You probably know Eric Stonestreet as the bubbly—and extremely funny—Cam on Modern Family. The actor won two Emmy awards for his role as one of the family’s goofiest and most affable members, and we can confirm that Stonestreet is just as fun off-camera. We recently caught up with the actor to chat about some of his favorite snacks and meals, plus how his experience with type 2 diabetes has shaped his relationship with food. 

More than 38 million Americans have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of them specifically have type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s a condition that requires management via lifestyle changes, and in some cases, medication. 

Stonestreet himself takes Mounjaro, and he recently partnered with Lilly to spread the word about diabetes awareness—and why staying on top of your health can be so key. Here’s what he had to say.

Can you walk us through your journey with type 2 diabetes and your initial diagnosis?

So I was diagnosed in 2009, many, many moons ago. That’s the same year I got cast in Modern Family, so it was a very exciting time for me. Then all of a sudden, I’m diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I admittedly didn’t take it that seriously and just did the bare minimum of dealing with it. And then, along the way, I took other treatments and other medicines, none of which had the effect that Mounjaro would eventually have. 

What about your experience with Mounjaro? How did that lead to this partnership with Lilly today?

In 2020, probably late 2021, my endocrinologist told me about Mounjaro and said that I was going to be on as soon as I could be on it. So I’ve been on it since 2022, right at the beginning of its availability. And I was a successful user of Mounjaro, meaning that my A1C had come down, and I lost a few pounds. Eli Lilly asked about my experience, and I said: “I’m on it—I love it. Let’s talk about it.” 

The whole point of the campaign is to shine a light on the disease and get people talking about it. Lily has created a great website to find a duet partner, someone to share your story with. My duet partners through this have changed over time.  When I first got diagnosed, I didn’t tell anybody, because I was embarrassed and didn’t want to be a burden. Then I told my two best friends, and eventually my fiancée and my parents. I realized that one of the most important things is to talk to your family and friends about your diagnosis and your journey, and find a partner somewhere to help you be more accountable.

What’s a common misconception you wish more people knew about taking Mounjaro or similar types of medications?

Part of the stigma of talking about it is because of the way I have looked my whole life, being a heavy-set guy and feeling embarrassed. People think in their brain, “Well, of course you have type 2 diabetes”—but we know that that’s not always true. There are plenty of people who don’t look like me who also have type 2 diabetes. 

What are your favorite foods?

This is where you get into the common misconceptions about type 2, because I’ve never been a sweets person. Does that mean I don’t enjoy a candy bar or a piece of cake? No, but my point is I’ve always been a savory guy. I’ve always loved protein and meat. I’m a meat-and-potatoes guy. For breakfast, I love scrambled eggs and sausage. Usually, I’ll pick sausage patties over links. And turkey sausage is good when it’s seasoned right.

For lunch, I love a grilled salmon salad. Well, I love any seared fish, so tuna, salmon, black cod, whatever. Just throw that over a nice bed of cabbage and greens and maybe some mandarin oranges and it’s delicious.

Any favorite on-set snacks you love having on hand?

Well, I love a variety of vegetables. I always request some asparagus rolled up in turkey breast rather than these delicious doughnuts that are everywhere. And I love radishes with a little good butter on them and salt. 

In the morning, I love hard-boiled eggs. I know that’s so weird for people, but the taste of a well-peppered and salted hard-boiled egg is one of my favorite things in the world. And I love tomato juice–and people are grossed out by the fact that I love tomato juice. But a good, healthy tomato juice, served chilled, is delicious. If I’m on-set around dinnertime, I’m on a real popcorn kick right now. Love a good microwave popcorn in a bowl with some lemon pepper.

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