Growing up in rural Nebraska, Marg Helgenberger took on some odd jobs during summer vacations: working in her dad’s meat-processing plant, toiling in the bean fields and finally graduating to the cornfields. This Northwestern University graduate still gets down and dirty every week on TV’s hit crime drama CSI as crime scene investigator Catherine Willows. Getting her big acting break on the daytime soap Ryan’s Hope, she later earned an Emmy as K.C. on TV’s China Beach in 1990. Today, the mother of a teenaged son lives in Los Angeles, California, and enjoys whipping up healthy fare in her bright, airy kitchen on her days off from her busy filming schedule. We tracked her down for some clean eating tips.

Q: What clean-eating staples would we always find in your kitchen?
A: Yogurt, fresh berries, fresh papaya, tuna fish salad, egg salad, sliced turkey, salad greens, cheeses and lot of various beverages. Besides milk and orange juice, we’ve got Crystal Geyser juices, bottled water and tea. And I take a daily calcium supplement, a multivitamin, a B vitamin and fish oil.

Q: Do you have a favorite meal?
A: I love a turkey meal. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The caterers at work serve a turkey meal once a month and I love it – turkey, cranberry, squash and potatoes. Yum!

Q: You were voted fourth on "TV Guide’s Sexiest TV Stars" list last year. Do you feel pressure to maintain a certain screen image?
A: Wow, who was number one? (laughs.) I don’t know about pressure. I certainly want to look the best I possibly can. I’ve always been a disciplined and motivated person. But I have always thought you have to work with what you’ve got and you have to grow old gracefully. I don’t wear some of the clothes I wore 10 years ago and certainly not the ones I wore 20 years ago.

Q: At 50 years of age, you have a breezy air about you that women half your age would envy. What are some of your secrets for both inward and outward youthfulness?
A: I think remaining open-minded is very important. This is something I continue to work on. Don’t have judgments about other people and you’ll be happier. Another thing that helps me maintain a youthful appearance and mindset is my hobby of staying in physical shape, which is also part of my job. Usually I work out with free weights and do yoga two to three times a week. Yoga is also for peace of mind and stress reduction. The last several months, I’ve been meditating every morning and that’s been very helpful in attaining balance.

Q: Do you think you have a certain philosophy on life and longevity?
A: I like chilling out at home, taking yoga classes and seeing friends for lunch. My thoughts on my general well-being are to keep life as simple as possible: eat healthy, fresh foods and reduce stress. As I get older, I try to not have people around me who might have a certain negative agenda. I just want to be around nice people and people who care about me.

Marg Helgenberger’s Meal Plan:

Breakfast: Marg Helgenberger’s Berry Smoothie

Lunch options: Fresh sliced turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato; tuna salad sandwich on whole-wheat bread; large green salad with lots of fresh vegetables topped with grilled fish or chicken breast.

Dinner options: Grilled chicken breast with a side of steamed vegetables and small salad; thin-crusted pizza with low-fat cheese; fresh sliced turkey with cranberries, squash and potatoes.

Snack: Crystal Geyser with a fresh fruit.