Russian president Vladimir Putin is currently on his way for a two-day visit to India to attend an annual summit held by both countries according to BBC. The Russian head of state has always been an enigmatic figure throughout his incredibly long term in office and has sparked curiosity and fear in equal measures.
Most people are inquisitive about his private life and what kind of lifestyle he follows that allows him to maintain his health; by all measures, he is immensely healthy and spry for his age. Today, let’s take a look at his daily nutrition plan and the science behind his high-protein, low-sugar diet.
What does he eat in a day?
According to Russian state media publication Russia Beyond, Putin maintains his trim figure by opting for a very clean and minimal diet, though he indulges on occasion. For breakfast the president prefers to have porridge, tvorog (cottage cheese) with honey, and raw quail eggs which he drinks. He also likes to consume a cocktail of beetroot and horseradish juice.
Apart from honey, the president only savors ice cream “from time to time” claiming that “he’s not much of a sweets man”. As per an interview given to Russian reporters a few years after divulging his breakfast habits, Putin likes rice and buckwheat but dislikes oats.
“I don’t have much time for food,” he said. “I like vegetables: Tomatoes, cucumbers, salad. In the morning – porridge, cottage cheese, honey. If there’s a choice between meat and fish – I prefer fish, I also like lamb,” he said. In the afternoon he prefers to eat fruits and drink kefir, if available, also mentioning that he likes to try out local cuisine of whichever place he visits. Notably, he usually avoids dinner.
“When I go somewhere, I’m pleased to try the local cuisine. I’m accustomed to green tea… I usually don’t have dinner, I don’t have time. In the afternoon I try to eat fruit, to drink kefir when it’s available – and when it’s not, I prefer not to eat anything at all,” he added.
Putin’s diet through a nutritional standpoint
From a nutritional standpoint, Vladimir Putin’s preference for a high-protein, no-nonsense breakfast aligns with research showing that this eating style can improve satiety, reduce cravings, control glucose spikes and stabilise energy throughout the day. Studies in Clinical Nutrition Experimental demonstrate that high-protein breakfasts significantly boost fullness hormones like PYY and GLP-1 compared with high-carbohydrate breakfasts, helping regulate appetite more effectively.
Similarly, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that individuals who consumed a protein-rich breakfast had reduced evening snacking and lower activity in brain regions associated with food cravings compared with those who skipped breakfast. These findings reflect why Putin’s morning routine of cottage cheese, eggs, and minimal sugar would help him maintain leanness and consistent energy, despite his demanding schedule.
But Putin’s habit of skipping dinner and often going long stretches without food introduces a more complex metabolic picture. A 2025 study in Nutrition & Metabolism found that skipping major meals increased blood glucose spikes at the next meal, suggesting reduced metabolic flexibility – a pattern that could appear in someone who regularly avoids eating at night.
Another controlled trial published on PubMed in 2017 comparing breakfast skipping versus dinner skipping showed that skipping breakfast led to higher glucose and insulin levels later in the day, indicating greater metabolic stress from irregular meal timing. In Putin’s case, while his clean, minimally processed diet supports cardiovascular and metabolic health, the frequent meal skipping could place extra strain on glucose regulation, especially over the long term, unless his total daily nutrition is carefully balanced.
Disclaimer: Always consult a doctor before starting any diet or fitness routine. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
