The High-Protein Breakfast Jeremy Renner Has Every Day

Jeremy Renner is best known as Hawkeye to MCU fans, but over the past year, he has made headlines for a crucial life moment off screen. On New Year’s Day in 2023, Renner was involved in a traumatic snowplow accident, resulting in a multitude of broken bones and severe internal injuries.

The actor has taken each day since to prioritize his health through healthy eating and physical therapy. Through the beginning of his recovery, he depended on almond milk as a nutritious ingredient in his protein shakes and smoothies. That’s why Renner continues to partner with Silk as it’s his favorite brand of almond milk.

Through this partnership, we were given the incredible opportunity to speak with Renner about his recovery journey, from his morning routine to the nutrients he focuses on. Read on to learn more about the Mayor of Kingstown star.

EatingWell: Do you have a morning routine that you stick to and go-to breakfasts that you love?

Renner: Getting out of bed used to be very difficult, but now I’m feeling pretty strong. So I get up, I do a little red light therapy. Then, I make espresso, I make eggs, and I make my protein shake with fruit, protein and almond milk. Then, I stretch so all of my body parts are working throughout the day. I have to do a 10- to 15-minute stretch and vibration heat therapy to oil up all my joints like a tin man. That’s how I start up.

EatingWell: Why do you prioritize a high-protein diet, and what are some of your favorite foods that help you meet the nutrition you need for the day?

Renner: I’m 53 and have been through a very traumatic accident, so high protein is really important for me. As you age, you do lose testosterone, you lose growth hormones, so getting enough protein is a really important builder of muscle and strength, as well as supporting bone density. Things we don’t think about in our twenties because we’re invincible, right? For me, it starts with a protein shake. I get 30 grams with plant protein, and using Silk Almond Milk Protein adds another 8 grams in there. And then [for dinner] there’s always chicken, salmon or a steak sometimes. It’s hard to get enough protein in a day. Whatever I can do liquid wise, I really try to do it.

EatingWell: Why partner with Silk, and what are your favorite ways to use plant-based milk?

Renner: It was very natural. I was using Silk almond milk for smoothies for my recovery. I had issues with a broken jaw and face, I couldn’t get nutrients in. For the first few months, I had put supplements in all of my meals, but now the best way I can get nutrients in my body is how I start my days: with a high-protein shake. I was doing that for a year, and then around the anniversary of the accident, Silk got a hold of me to do a Super Bowl commercial with my daughter. It was something that was a part of my life and I used it anyway, so it was easy to work with them. And we worked together again on the RennerVation Foundation. We brought 110 foster youth kids to a camp in Lake Tahoe for a week in July, and Silk brought out a nutritionist and brought a bunch of goodies. It was really great and helpful too, because it is important for kids to be educated in ways to do good for their bodies.

EatingWell: Favorite snacks to eat on set? 

Renner: I do small snacks. Usually it’s a protein bar or maybe a little bit of yogurt. It depends. I usually have breakfast, a bigger dinner and just small things throughout the day.

EatingWell: On weeknights, what are your favorite easy dinners that you can count on?

Renner: If I have to cook for myself, I can cook a steak very quickly, and sometimes it’s whatever I can eat with my daughter that still fits in my diet. She likes steak and tacos, but I find ways to nourish my daughter that still serves me as well. I want to please her first, and then I can find a way to then take her turkey taco meat and make something a little bit more appropriate. I’m always by proxy having to cook for somebody else, and I’ll find a way to get what I need out of it.

EatingWell: What does “eating well” mean to you?

Renner: I think it starts with being conscious of what you put in your body. It is such a luxury to eat well, and it’s such a luxury to have a choice to eat well. Eating well didn’t live in my world, I just ate whatever I could afford. Now that I have a little bit more means to eat well, I feel like it’s the luxury of choice of what you put in your mouth. 

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.