Dolly Parton's Diet Was The Perfect Blend Of Comfort Food And Healthy Choices

Dolly Parton apparently had no interest in solely sticking to a boring old diet in the name of health. During a 2025 chat with Today, the country legend confirmed that she was big on "good, hearty food." However, to fuel her active lifestyle and her soul, Parton apparently struck a balance between comfort foods and more nutrient-dense options. In a 2021 interview with Wall Street Journal Magazine, the "Jolene" hitmaker shared that one of her go-to breakfasts was an egg salad on toast with tomatoes. Eggs were apparently one of Parton's favorite breakfast foods; she poached them and paired them with fruit for a lighter option or had them alongside bacon and toast for a classic, easy, and simple meal. 

Considering the positive effects that happen to your body when you eat eggs every day, it's safe to say that Parton's love for eggs boded well for her. Eggs are an excellent source of protein and packed with vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, folate, phosphorus, selenium, and numerous other important nutrients. Moreover, her choice to include fruits in her breakfast could have also been beneficial, since they can promote satiety through high water content and/or high fiber levels. 

Sometimes, the first meal of the day just happened to be the most comforting for Parton. When she spoke to Marie Claire in 2020, she shared that she had started that day with a homemade country favorite: sausage patties, biscuits, and milk gravy. Other times, she preferred more modern favorites. During her chat with Wall Street Journal Magazine, she shared that she was also a fan of bagels and sometimes had them for breakfast with cream cheese, cucumbers, and tomatoes. 

During a 2016 chat with FoxNews.com Dolly Parton shared that she had to be careful about what she ate during the week because she had a big appetite and a short frame, adding, "My best bet is to stay on low carb because on a low carb you can actually eat quite a bit of food of the things you're allowed." Notably, a low-carb diet can help with appetite regulation since people are more likely to replace the carbs on their plate with protein and fats, which can help boost satiety. 

However, it's important to remember that Parton didn't seem to completely deprive herself of her favorite foods through the week. In a 2025 chat with Today, Parton shared that she couldn't go a day without having potatoes, which are widely considered a food that you should avoid if you are on a low-carb diet. "I'm just one of those people that I have to either have a baked potato, some mashed potatoes, or some French fries, or something to do with potatoes," the iconic singer shared. Needless to say, she also made room for her favorite country foods. 

In 2011, Parton told Parade that she loved having cornbread on days she wasn't working. Meanwhile, when she spoke to People in 2025, she shared that her meals sometimes included classics like mashed potatoes and meatloaf, pork or beef roast, and her famous chicken and dumplings. All in all, it seems Parton knew all about how giving into your cravings could help heal your relationship with food.