Elizabeth Banks On Staying Fit: Portion Control Is a 'Real Problem'

The Walk of Shame star says she kicks white foods to the curb when she needs to buckle down

Photo: Courtesy Women's Health

No junk food? No problem.

That seems to be the case with Elizabeth Banks, 39, who manages her eating habits like a pro, telling Women’s Health, simply, “People ask me how I stay thin, and I’m like, ‘When you go to the grocery store, buy more bananas than cookies.’ ”

And when she does splurge on sweet treats, “[The freezer] is where my Girl Scout cookies are,” she shares, adding that the prime location allows her to forget about them – instead of eating them.

But when it’s time to prepare for a role, the Walk of Shame star ditches all things white.

“It’s essentially a gluten-free diet: no rice, no bread, no pasta,” Banks explains. “I’ll eat tons of protein and veggies. Also, I just drink water and tea and alcohol.”

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire actress makes that diet seem as simple as the way she handles how much she consumes.

“Portion control is a real problem,” Banks says. “My husband and I always split one appetizer and one entree. I’m sure waiters hate us.”

RELATED: Elizabeth Banks: Why I’m Really a Mom Now

One meal on her must list?

“Who doesn’t love meatloaf?” she muses. “My father always made an amazing meatloaf, and I’ve inherited his skill. Leftover meatloaf in a sandwich? Come on!”