Lifestyle Health Gina Torres Is All 'About Balance' with Her Workouts and Food: 'I Love Fried Chicken and Bacon!' The Suits star uses exercise as a form of self-care — but also as a way to eat all the bread, butter and rosé that she wants By Julie Mazziotta Julie Mazziotta Julie Mazziotta is the Sports Editor at PEOPLE, covering everything from the NFL to tennis to Simone Biles and Tom Brady. She was previously an Associate Editor for the Health vertical for six years, and prior to joining PEOPLE worked at Health Magazine. When not covering professional athletes, Julie spends her time as a (very) amateur athlete, training for marathons, long bike trips and hikes. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 11, 2019 10:00AM EDT Gina Torres works out for self-care and “strength,” but she also does it for another reason — to eat all of her favorite foods. The Suits actress, 50, said that she strives for “balance” with her workout routine and her eating habits. “I work out so I can feel good,” she told Health for its July/August cover. “Sometimes I hit it hard; sometimes it’s just about getting it in. But food? I love food. I like all the no-nos. I love buttery, cinnamony, caramelly, and sometimes lemony things. And I love fried chicken and bacon!” Torres said that she loves going out to eat with her friends. “A friend and I were just cackling over our sea bass and butter, bread, and rosé. We were like, ‘We work out so we can eat this!’ ” she said. Gina Torres. Nino Munoz Torres, who will take on a starring role on the new USA show Pearson in July, said her other workout goal is to build muscle. “With working out, it’s about strength — being able to run up the stairs and just feeling like I can get myself out of a situation,” she said. “I always want to come from a place of power, and of knowing my body. The fringe benefit of that is that I look great in some clothes … and am fit for life.” Gina Torres. Nino Munoz The mom to 12-year-old Delilah said that working out is “absolutely” a form of self-care for her, she often goes for a different option. “Sometimes it’s sleeping in and having a doughnut, or three, and some chocolate milk,” she said. Nino Munoz RELATED VIDEO: Suits Celebrates 100 Episodes with a Reading of the Pilot But in either form, Torres makes self-care a priority. “Emotional health is very important — especially when you’ve joined the circus, like I have,” she said of her life in Hollywood. “You need to take a breath and to take time away.” Gina Torres. Nino Munoz However, you won’t see Torres going for a massage any time soon. “I’m not about a spa day,” she said. “God bless all the people that have given me spa gift certificates because they’re stacked in my office drawer. I love a staycation. I like the quiet and being with my own thoughts and watching a movie and recharging. It’s good for your mental health to leave the world out there for a minute and just keep quiet.”