Ellen Pompeo Covers 'Self' Magazine April 2010

Ellen Pompeo is all smiles on the cover of Self magazine’s April 2010 issue.

The 40-year-old actress and mama dished on motherhood, healthy eating and family. Check it:

On playing with baby Stella: “I love to dance with Stella. She’s a big Jay-Z fan. She loves Beyonce, too. I sing ‘Single Ladies’ to her: ‘Put your hands up!’ Even though it’s probably an involuntary movement on her part, I think she’s really doing it.”

On healthy eating: “Take a few hours and prepare lunch for the week. On Sundays, I premake everything for salads. I boil a dozen eggs and parboil beets. I chop lettuce, cilantro, scallions and parsley and put it all in Ziploc bags. During the week, I just grab handfuls, add dressing, dump in a can of beans, some goat cheese, and I’m ready to go.”

On spending time with hubby Chris Ivery: “It’s easy to get lost in the baby. But you have to make the time for your relationships. You have to make sure you give your husband attention. And I still see my friends all the time, too. It’s important to have a well-rounded life. You learn things from your friends, and they bring you joy, and you bring back all that happiness to your baby.”

For more from Ellen, including a behind-the-scenes video from her cover shoot, check out Self.com!

FYI: Ellen is wearing Sara Weinstock bangles and two bangles by Mija.