Padma Lakshmi dishes on daily diet, raves about 'cleansing juice'

"Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi, who recently lost weight by following a strict diet, shared more diet tips in a blog post, where she raved about a homemade "cleansing juice" she drinks before every meal.

"Before each meal, I drink a tall glass of my cleansing juice to jump-start my metabolism," wrote Lakshmi, 42. "Simply combine two ounces of pure, unsweetened cranberry juice, six ounces of water, and one packet of Emergen-C in the flavor of your choice. While I don’t necessarily believe in pure juice cleanses, this recipe helps me stay on track."

Padma, a former model who gains (and promptly loses) 15 pounds every season shooting "Top Chef," stays in shape by eating a high-protein, low-carb breakfast every morning and drinking green tea throughout the day.

"I like to start my day with my go-to filling breakfast that never fails to satisfy my hunger and also keep me full and energetic," she says. "I scramble three egg whites and one yolk, and then add a half-tablespoon of Tabasco. To top off the meal, one eat half a grapefruit without any added sweeteners.

"Though it sounds like a broken record, I eat breakfast every single day. Not only does eating a proper, healthy breakfast in the morning kick start the metabolism, but it can help you make better food choices throughout the day."

The lean 5-foot-9 Lakshmi, who follows a portion-controlled diet and works out regularly, says placing the emphasis on being healthy (over being skinny) is her fitness mantra.

"Eating healthily is a concept that seems to be foreign to our society but one that constantly plagues it as well," says the mom of one.

"The obsession with being thin often takes precedence over what our bodies actually need. Personally, I don’t like to constantly restrict myself, so I am careful to incorporate a few healthy habits into my daily food regimen."