Go Back

Eating Like Tesla for a Day

Nikola Tesla’s Superhuman Diet is not about indulgence but about discipline and efficiency. His meals were intentionally simple: a light breakfast of egg whites and milk, an austere dinner of vegetable broth with celery, potato, and a small piece of chicken, and a crisp apple for dessert. The diet was rooted in Tesla’s philosophy of conserving energy, avoiding acidic foods, and maintaining mental clarity for long hours of scientific work. While it may not dazzle the taste buds like a rich feast, it reflects the mind of a man who cared more about advancing humanity than pleasing his palate.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

Jump To

IngredientsMethodVideoNotes

Ingredients
  

Breakfast
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 cup whole milk
Dinner
  • 2 cups water or vegetable stock
  • 1 celery stalk chopped
  • ½ potato diced
  • Small piece of chicken breast 2–3 oz, poached or boiled
  • Pinch of salt
Dessert
  • 1 fresh apple washed and sliced

Instructions
 

  1. Separate the whites from three eggs, discarding the yolks.
  2. Lightly scramble or boil the egg whites until firm. Tesla himself often preferred them boiled.
  3. Serve with a cold glass of whole milk for breakfast.
  4. For dinner, heat water or vegetable stock in a saucepan.
  5. Add chopped celery and diced potato; simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.
  6. Add the chicken breast and simmer gently until just cooked through.
  7. Season lightly with salt and serve hot as a vegetable broth soup with lean protein.
  8. For dessert, wash and slice a fresh apple and serve simply.

Video

Notes

  • Early Intermittent Fasting: Tesla ate only two meals a day, about twelve hours apart. This routine mirrors what we now call intermittent fasting, which many believe promotes focus and longevity.
 
  • Acid-Free Philosophy: Tesla avoided beans, peas, and other acid-forming foods, convinced they accelerated aging. His reliance on fresh vegetables and lean proteins shows one of the earliest attempts at a consciously “alkaline” diet.
 
  • Functional Simplicity: Each ingredient in Tesla’s meals served a clear purpose: egg whites for protein, milk for essential nutrients, broth for warmth and light nourishment, and an apple for natural sweetness and energy.