The New York Diet

Leven Rambin Consoles Herself With Chocolate After the Daytime Emmys

“The pumpkin with icing scone is the best thing in the world.”haha Photo: Melissa Hom


In addition to playing the autistic teenager Lily Montgomery on All My Children, Leven Rambin, the face of Caressa jewelry, has been a party fixture ever since she moved from her mom’s house in Connecticut to a place on the Upper West Side. When making the scene, she skips the hors d’oeurve. “After working from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” says the 17-year-old, “the last thing I want to do is go to the gym. So I try to eat light.” That is, except for those addictions to peanut butter and protein bars — and the occasional serotonin-boosting chocolate splurge.

Thursday, June 21
I ordered the three-tier breakfast plate at Alice’s Tea Cup. It comes with two scones — the pumpkin with icing one is the best thing in the world. There’s scrambled eggs, fruit, yogurt, and granola. Then cupcakes — a red-velvet one with cream-cheese frosting, a chocolate one, and a vanilla one with pink icing and sprinkles. And a Christmas tea — it has raisins, almonds, berries, and ground cinnamon.

Wednesday, June 20
I had Eggo whole-wheat waffles with bananas on top, and turkey bacon.

For lunch I had a bowl of Kashi cereal, just because I’m lazy.

I went to Highline for dinner. It’s really trendy. I had some curry chicken. Their chicken is amazing. They have this pad Thai that’s just insanity it’s so good. It’s so rich, but it’s a smaller portion so you can eat the whole thing.

Tuesday, June 19
There’s a food truck outside of my studio — I had egg whites from there, a piece of toast, and a Luna protein bar. I have protein bars as a dessert after every meal — I’m kind of addicted to that.

I ate lunch in the hair and makeup room. I ordered a vegetable fajita and guacamole from Rosa Mexicano. We all went in on it. I’m addicted to peanut butter so I can’t end my meal without a scoop of chunky peanut butter. There’s always a warm jar in the hair and makeup room — they know how I like it.

For dinner I had a personal-pan pizza from Domino’s and Tasti DLite. My boyfriend orders from Papa John’s and Domino’s all the time — it’s a comfort thing from home. I almost think it’s sacrilege. I’m like, “Why would you do that?”

Monday, June 18
I had a Greek yogurt with a nut granola from Fairway. I love that stuff.

For lunch I had a chopped salad with a create-your-own salad from Lenny’s. I had a low-fat muffin with that. I have a big sweet tooth.

For dinner I went to Patsy’s. Their white pizza with ricotta cheese is so good. And I had red-licorice pinwheels.

Sunday, June 17
I was in Los Angeles — the Daytime Emmys were on Friday. We went to the Griddle Café and had an egg-white omelette scramble and morning-size waffles with carrots and walnuts. Whenever I’m in L.A. I like to eat outside with my whole family.

Then I was on a flight — I was in business class on United. They had really good food — I had an open-face chicken sandwich with pesto and olive tapenade. I had a little Feta cheese. I had one of those Kellogg’s Honey Nut Cheerios and milk bars.

When I got home, I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Then I had a bowl of Crispex, my favorite cereal.

Saturday, June 16
For lunch I went to the Ivy with my boyfriend and a couple friends. Very trendy. I had a big chef salad and a mint tea. Then I went to Starbucks and had a reduced-fat pound cake with orange cream.

For dinner we went to California Pizza Kitchen and chicken lettuce wrap. And I had vegetable roll, which is totally Chinese, but I didn’t want pizza.

Friday, June 15
I was trying not to eat before the Daytime Emmys, but I did anyway. I had a long day, so I needed my strength — I didn’t want to pass out in the 90-degree humidity. I ordered room service and had a bunch of egg whites and a mixed-fruit thing that’s supposed to have good antioxidants. And a glass of skim milk.

Getting my hair and makeup done took about three hours, because we did extensions. I had some fruit and an almond-brownie Balance bar.

After the awards, I was so depressed that I didn’t win that I ate a whole box of really shitty chocolates from the gift bag, and a whole bag of tortilla chips and a whole tin of chocolate-covered Altoids. Then we went to an after-ceremony dinner and I wasn’t even hungry. I was going to throw up from all the chocolate!

Leven Rambin Consoles Herself With Chocolate After the Daytime Emmys