American Idol star Chris Daughtry's incredible transformation after completely 'changing eating habits'

Rock star Chris Daughtry, considered the third most successful American Idol alumnus, sits just behind Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood in terms of record sales despite coming fourth in his season of the show behind Elliott Yamin, Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks.

After exiting the programme in 2006, the 46-year-old has gone from strength to strength, forming the Grammy-nominated band Daughtry, collaborating with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Slash, appearing on CSI: NY and The Masked Singer, and working hard to change his physique.

Over the last two decades the ‘It’s Not Over’ hitmaker has been investing in his health, with his motivation being rooted in a childhood tinged with ‘bad bouts of asthma’.

“[I was] kind of frail and sick all the time. I was a stick," he told Muscle and Fitness in 2020.

Chris Daughtry is locked in when it comes to his diet (Instagram/@chrisdaughtry)

However, after his role on American Idol, Daughtry fell hard on old habits, which included drinking ‘a ton of beer’ and eating fast-food favourites like pizza.

“I gained 25 lbs. and I didn’t realise it until I saw photos myself and I went, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t even see my jawline. Who is that guy?’,” he once told People Magazine.

Eventually Daughtry broke the habit and started taking his health and fitness ‘way more seriously again’, which translated well on-stage.

“My stage performance just got so much better. The energy that I was able to pour out: I'm all over the place. I'm always moving."

To get shredded, the former reality TV star told Muscle and Fitness he 'completely changed' his eating habits and cut out all alcohol and limited fatty foods like burgers and pizza to once per week.

He also said he relied on meal prep service MegaFit Meals which takes the guess work out of nutrition.

The American Idol star said he now limits pizza and burgers to once a week and that he relies on a meal prep service (Instagram/@chrisdaughtry)

“I have my lean protein, my fibrous vegetables, my starch, and I don’t have to think about it. It’s become clockwork for me. And honestly, this isn’t a shameless plug.”

The meal-prep company said that they build meals for the musician that are ‘clean, macro-balanced’ and allow him to meet his fuel goals.

“If you’re touring like Daughtry, grinding out 9-to-5s, or chasing performance goals, one thing stays true. You’re more consistent when your nutrition is taken care of,” they claimed via a press release.

According to MegaFit meals, his regular go-to dishes include: a charred turkey bowl with tomatoes and rice, buffalo chicken quesadillas, and lean ground bison served with roasted sweet potatoes and a side of house-made sauce.

And what keeps him motivated and sticking to his diet? The ‘nightmare’ of going backwards.

“I used to have a lot of bad habits. I realised it had to be a lifestyle, not just a flash in the pan like, ‘I’m going to get in shape for this photo shoot.’ I’ve made it a permanent part of my life,” he claimed.