For Charlotte McKinney, staying fit is not a chore—it’s a hobby.

“I’m really interested in finding good tips to stay in shape and I love being in the gym and I love doing yoga,” the Carl’s Jr. model tells PEOPLE.

To help maintain her figure, the 21-year-old, who was sent home from Dancing with the Stars on Monday, says she sticks to a balanced diet with only the occasional cheat meal.

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“I work out really hard and I stay on my diet all week. But on a Sunday, you know, maybe a little hungover, you have to reward yourself here and there, so I do,” she says.

McKinney logged a daily food diary for PEOPLE (below), revealing one of the tips she learned is to start every morning by drinking hot water with lemon.

Breakfast
Hot water with lemon
Banana with a few tablespoons of almond butter

Lunch from True Food Kitchen
Quinoa burger with hummus and kale salad

Snack
Juice: beets, ginger, lemon and apple

Dinner
Grilled shrimp and grilled veggies

Dessert
Blueberries
Glass of rosé

Total Calories:
1,184

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“Warm lemon water is a great way to start her day—nutrients from the lemon can give the GI tract the push it needs to get moving. Plus it can improve skin and boost the immune system,” says dietician Keri Glassman of nutritiouslife.com.

As for McKinney’s daily intake, Glassman says, “I love that her lunch is all real foods and perfectly proportioned. She also does good job at dinner with lean protein and veggies.”

“I would like to see her add a snack with a little protein to keep her fueled properly,” she adds. “And a little healthy fat with dinner like guacamole would be okay, too.”

For more on McKinney’s diet, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Disclaimer: It is recommended that women should eat at least 1,200 calories per day, and men should eat at least 1,800.

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—Ana Calderone, @anacalderone

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