The proof is undeniable. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson practically walks among us like a deity.
He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs about 270 pounds of solid muscle. He’s an enormously bankable movie star. He’s hinting at a presidential run. In last year’s animated hit “Moana,” he even portrays a godlike figure, the demigod Maui.
Time to ponder the crucial question: How can I model myself after The Rock?
To begin: What would it cost to consume the same foods as “The Rock”? And is there a budget-friendly way to follow Dwayne Johnson’s eating plan?
Do you catch a whiff of what “The Rock” is preparing? We wanted the answer. So we dug in. And all we can say is, Whoa.
Oh My Cod
Johnson’s eating routine is staggering. To match him, you have to be ready to ingest an astonishing volume of protein each day.
This man rises at 4 a.m. just to eat his first meal. He consumes 10 pounds of food daily — more than 5,000 calories across seven meals.
(By comparison, the typical man uses about 1,900 to 2,500 calories a day.)
For many years, a massive portion of his diet has been cod, a fish high in protein. The rest consists of eggs, steak, chicken, vegetables and potatoes.
“The Rock” eats so much cod — more than two pounds daily, roughly 70 pounds each month. Cod at breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Enough cod to stock the northern seas.
“Over the course of a year, ‘The Rock’ consumes more than one-third of a ton of cod alone,” reported FiveThirtyEight. It also estimated that Johnson shells out about $1,400 annually for fish, assuming bulk purchases.
However, he tweeted last year that he had quit eating cod because cod stocks are declining. He hasn’t specified what replaced it in his meals, though it’s almost certainly another lean, protein-packed fish.
Before dropping cod, Dwayne explained his regimen to Muscle & Fitness in 2015, soon after portraying Hercules on-screen.
Here are the details:
- Meal 1:10 ounces cod, 2 whole eggs, 2 cups oatmeal
- Meal 2:8 ounces cod, 12 ounces sweet potato, 1 cup vegetables
- Meal 3:8 ounces chicken, 2 cups white rice, 1 cup vegetables
- Meal 4:8 ounces cod, 2 cups rice, 1 cup vegetables, 1 tablespoon fish oil
- Meal 5:8 ounces steak, 12 ounces baked potato, spinach salad
- Meal 6:10 ounces cod, 2 cups rice, salad
- Meal 7: 30 grams casein protein, 10-egg-white omelet, 1 cup vegetables (onions, peppers, mushrooms), 1 tablespoon omega-3 fish oil
What Happens When Ordinary People Attempt the Dwayne Johnson Diet
Let’s be clear: this plan isn’t suitable for everyone. (Thanks for stating the obvious.)
First off, “The Rock” is ENORMOUS. This eating plan supports the maintenance of his colossal frame. And when he’s not dining on fish, he’s grinding through intense training sessions.
Still, after learning about his diet, a couple of regular folks gave it a shot.
A writer for Complex, confronted with what he called “a relentless barrage of grilled meats and steamed greens,” couldn’t make it through a day. (Major issue: he despised cod.)
Another participant, a freelancer named Mark Webster, tested the plan and documented his experience online.
“I feel amazing,” he told FiveThirtyEight after 30 days.
But over that month, he paid $1,262 for food — about $42 daily, including $18 spent on cod alone.
Can You Sniff Out What ‘The Rock’ Is Spending?
Here’s another hurdle: most of us simply can’taffordto eat like Johnson, even if we wanted to.
All that protein can drain your wallet. Near where I live, fresh cod costs $12.99 per pound, and frozen cod runs $6.99 per pound. Other fish varieties are about the same.
Either way, non-celebrities still eat fish, chicken, eggs, steak, vegetables, rice and potatoes.
Whether you’re aiming to eat like “The Rock” or you just want to eat healthier, here are seven ways to cut grocery costs.
1. Photograph Your Receipts
You can earn cash back on groceries simply by snapping a picture of your receipt. How it works:
- Sign up for Ibotta. (You only need a name and email to start.)
- Check the local cash-back deals in the app — offers rotate weekly.
- Scan the item’s barcode and upload a photo of your receipt. The cash appears in your Ibotta balance shortly.
- When you reach $20 in earnings, you can request payment via PayPal or Venmo.
2. Shop Online
Fish, greens and more fish — “The Rock” eats clean. To save on organic and specialty foods, try shopping at Thrive Market. You can purchase groceries at up to 50% below retail prices, and their selection tends to be healthier than typical supermarket fare.
You can get a 30-day trial and a discount on your first orders. Members report averaging about $200 in annual savings.
You probably won’t locate any of “The Rock’s” beloved cod there. But a search for “rice” on Thrive’s site returns 143 items.
3. Improve Your Rewards Card
If you’re eligible, consider applying for a cash-back rewards credit card.
Many cards offer unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, from gasoline to groceries.
Or cod.
Now that we’ve uncovered what Dwayne Johnson eats to sustain his enormous muscles, I can certainly smell what “The Rock” is making.
And let me be frank, it smells very fish-centric.
Jason Mercer ([email protected]) is a senior writer at Savinly. He’ll forever view The Rock as “The People’s Champion.”
