6 Foods Clint Eastwood Loves To Eat

Americans recognize Clint Eastwood as the tough hero in countless Spaghetti Western films. On the big screen, his sharp shooting skills, paired with his no-nonsense attitude, earned him a fearsome reputation. Given his rugged persona, you might expect Eastwood to eat a lot of big steaks, chicken wings, and ribs — all while washing everything down with shot after shot of whiskey. 

As it turns out, in real life, Eastwood is a reserved man with modest tastes. He's also a living reminder of how we should all be mindful of our physical and mental health if we want to reach our 90s. Eastwood is a big advocate of transcendental meditation and regular low-impact exercise, and eats primarily for nutrition rather than pleasure. That means he boasts dietary habits that are notably more humble than the opulent taste you may expect from a celebrity of his caliber.

So, what exactly does Clint Eastwood eat to stay so vibrant in his 90s? Read on to learn about the foods he loves, and why all of us could benefit from incorporating them into our own diets.

Here's a unique breakfast beloved by Clint Eastwood: salmon with brown rice. While dishes like this are more common in the morning in other countries around the world, many Americans are used to the likes of eggs, bacon, cereal, pancakes, toast, muffins, and other types of sweet treats. It sets Eastwood up for a successful day because it's chock-full of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and other vital nutrients. This steady supply of energy can help you avoid snacking or crashing a couple of hours after eating.

Some fans of Eastwood's learned about his breakfast routine from a Men's Health profile of his son, Scott, who explained that his father strictly views food as fuel for his body rather than something enjoyable. Apparently, Eastwood isn't the only celebrity who eats this way. Victoria Beckham primarily eats the same meal every day (grilled fish and veggies), according to her husband. Eastwood and Beckham would presumably get along swimmingly if they shared a breakfast together.

While eating the same dish every day may sound like a nightmare to foodies, there's something freeing about this habit, too. Eastwood doesn't have to deal with the exhausting inner monologue of figuring out his weekly meal plan, wondering if he already has all the ingredients he needs in the kitchen.

It seems like Clint Eastwood loves protein, as he's mentioned and opted for meaty meals on multiple occasions over the years. Back in 2008, he invited a journalist from The New York Times to join him for a steak dinner at his hotel and restaurant, Mission Ranch, in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The restaurant still serves prime rib, filet mignon, and New York steak today. More recently, the actor visited a restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, where he enjoyed a short rib dish in 2023.

Eastwood was previously part-owner of another restaurant in the area, Hog's Breath Inn. Back in the 1970s, he was a big fan of its Dirty Harry Burger — today a freshly-ground, hand-formed burger made with USDA Prime chuck on rustic sourdough ciabatta — but it's not clear whether it's still a meaty go-to for the actor decades after he exited the business. One form of meat that's likely off the menu? Chicken wings. Back in 2018, Eastwood described the dish (plus nachos) as "crap" during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live".

Vegetables should, theoretically, make up a significant part of everyone's diet. As a man concerned with general wellness and health, it should come as no surprise that Clint Eastwood has a track record of prioritizing his greens.

Back in 2003, Eastwood's then-wife attested to his dedication to eating veggies. "Clint believes in eating vegetables, fruits, and vegetables," Dina Eastwood told The New Yorker. "He's the first one up every morning. He makes fruit smoothies for himself and everybody else."

It seems like Eastwood is still very much into his fruits and veggies. More recently, the actor-director has praised the benefits of eating a plant-based diet. While he's been known to eat both meat and fish, Eastwood appeared in the documentary "Why On Earth" in 2022 (via Vision Films), in which he claimed that sticking to a plant-based diet — aka one heavy in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other natural sources — could lead to "positive changes for the wellbeing of animals and people" and that he thinks it is a "cool thing." Just how much of Eastwood's daily diet is plant-based remains to be seen.

Once you know that Clint Eastwood loves a breakfast of salmon and brown rice, it should come as no surprise to hear that he also enjoys sushi. Shawn Levy, the celebrity biographer behind "Clint: The Man and the Movies", previously told Air Mail that Eastwood has been singing sushi's praises since the 1960s.

If you look at life expectancy rates and other markers of health, you'll see that Japan has always hovered near the top. This may be due to the population's active lifestyle and heavy consumption of fish and plants — both fixtures of Clintwood's diet. When visiting a sushi restaurant in the U.S., you should know that the menu may have been adapted to cater to Americans' tastes. To get the health benefits of sushi, stick with simple, classic rolls like salmon, tuna, rainbow, avocado, or vegetable.

Also, note that certain types of otherwise healthy seafood can contain high levels of mercury, which should give you pause. For this reason, the likes of swordfish, mackerel, and marlin rolls should be eaten in moderation. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, eating lots of seafood containing high levels of mercury could, in extreme cases, lead to vision loss, muscle weakness, and impaired speech, hearing, and walking.

Clint Eastwood is a notoriously private guy. He's not on social media, and he rarely participates in interviews. In one he agreed to do with "Muscle & Fitness" in 1991, Eastwood listed pasta as one of his go-to foods (via Physical Culture Study).

While it's not clear whether it's still a go-to meal for Eastwood nowadays, we do know that he still indulges in the carby treat at least on occasion. In 2023, the manager of a Savannah restaurant told WTOC that the actor had ordered both lobster ravioli and short rib pappardelle while in the area.

Unfortunately, we don't know what type of pasta Eastwood enjoys the most. However, given his penchant for brown rice in the morning, it would make sense if he also liked the whole-grain varieties. A 2-ounce portion of whole wheat penne can give you 25% of your daily dietary fiber, 8 grams of protein, and large doses of manganese, zinc, magnesium, and more. You can make any of these 35 penne recipes with whole-grain penne.

Life is all about balance, and while it's true that Clint Eastwood has an admirable dedication to nutrition and fitness, he's still human. The famously wellness-oriented star has been known to indulge in one surprising snack in particular: Cheez-Its.

In 2024, actor Phil Biedron — who starred in Eastwood's film "Juror #2" — revealed that the director was known to break the silence on set by chowing down on the cheesy crackers. "We're in the courtroom and we're doing this dramatic scene," Biedron told Vulture. "And then you hear this light crunch sound. It was actually Clint, who's eating Cheez-Its and making the noise."

Ordinarily, this kind of behavior would be a no-go on a film set. Biedrom admitted as much, but condeded that as it was Eastwood, it was acceptable. "Hey, it's his movie," he added. "And he's a big Cheez-Its guy." It's unclear which of the many Cheez-Its flavors Eastwood likes best, but whatever his preference, it sounds like it was hard to miss his snacking habit. Biedron's co-star Nicholas Hoult also attested to Eastwood's taste for Cheez-Its, telling People that he could often hear him munching away during film.