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Sarah Michelle Gellar Reveals Her Wellness Essentials and Self-Care Routine

The Buffy actress and mom-of-2 clued us in to her kitchen and home gym must-haves.

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In the Celebrity edition of What's In My Cart, stars reveal the everyday products they're shopping β€” complemented by expert insights from our editors and analysts when it's something we love too.

It's hard to top starring as the iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Sarah Michelle Gellar is about to outdo herself. The much-anticipated Buffy reboot is on the horizon, along with other exciting projects for the actress including the new Ready or Not: Here I Come film and a TV series adaption of Bad Summer People.

The mom of two has a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to balancing her busy career and family life. Sarah gave Good Housekeeping a glimpse into her meal-time routines and must-have items when it comes to planning nutritious dinners. "I think you realize that you can't be successful at work and at home if you're not eating properly and eating in a healthy manner because that's your energy, and that's also your long-term health," Sarah told Good Housekeeping.

That's why she's partnering with MyFitnessPal, a top-tested nutrition tracking app that helps users find easy-to-follow recipes the whole family can enjoy. Keep reading to learn more about how Sarah uses the app to simplify daily meal planning, plus more of her must-have items at home and on-the-go.

SARAH'S MEAL-PREP HACK

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal
Credit: My Fitness Pal

"Meal time has always been really important," explains Sarah. "As many times a week as we can sit down together at a table and have a meal, we do." But when you have two working parents and kids with busy schedules, meal planning is essential to achieving this goal.

That's why Sarah loves MyFitnessPal, which also happens to be the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab's pick for the best overall food-tracking app. You can browse recipes and order the ingredients right to your doorstep. Meal planning can be daunting, but MyFitnessPal "takes that stress off your plate," says Sarah.

The app lets you view what meals you will be making each week so you know what you need ahead of time and what you will eat each day. The recipes are easy to follow, explains Sarah, "but you can totally make them your own" if you want to swap chicken for beef or add in your favorite spice. "I think that's what's so great about the app, is it's really flexible."

SARAH'S FREEZER ESSENTIAL

365 by Whole Foods Market Frozen Broccoli Florets

Frozen Broccoli Florets
Credit: 365 by Whole Foods Market

"I always say people sleep on frozen vegetables all the time," Sarah tells us. "Frozen vegetables are a great inexpensive way to get your vegetables. They're frozen at exactly the right time," she explains. Plus, there are so many ways to prepare frozen veggies, whether it's in a toaster oven or air fryer, say Sarah and our nutrition experts.

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SARAH'S ON-THE-GO FITNESS PICK

Resistance Loop Exercise Bands

Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
Credit: Fit Simplify

While you can hit the gym with a personal trainer or attend workout classes with your friends, Sarah emphasizes that you can also incorporate exercise into your wellness routine in simpler ways like taking your dog on a walk.

Curating a home gym can be another easy way to move when you are in a time crunch. Bands "are the most important thing that you could have, because you can use them anywhere, anytime," Sarah tells us. She packs them while traveling and adds that you can even use them while you're cooking.

Our fitness experts recommend these affordable bands from Fit Simplify if you don't want to splurge on the trendy Bala bands, but still want the convenience of a carrying case and five resistance levels.

GH Experts Weigh In: Do Bala Bangles Live up to the Hype? A Trainer's Perspective

SARAH'S KITCHEN STAPLE

Ziploc Endurables

Endurables
Now 14% Off
Credit: Ziploc

During a meal planning webinar with RD Maya Feller, Sarah explained that while reusable Ziploc bags can have a higher upfront cost than regular plastic baggies, they help keep her food fresh thanks to secure seal technology. After a delicious meal, you can put leftovers in these reusable bags and pop them in the freezer until you are ready for more.

Browse GH Expert Picks: Best Reusable Lunch Bags

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SARAH'S SPLURGE-WORTHY KITCHEN ITEM

Zwilling JA Henckels 7-Piece Knife Block Set

7-Piece Knife Block Set

"I always say you have to have really good knives," Sarah tells Good Housekeeping. She believes knives are a worthy investment because a good set will last a long time. Sarah currently uses a set from Zwilling, and our kitchen pros recommend this 7-piece set that includes a knife block.

During Lab evaluations, the knives proved to be sharp and sturdy and we appreciated the set's more affordable price point β€” especially when on sale.

Good knives make meal prepping a whole lot easier, explains Sarah, and we have to agree.

Browse GH Expert Picks: Best Knife Sets, Tested by Experts

SARAH'S TRAVEL ESSENTIAL

Apple Airtag

Airtag

"I don't fly without Airtags in my luggage," says Sarah. The Apple Airtag is Good Housekeeping's best overall luggage tracker pick because it's compact, versatile and easy to use.

While the Airtag is ideal if you already use Apple devices, Sarah adds that there are other great luggage tags on the market, whether you have a specific budget in mind or use Android devices.

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SARAH'S NIGHTTIME SELF-CARE ROUTINE

Dr Teal's Epsom Salt Soaking Solution

Epsom Salt Soaking Solution
Now 18% Off
Credit: Dr Teal's

If Sarah can find time at the end of the day, her favorite nighttime routine is to have a bath while reading a book. She likes to add an essential oil or epsom salt like this Dr Teal's soaking solution if she is feeling sore that day.

SARAH'S LATEST READ

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Now 32% Off
Credit: Scholastic Press

Similar to our team of book-obsessed editors, Sarah just finished the latest installation in The Hunger Games franchise. She got excited entering a different year of the games, meeting new characters alongside learning more about beloved characters readers met in the OG trilogy.

It's hard to top a long-awaited prequel, but we recommend reading Emma Rosenblum's Bad Summer People, a juicy beach read that is set to become a TV series with Sarah as a producer and actor. Set on an exclusive island, the novel follows multiple wealthy families after a body is found.

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More From Our Celebrity Shopping Series πŸ›’

Headshot of Elizabeth Berry
Elizabeth Berry
Updates Editor

Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.

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new york, new york may 09: sarah michelle gellar visits siriusxm studios on may 09, 2025 in new york city. (photo by jason mendez/getty images)
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