When most people meet Anthony Joshua, they have to look up. Considering his height of 6 feet 6 inches, this is hardly shocking. Surprisingly, though, Joshua is also among the slimmest men you will probably ever meet—a trait shared by many of his contemporary heavyweight rivals.

It’s clear that Joshua didn’t build his bulky figure solely in the weight room or boxing ring—at least not entirely—in the kitchen. We had a chance to speak with the man himself about his diet, his mother’s African cuisine, and the more sensible approach he’s been taking to cheat days.Breakfast with Anthony JoshuaJoshua claims that after waking up, he has a straightforward glass of water to start the day, which seems sense considering that his job involves dealing knockout strikes. A decrease in body water “appears to consistently attenuate strength (by approximately two percent), power (by approximately three percent), and high-intensity endurance (by approximately ten percent), suggesting alterations in total body water affect some aspect of force generation,” per a study published in Sports Medicine.

Joshua then moves on to a piece of fruit, which is another wise decision because it is full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and a ton of other nutrients, after finishing his glass of water.Joshua responds, “Then I have porridge or something like that.” Oats are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, just like fruit. They also give someone who needs extra energy during the day, like Joshua, an extra boost. According to Roxanne Fischer, editor of BBC Good Food, “a bowl of their slow-releasing, wholegrain goodness an hour before exercise ensures blood sugar levels remain steady throughout a workout, while providing enough energy to keep you going.”

Lunch with Anthony JoshuaFor someone Joshua’s stature, water, fruit, and oats aren’t enough to sustain him, so lunch is when the heavyweight boxer truly finds his dietary rhythm. Joshua says to MH, “I’ll go onto… wild rice, some salmon and a lot of veggies.” “I’ll probably eat that again after that.”

Joshua made a wise pick in salmon. Fish has a high protein level but a very low saturated fat content. Eating salmon has been associated with significant reductions in blood pressure, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), and the risk of coronary heart disease by 25%, according to a 2007 study published in Science Direct. Not too awful.

Joshua consumes a lot of veggies because, like fruit, they are full of vitamins, minerals, and other essential components that help keep your body healthy and functioning correctly. What about having fish, rice, and vegetables for dinner twice? It’s clear that he follows the maxim “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Dinner with Anthony JoshuaIf, however, the thought of having the same lunch twice strikes you as unappealing, Joshua makes up for it at dinnertime when he returns home to have some of his mother’s African cuisine.

Joshua even went so far as to credit consuming Nigerian foods like pounded yam, eba, and egusi for his success in an interview with the Nigerian internet publication Oak TV. It’s evident that he doesn’t think his diet need be drastically altered to follow a strict regimen, demonstrating that familiar items may still be included in a well-balanced, practical diet.

Anthony Joshua’s Insider FoodJoshua agrees that everyone deserves a cheat day, but he claims that when it comes to cheat meals, he tries to be sneaky.

For example, if he eats chocolate, it’s naturally sweetened with honey and free of gluten. In Joshua’s words, “you’re still satisfying your sweet tooth, but doing it in a more disciplined way.” I believe that I can now indulge in cheat meals while still being wise about them.