If anyone’s 2024 plate is already full, it’s Keke Palmer’s. Between acting, singing, hosting NBC’s “Password,” running a network, podcasting and parenting a baby, the multitalented superstar has also partnered with meal delivery service HelloFresh to kick off healthy meal habits in the new year. (Check out the brand’s hilarious commercials starring Palmer here.) What inspired the collaboration? Food, of course!
“I’m always looking for ways to stay healthy, and I don’t want to overthink what I’m going to be eating from day to day,” Palmer says. “When HelloFresh wanted to partner, I was really excited, because it would be an opportunity for me to also get everybody else in on this healthy way of eating — but keeping it fun. When people think about eating healthy, they’re immediately assuming it’s going to be boring. That’s the opposite of what HelloFresh is! The ingredients come straight to your door, and whether you’re a vegetarian or [you] like meat, they just have so many different delicious meal options.”
Also important to Palmer was partnering with a cost-conscious brand. “It’s pretty affordable, especially right now,” she says. “If you sign up, you can get free breakfast for life, which sounds insane, but it’s a hundred percent true. And I don’t know anybody that doesn’t want free breakfast!”
While Palmer wears many, many hats, that of a new mom is hands down her favorite. “Being a mom, it’s literally the most beautiful thing in the world. It’s given my life a sense of purpose in a way that I didn’t know I needed,” she says. “It is just insane to imagine that you are actually a parent to this little amazing life. I go from crying and thinking, ‘I can’t believe that this beautiful person is mine’ to ‘Oh my gosh, what am I doing? You’re my broke best friend!’”
When she’s not acting (Palmer has several films currently in preproduction) or on mom duty, Palmer’s YouTube network, KeyTV, is a huge focus. “I created this to bring more eyes to young BIPOC creators, to help them become independent entrepreneurs and figure out how to leverage their businesses,” she says, noting that all the content is free and short, ranging from six-minute episodes to 20-minute films. “It’s a network in terms of the entertainment factor, but it’s also a space for creatives to connect to one another and build together!”
Ahead, Palmer shares all of her essentials, from parenting must-haves to her go-to workout leggings.
Google’s Nest Cam can function as a home security or baby-watching device, the latter of which is Palmer’s preferred method. “I use it to watch my little one when I have to go to work or if I’m at an event,” she says. “I love that I can also click ‘talk,’ which allows him to hear my voice. It’s just a way for me to keep an eye on him, and honestly, it eases my anxiety when I’m away.” Chic and minimalist in design, the wired camera comes in several colorways, provides 24/7 1080p HDR video and connects to the Google Home app, which can be customized to send intelligent alerts about the areas it's monitoring.
Like most of us, Palmer is always trying to stay hydrated. “Drinking water doesn't seem like it should be a task, but it really is a task,” she says. Palmer adds that she discovered this bottle after her best friend bought her one and that she has now gifted one to her little sister. “It’s like this thing we do now. We all think it’s really cool! It has a little strap on it so you can carry it with you throughout the day.” Available in 26 colors, the Aquafit bottle has two lids (one wide mouth, one straw) and more than 15,000 5-star ratings on Amazon.
Every parent knows that a sound machine is worth its weight in gold, and Palmer wholeheartedly agrees. “I didn't realize how much it would actually come in handy, but my son's naps are a lot longer throughout the afternoon, and he sleeps through the night because of the Hatch,” she says. A sound machine, night-light and time-to-rise tool in one, the Hatch can also play bedtime music and read stories — plus, it's Wi-Fi controlled. Just download the Hatch Sleep app, and you can manage the device’s volume from anywhere.
We at Underscored are huge fans of Lululemon’s Align leggings, and Palmer couldn’t agree more. “These are just so comfortable, whether I'm working out or not. They are cozy and flexible and make you look snatched too,” she says. Available in 11 colors and four lengths, the Align pant is best known for its buttery-soft fabric that makes workouts a breeze.
How does Palmer do self-care? With a deep soak and a soothing scent, that’s how! “I love a bath,” she says. “It just helps relax you. And, obviously, candles are just a good addition. They help set the mood, and this one feels sophisticated!” One of Le Labo’s most popular scents, the Santal 26 candle mixes smoky and leathery notes and comes with a customized label.
Palmer’s favorite HelloFresh meal to make at home? “The bow tie pasta primavera,” she says. “It's giving me the carbs that I need without being too over the top. It makes me feel like I'm cheating, even though I still know it's a healthy meal. Guilt-free cheating is the best way you can put it!” What makes HelloFresh stand out in the sea of meal delivery services is its affordability (servings start at 10 bucks) and speed (every meal arrives at your home with pre-measured ingredients and can be whipped up in or around 30 minutes).