Alex Honnold's Unexpected Food Philosophy

G'day Legend,

This has been a phenomenal couple of weeks. We released the Alex Honnold episode on YouTube over the weekend, and as promised I'm going even deeper into his full eating habits and what we can learn from them. What you're about to read is exclusive to this newsletter—it's not in the YouTube episode. Let's dive in.

In this week’s newsletter (4 min read):
🍳 What Alex Honnold eats in a day
💊 Does Alex take supplements
🧠 The power of reducing decision fatigue

If you've got a mate who overthinks their nutrition, send them THIS link.

What Alex Honnold Eats in a Day

Breakfast: Alex starts with either muesli (fresh fruit, plant milk, hemp hearts) or what he calls a bean and egg "situation." Almost always includes avocado. While he's predominantly plant-based, eggs are his one animal protein. Finished with toast.

Post-morning workout: Fruit smoothie.

Lunch: This was the most interesting part. Alex builds a bowl of snacks and takes it to the climbing gym where he'll be for hours. Nuts (not cashews), dried mango, other portable options.

Here's why this works: as a climber, you don't want to feel heavy. You need bursts of immediate energy through repeated cycles of work and rest. The idea of sitting down to a meal that gets cold over hours doesn't work. But snacks? Perfect. Come off the wall, eat some dried fruit, rest, go again.

Dinner: You might have noticed I made him Seared Tofu Tacos in the episode. That's not far from his standard approach: veggies, a grain, and beans or tofu in a bowl. He's fine with olive oil and citrus, but avoids creams, sauces, or anything he considers "empty calories."

Here's what's important: Alex is fixated on doing anything that improves his climbing and avoiding anything that might impede it. As he noted in the episode, he's already a bigger build for a climber. Adding weight—good or bad—is something he consciously avoids.

What this means for you: Most people aren't elite climbers operating at bodyweight limits. If you're training hard or building muscle, you likely need more calories and dietary fat than Alex does. His approach works because his sport demands it. The lesson isn't to eat like Alex. It's to understand why he eats the way he does and apply that same intentionality to your own goals.

Does Alex Take Supplements?

Yes. Alex takes AG1 daily, along with a supplemental protein.

For him, AG1 is an easy way to get additional micronutrients without adding complexity. He values the prebiotics, probiotics, and multivitamin as an easy win that supports his climbing. Same with protein—as long as it's simple and adds to his ability to perform, Alex is all about it.

The pattern here is clear: if it serves climbing, it's in. If it doesn't, it's out.

You know how strongly I feel about AG1, so if you haven’t hopped onboard yet, you can get some free goods when you sign up with my link.

The Power of Reducing Decision Fatigue

Like Steve Jobs wearing the same clothes every day, Alex keeps things simple so his mind can stay focused on climbing.

Whether it's what dried fruit to pick or what shirt to wear, the goal is speed and clarity. Less time making decisions means more time climbing.

This is the most universally applicable lesson from spending time with Alex. Decision fatigue is real. Every choice—what to eat, what workout to do, what to wear—drains mental energy. The more you automate or simplify, the more capacity you have for what actually matters.

For Alex, that's climbing. For you, it might be training, work, or family. The principle is the same: reduce the noise to focus on the signal.

How to apply this:

• Build 3-5 breakfast options you don't have to think about

• Prep snacks in advance

• Simplify your training plan

• Automate the small stuff to protect energy for the big stuff

Alex's eating habits work because every choice aligns with a singular goal. Most of us don't need to be that extreme, but we can all ask: does this decision serve my goal, or just add complexity?

Quick Notes

🎬The full Alex Honnold episode is live on YouTube. If you haven't watched it yet, go check it out. Hearing him talk about fear, preparation, and why he climbs is worth your time. Watch HERE

 🧑‍🍳I had the wonderful opportunity to go back on the Drew Barrymore Show last week. The episode releases today — keep an eye out!

#EatGoodFeelGood

— DC