Rob Lowe Says His Go-To Sandwich Is Just 3 Ingredients

Rob Lowe has had an impressive career, ranging from child stardom on The Outsiders to television gigs like The West Wing and Parks and Recreation, plus hosting Fox’s game show The Floor. You may even know him from Atkins commercials, as the actor has been partnered with the brand for decades. He even credits their products and associated diet for his weight loss and healthy eating habits. 

Thanks to this partnership, EatingWell was given the opportunity to catch up with the actor and host and talk more about how his diet has evolved over the years. From what he’d tell his younger self to his favorite sandwich of all time, here’s what to know about Lowe.

If you could tell your younger self one piece of nutrition advice, what would it be?

I had a moment, I want to say I was around 33, where I literally realized that I cannot eat like a college kid anymore. You think it’s never going to happen to you, but there comes a moment where you can’t have pizza three times a week, or have your favorite In-N-Out order. The transition from that to really healthy eating was something that I had to pay some attention to. My answer would be, enjoy it while you can, but get ready because at some point you have to start treating your body right.

Speaking of In-N-Out, do you have a favorite fast food restaurant?

I love to eat. And I think, frankly, that’s the key to longevity. Where I see people fail in their body transformation or weight loss is the lack of consistency. They’re great leading up to the wedding or summer, and then in the winter it all goes to hell. I’m able to be consistent because I don’t deny myself In-N-Out. I don’t deny myself Dave’s Hot Chicken—that’s currently my go-to.

Do you have a favorite sandwich?

My all-time favorite sandwich, it’s all predicated on the bread. Get me a great baguette, hollowed out, with ham and light mayonnaise. That’s it, it’s very French. And if we’re going American, out on a boat, on a lake or we’re in the backyard with a swimming pool, it’s peanut butter and jelly.

What would your category on The Floor be if you were a contestant?

This new season that will be out in September actually did my favorite category without asking me: yacht rock. I have a theory that whatever decade you grew up in, that’s emblazoned in your memory in a way that the rest of your life won’t be. So for me, it’s the ‘70s and ‘80s, anything in that era but particularly music. No one’s going to beat me at yacht rock. They also had sports franchise logos, which is super sick. I like interesting, obscure and nostalgic categories.

What do you eat or drink on the set of The Floor, and is it different from when you’re on a movie or TV set?

It’s 100% different. One of the things I love about doing The Floor is that it is really challenging mentally. It’s like doing a one-man show because you’re running the game, you’re keeping track of the contestants, you’re keeping an eye on the clock, you’re restating the rules, you’re resetting the gameplay and then hopefully you’re funny. So it’s really draining, the hours are really, really, really long, you’re on your feet the entire time, and I like that challenge a lot.

I always have a protein shake, usually Atkins Chocolate Banana, that’s my evening one. My daytime one is vanilla. And I drink lots of water and lots of coffee.

How has your eating pattern or habits changed from when you’ve started your partnership with Atkins to today?

I’ve always tried to eat what I now realize is the Atkins lifestyle, so it’s been a good fit from the beginning. I’ve always tried to eat healthy proteins and watch my carbs and watch my sugars. It’s sort of a match made in heaven, and the products have been really helpful. 

Most recently, I’ve had a couple of projects where I really wanted to get a little more lean, so for my weight loss and body changing goals, the products are really, really, really good. For example, at night, I have a terrible, brutal sweet tooth. It’s absolutely brutal, and the more I work out, the worse it gets. So the Atkins shake for me is a lifesaver because without that, Im hitting the Häagen-Dazs.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.