps your body create collagen by providing structural support to skin and giving it resilience and strength,” says Lisa Drayer, R.D., author of "The Beauty Diet." “I aim to drink two cups of water with each meal and one with snacks. I find that it not only helps keep my weight in check, but it also keeps my skin moist and boosts my energy.”

Sweet Snacker

“I eat sweet potatoes year round, not just during the holiday season,” says Kristin Kirkpatrick, R.D., YouBeauty Nutrition Advisor. “They’re loaded with vitamin A—an antioxidant that helps my skin look young and fresh. My favorite way to eat them is simple: baked, with the skin on and a little bit of cinnamon.”

Green Goddess

“I drink a glowing green smoothie every day,” says celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder, author of The Beauty Detox Solution. “It’s packed with more fruits and veggies than most people get in an entire day. Plus, it gives me a huge energy boost due to its high amount of nutrients and fiber, which provides sustained release of those nutrients.”

Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups water
1 head organic romaine lettuce, chopped
3-4 stalks organic celery
1/2 head of a large bunch or 3/4 of a small bunch of spinach
1 organic apple, cored and chopped
1 organic pear, cored and chopped
1 organic banana
1/2 fresh organic lemon, juiced

Directions: Add water and chopped head of romaine to blender. Blend at a low speed until smooth. Add celery, apple and pear and blend at high speed. Finish with banana and lemon juice.

Energy Eater

“I used to be iron deficient, which left me tired, pale and lethargic,” says Leah Kaufman, R.D. “So I started consuming foods higher in iron like spinach, legumes and eggs. I felt more energetic within a few weeks. Now I try to consume high-iron foods on a daily basis.”

Skin Saver

“Omega-3s work wonders on your skin,” says Marisa Moore, R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “I eat salmon for dinner a few times per week and put ground flaxseed or chia seeds in smoothies, oatmeal and yogurt. This keeps cell membranes strong and elastic and helps my skin retain moisture, which fights dryness—especially in the winter.”

Tea Lover

“Green tea has amazing antioxidant properties and it protects my skin from the sun, but there’s a mental component to drinking it, too,” says Keri Glassman, R.D., author of The New You and Improved Diet. “By drinking two cups of green tea daily, I get into the mindset that I’m doing something good for myself, and I end up eating better overall and keeping harmful foods out of my body because I don’t want to reverse the benefits.”

Breakfast Booster

“My morning meal is my secret beauty lift every day,” says Lindsey Toth, R.D., spokesperson for the Illinois Dietetic Association. “I pack frozen wild blueberries in a small container, along with a spoonful of hemp seeds. I then mix them into a hot bowl of oatmeal at work. The powerful antioxidants in the blueberries called anthocyanins help to protect against free radicals, which can damage skin. The hemp seeds provide a boost of protein that gives me the mental energy and staying power to remain focused. And lastly, the fiber in my oatmeal keeps me full through lunchtime!”