Kelsea Ballerini Just Told Us the High-Protein Breakfasts She Loves

Kelsea Ballerini has been making headlines this week for being a brand-new judge for season 27 on NBC’s The Voice, set to air in 2025. But we chatted with the singer-songwriter recently for a whole different reason as she just announced her partnership with The Original Donut Shop Coffee today.

This isn’t your typical partnership: Ballerini even made a flavor with Donut Shop, fittingly named the Ballerini Blend. The new coffee embraces her favorite flavor, vanilla, and it’s now available for purchase exclusively on Keurig’s website.

Earlier this week, we talked to Ballerini more about the new flavor and her usual café order. Plus, learn more about the star’s morning routine, what’s on her breakfast rotation and more in this exclusive interview.

EatingWell: Can you talk more about this partnership with The Original Donut Shop Coffee and what made you decide on this new flavor?

Ballerini: I feel like in the last few years as life has gotten busier and busier, I love finding the constant whether I’m at home, in a hotel or on a tour bus. Since college, coffee has been consistent in my life and makes it feel like home wherever I am. Life keeps getting crazier, it’s my happy place. It was a perfect synergy with Donut Shop, and then when they came to me and asked, “How would you feel about doing a flavor? Like a Ballerini Blend?” I was like, say less! Normally, I’ll just drink my coffee black, but if I want a treat, I’ll add a little vanilla and it just feels like a special moment. It feels like something for everyone, something that probably everyone loves, a flavor that feels familiar, but also something that I definitely like. It felt really fun to be able to collaborate with them and now share it.

EatingWell: What’s your usual café order?

Ballerini: ​​It depends. I’ll either do black coffee if I really just need to wake up. If I want a treat, that’s when I’ll do coffee with a little oat milk and some vanilla. I’ll probably do it maybe once a week and it’s my favorite.

EatingWell: Go-to breakfast to pair with your coffee?

Ballerini: I do pilates in the morning, three days a week. So before that, I’ll make a smoothie, just a green smoothie and add coconut water. If I don’t have that, I’ve been trying to add a lot more protein into my diet, so I’ll either do cottage cheese with an orange and some honey, or egg whites and veggies.

EatingWell: What does your typical morning routine look like?

Ballerini: I wake up, and my dog doesn’t snuggle at night, but in the morning he is just a full snuggle bug. So we’ll have mom and Dibs time, and then coffee’s immediately next. While I’m having my coffee, I’ll read my CHANI app for the day—it’s like your horoscope reading for the day. I’ll do that and depending on what’s going on and where my head’s at, sometimes I’ll put on lo-fi music and make a little breakfast. Sometimes I’ll sit on the porch with my dog, drink my coffee. I really love a slow morning. It’s a luxury, but [I love when] I can have that hour to really just enter into the day slowly. I’m a Virgo, so I make to-do lists like it’s no one’s business. That’s my ideal morning—and then a 7- or 8-step skincare routine.

EatingWell: Are you an early riser?

Ballerini: I’m really not. When I’m touring I’m up so late that I’ll probably sleep until 10, but when I’m home, probably 8.

EatingWell: What does “eating well” mean to you?

Ballerini: I think that definition has really evolved a lot for me. Especially in my teens and early twenties, I had a very challenging relationship with food. But I feel that in my adulthood, I’ve really shifted to be like, “Food is fuel,” and I want to be able to fuel my body to do all the things that I want to do and chase down all the dreams and goals that I have. And so I feel like I’m in the healthiest space that I have been in a really long time with my relationship to food and enjoying it and cooking. I’m Italian, so it’s letting it be a piece of my community, bonding over it and certainly allowing it to be a really important part of my day.

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