Chris Hemsworth’s trusted personal chef has revealed what the superstar really eats when he bulks up in front of the big screen.
The Thor actor expends about 4,500 calories a day as he gears up for his action-packed roles — usually consisting of ten 450-calorie meals.
And according to Dan Churchill, the chef behind Chris Hemsworth’s hit fitness app Centr, he’s not afraid to sacrifice flavor to “get the job done.”
The Australian chef has worked with the Marvel star for three years and has also cooked alongside several other megastars such as Blake Lively and Drew Barrymore.
Named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 in 2019, the chef told FEMAIL that Chris has a “heart of gold” and puts his soul into every aspect of his life — whether it’s daily fitness training or dedication to his family.
He revealed that Chris’ favorite meals include steak, rice dishes, broccoli, chicken and banana protein shakes.
“Chris is an incredible ambassador to Australia and I am so blessed to work with him,” said Dan.
Dan Churchill (pictured) has been working with the Marvel star for three years now and has also cooked alongside several other megastars such as Blake Lively and Drew Barrymore
An Australian chef behind Chris Hemsworth’s successful fitness app has shared the actor’s nutritional secrets and revealed how Australian home cooks can get the most out of their daily meals
“Chris really is a top bloke with a heart of gold,” the Australian chef added.
“He leads by example, he’s just a really cool person and he’s very relatable.”
Dan is responsible for recipes, bonus workouts and challenges for Chris’s app, meaning the two men work closely together.
“Chris is a really good guy, and he’s not just a face – he’s very involved with Centr and wants to lead the team.”
Dan revealed that while training for movies like Thor and Extraction, Chris typically eats ten meals at 450 calories per dish.
“One of Chris’s favorite drinks is a protein shake with banana, two dates, almond milk and a scoop of egg white,” he revealed in a video for Centr.
Chris typically expends 4,500 calories a day training for action movies that need him at his peak, and Chris’s favorite meals include steak, rice dishes, broccoli, chicken, and banana protein shakes
The chef told FEMAIL, “It takes a lot of discipline to stick to Chris’s schedule — he often has to sacrifice flavor and taste to get the job done.”
Dan is obsessed with all things food and fitness, making them the perfect team.
He has a master’s degree in exercise science and turned to the culinary arts after realizing he could share a deeper connection with people and have a stronger impact on the world through food.
“There are so many facets to the industry and it is constantly evolving every day,” he said.
“My impact as a chef in the media space really excites me – I love being able to speak directly to thousands of people about their health, the planet and what’s good for them.”
Dan is the Creative Culinary Director of Chris Hemsworth’s app ‘Centr’ and is in charge of recipes, bonus workouts and challenges
Dan is extremely plant-based and admits never having been interested in fried foods.
He also championed professional cricketer Steve Smith’s ‘OMG’ milk – which is free of industrial seed oils.
“OMG oat milk is my go-to when it comes to cooking and protein shakes,” he said. “Seed oils negatively affect your health, so I tend to avoid them.”
Seed oils are known to become toxic to the human body because they contribute to an imbalance in our omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, which can lead to severe inflammation.
Dan also shared his top tips for home cooks and the biggest mistakes people make in the kitchen.
“A big mistake home cooks make is adding salt too early. For example, if you make soup or something with sauce, your dish will concentrate as the liquid evaporates – and then you can oversalt it.’
The chef uses blitzed tofu instead of dairy for a lactose-free sauce.
“Tofu is amazing and creamy and extremely rich in protein. I always use it to make mac and cheese and aioli.”
Dan also suggested grating garlic into a paste before cooking.
“That way you can bring out more flavor, and the process will extract all the extra oils.”
One of Dan’s best tips is to add more lemon juice to your cooking.
“Don’t sleep on lemon juice,” said the chef. “If salt brings out the flavor, acid makes it stick.”
He added, “If salt is the invitation to the party, lemon juice is the DJ.”
“You should always put garlic in your pan before oil,” said the chef for his final tip.
“Doing this over medium heat will help the garlic soak into the oil.”
