Keegan-Michael Key Shares His Go-To Snack

Today, Bush’s Beans is hosting the Boca Raton Bowl of Beans, and the first 2,000 fans are able to gain entry by using a can of Bush’s Beans as their ticket. And by their side to captain the fibrous event is none other than Emmy-winning actor and comedian, Keegan-Michael Key.

Ahead of game day, we were given the opportunity to sit down with Key and discuss all things beans, including his favorite way to eat the legumes in 7-Layer Dip. Plus, we learned more about his favorite holiday desserts, go-to on-set snacks and drinks and his least favorite food. Read more about Key’s healthy eating philosophies below.

Why did you decide to partner with Bush’s Beans for the Boca Raton Bowl of Beans?

There’s a few reasons, actually. Bush’s is a fun, family-owned American company, and I believe college football is a family-fun American sport. When you think “baked beans,” you think Bush’s, and I am a sucker for tradition. And the way they’re activating the branding for this particular game is really unique, and I was really attracted to that. I wanted to be a part of this.

Favorite way to eat beans?

I am a seven-layer dip person. There’s obviously other ingredients there, but that’s my favorite way to enjoy a bean. I love the texture, the mouthfeel of a bean dip. Also, very often my wife and I will have a sausage or a hot dog with just beans, sometimes as a snack. No other roughage or anything, just beans and hot dogs, and the protein that I’m getting from all of the food just helps me get a little boost in the middle of the day.

What are some of your game day food must-haves?

I’m a wing guy. I like buffalo wings—I very much enjoy buffalo wings. And also, this is an interesting one, but grapes. I like to eat grapes, but I think the more standard, obviously more traditional one would be buffalo wings. I’m a blue cheese guy, not a ranch guy, if you know what I mean.

Are there any favorite holiday dishes or desserts that you’re excited about this season?

I’m a gourd person, so I like pumpkin pie. I love zucchini and squash in a saute, but for dessert, I am a pumpkin pie person—pumpkin and cherry. Those are my two favorite desserts, but any kind of fruit pie like cherry, lemon meringue, apple, black rhubarb, all that jazz.

And I love apple cider. Apples in general, because apples help maintain energy through the day. I worked with an actor once, and he would eat three to four apples a day, and he felt that that was helping him better than having one or two cups of coffee at the beginning of the day. It would help him through because he was always working. I don’t know if that once you boil the apple and make the apple cider, if it’s still nutrient-dense, but I love it.

Speaking of on-set snacks, do you have any go-to foods that you always have on hand to stay energized?

I drink a lot of tea. I’m a very energetic person, and though I’ve been drinking a little more coffee recently, I’m more of a tea drinker. I’m an Earl Grey with a lot of honey kind of guy. The—how shall I say it—the “buzz” is a little less intense than coffee, but still kind of helps me through the day, and also a warm beverage just helps get the senses going. Also, I really try to consume nuts and legumes, sometimes it’ll be dried peas, or almonds and cashews. For snacking throughout the day, I want to make sure I have some kind of small, protein-packed snack, so I’m a big nut guy.

Any food hot takes?

What’s the opposite of beans? No, but I try to try every food. But you know what? I’m not the world’s biggest arugula fan. I love frisee, I like endive, I don’t even mind a bitter taste, but for some reason there’s something about arugula, it’s almost like it’s not bitter enough for me if that makes any sense.

I would say on the other hand, the amount of work it takes to eat an artichoke is worth it. If you’re eating a whole artichoke, if you’re gonna steam an artichoke, I think it’s worth it when you get to the heart of the artichoke.

What does “eating well” mean to you?

For me, it probably is trying to be very conscious of what I put in my body and even when I put a processed food that I really enjoy in my body, I do it in moderation. Eating well is eating almost anything you want, but there has to be a proper consciousness about what it is that you’re consuming. It’s a little metaphysical, but that’s kind of more than saying “I’m only going to eat lean proteins” or “I’m only going to eat leafy green vegetables.” You can enjoy everything, it’s just a matter of going, “Why am I eating this right now?” That’s what eating well means.

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