Giada De Laurentiis Reveals Her Secret To Staying Slim

What does it take to be a celebrity chef and have the body of a model? Just ask Giada De Laurentiis. READ: Giada De Laurentiis Shares Her Most Embarassing Photo This Food Network TV personality is not only famous for her mouthwatering dishes, which pay homage to her native Italy, but she also manages to stay enviably thin. But how does a chef of De Laurentiis’ caliber maintain her svelte shape? According to the 43-year-old mother, it comes down to eating clean. “A lot of us feel weighed down by processed foods that are filled with sugar, salt, and all sorts of interesting ingredients that we can’t even pronounce,” De Laurentiis told Yahoo! Beauty. “That kind of food tires you out and makes you feel older fast. It’s really important to eat simple, clean, seasonal food.” “So I agree, it’s not just the products you put on your body, but it’s also what you put in your body,” she says. “It is a combo of the two that keeps you feeling, healthy, young, and radiant.” READ: 10 Easy Ways to Start Eating Clean Sure, stocking up on fresh foods free of artificial ingredients sounds simple enough, but what about when you’re constantly surrounded by temptation? Breaking a sweat with daily exercise is a must, but De Laurentiis insists there’s more to enjoying tasty grub without packing on the pounds than just working out. “Part of it is not overeating, that’s number one,” De Laurentiis says. “People think if you work out a lot, that’s good enough and you can eat whatever you want. That’s not true. For me, it really is about calories in and calories out.” An easy way to make sure you’re eating the right foods? Keeping it clean and simple, of course. READ: The Dirt on Eating 'Clean' “I eat very clean and light - a lot of grilled or baked foods, rather than frying or cooking in heavy oils,” De Laurentiis says. “I always incorporate lots of veggies and fruits. I eat a little bit of everything and not a lot of anything. I think in life that’s sort of my motto." Fortunately for everyone else, this chef insists you can enjoy the foods you really love - just keep things in moderation. “There are going to be times when you want to indulge and you can do that, but then the next day, you taper back a little bit and give your body a break,” she says. “That’s the important thing, do not deprive yourself. Eat what you crave, just try not to overdo anything. If you do one day, give yourself a break and the next day just kind of pull back a bit.” WATCH: Giada De Laurentiis' Diet Secrets Clearly, De Laurentiis’ approach to eating right without completely eliminating those guilty pleasures is working. Check out some snaps of the star rocking Carolina Herrera couture for The Heart Truth Fall 2014 collection during this year’s New York Fashion Week below. And check out the video above for more of her diet secrets.