20+ Celebrities Who Eat Plant-Based Diets and Why They Decided to Go Vegan

As veganism and plant-based diets become more popular, many celebrities have begun to adopt them as well. Some have seen great health benefits from cutting out animal products, while others have made the switch for ethical or environmental reasons.

Regardless of their motivations, these 20+ famous individuals prove that plant-based diets can be delicious and nutritious. From actors to athletes, singers to chefs, these celebrities are leading by example and inspiring others to try out plant-based eating.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson has been eating a plant-based diet for over 30 years! That means she has some serious expertise on the topic, and Stacker reports that she will be hosting her own vegan cooking show that will feature a variety of guests sharing their favorite plant-based recipes. Expect to see that in 2024, first airing on Food Network Canada.

Elliot Page

Elliot Page has been an outspoken animal rights activist and a vegan for over a decade.

“Why are vegans made fun of while the inhumane factory farming process regards animals and the natural world merely as commodities to be exploited,” he tweeted about veganism in 2011.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer admits that she initially switched to a plant-based diet because she had read that it improves the health of your skin and overall appearance.

“Eating a vegan diet — it’s just so much healthier — and you avoid a lot of toxins that could age your skin and your body,” she said in an interview. “I really noticed a difference in my skin not too long after switching to fully vegan.”

Evanna Lynch

Evanna Lynch of Harry Potter fame went vegan in 2014 after reading a book called Eating Animals. She became such an advocate for eating a plant-based diet that she even hosted a podcast about it called “The Chickpeeps.”

Maggie Q

Animal rights activist and actor Maggie Q has been eating a plant-based diet for over 20 years now. While some folks do it for health reasons, for others, it’s more about animal welfare.

“When I [gave up meat], my convictions were rooted in animal cruelty and environmental impact,” she explained in an interview with The Beet. “That’s why I gave up meat. Because it wasn’t about me and vanity and health, my convictions were very strong.”

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone is a frequent collaborator with PETA and a fierce animal rights advocate. She switched from a vegetarian to a solely plant-based one in 1998. Since then, she has published two books about veganism: The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet and The Kind Mama.

Madelaine Petsch

Riverdale star Madelaine Petsch has been eating a plant-based diet for a while now. In fact, she’s been vegan her whole life.

“I’ve been plant-based my whole life,” Petsch told People in 2018. “Being vegan keeps my body fueled and running smoothly.”

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has been a plant-based eater for many years now. She decided to go vegetarian at the ripe age of 9 and went fully vegan in 2011. As with Evanna Lynch, Portman decided to go fully plant-based after reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Sadie Sink

Stranger Things‘ Sadie Sink was actually inspired to go plant-based after working with Woody Harrelson on the film Glass Castle.

“I had a lot of great vegan influences in my life and was really inspired to try it out myself,” Sink explained to Glamour. “I think everyone should consider it. It can be pretty intimidating at first, but just take it day by day. Every little choice counts!”

Lizzo

Lizzo, an artist who encourages us to be the best version of ourselves, switched to a plant-based diet in 2020. Ever since, she’s shared videos of preparing vegan recipes, and it’s truly delightful. She explained that she does not eat a plant-based diet to lose weight, instead, she said, “I just feel better when I eat plants.”

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Russell Brand

While Russell Brand might not be our favorite celebrity, he does do his part when it comes to eating a plant-based diet. He’s so passionate about it that Stacker reports that he’s rumored to be converting an Oxfordshire pub into a vegan restaurant.

Stevie Wonder

The legendary Stevie Wonder revealed in 2016 that he had switched to a plant-based diet a couple of years prior, saying, “That’s helped my already good-looking self,” he said. “I think that eating healthy is important.”

He told AOL that his health and environmental concerns were the reason why he made the switch, explaining, “We have to be about making our planet more greener, the urban areas more sustainable for the children. We can’t just talk about it, we have to be about it.”

Olivia Wilde

Director and actor Olivia Wilde is passionate about animal welfare. She spoke with PETA about why she decided to eat a plant-based diet, saying, “Beyond my desire to boycott the torture factories, I am also way happier when I eat a plant-based diet, and I feel about a thousand times more energetic.”

Venus Williams

One of the greatest professional athletes of all time, Venus Williams, switched to a plant-based diet after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. It was a choice she made for her overall health, but she realized it actually helped her performance on the court.

 “Once I started, I fell in love with the concept of fueling your body in the best way possible,” she shared with Health. “Not only does it help me on the court, but I feel like I’m doing the right thing for me.”

She also explained why it’s so great, saying, “When you’re doing the right things, and you’re eating plants, and you’re eating live foods, it helps you in your life. I think you feel more energized, and you feel more positive.”

Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik really did an excellent job hosting Jeopardy! recently. You might not know that she’s an outspoken vegan who is passionate about plant-based diets as they are beneficial to both animal and human rights.

“We produce economically efficient food, but the question is, at what cost?” Bialik told viewers in a 2016 YouTube video. “Look how quickly we are to ignore the humans that work in the factories who produce the food that we put on our plates,” a reference to the dangerous working conditions in meat processing and packing facilities.

Stella McCartney

Fashion icon Stella McCartney has been a vegan for over 20 years, and she was inspired to switch to a plant-based diet by her mother. She’s talked about the health benefits as well as animal rights aspects of why it’s the way to go. But, the fashion designer also incorporates her vegan lifestyle when she sources materials for her designs.

“[Real leather] kills animals, which no one seems to want to talk about anymore,” she told Vogue in 2019.

Jessica Chastain

One of the celebrities that has switched to a plant-based diet that you might not know about is Jessica Chastain. The Oscar-winning actor decided to try a vegan diet to lower her high cholesterol without medication, Stacker reports. Apparently, she tried a two-week vegan meal delivery service in 2017, and she said it gave her “more energy than I’ve ever had in my life.”

She told W Magazine that after the two-week period, she went back to eating normally, and she could tell a huge difference in the way she felt, so she decided she would be a vegan for good.

“Being vegan was not anything I ever wanted to be,” she explained. “I just really was listening to what my body was telling me.”

Billie Eilish

Pop superstar Billie Eilish was raised vegetarian, and she told her followers on Instagram that she switched to a completely plant-based diet when she was 12.

“Once I learned about how animals are treated in our industrial food system, I didn’t want any part of it,” she said on social media. “Shifting our diets towards more plant-based foods can have a major impact on climate change,” she also shared.

Ariana Grande

Musician Ariana Grande did not mince words when she was asked about her plant-based diet by The Mirror. “I love animals more than I love most people,” she told the outlet.

She also added that she thinks the health benefits of eating a vegan diet will result in good health outcomes like having more energy and living a longer life.

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Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson has been following a plant-based diet for over 30 years now! For him, it’s not just for health reasons but, instead, for moral ones.

“I don’t want to be a part of the exploitation of animals,” he shared with PETA. “It’s not just about me not eating meat; it’s about not using animals for any purpose.”

There you go! Now you know some of the biggest celebrities who eat plant-based diets. If you’re interested in trying some vegan recipes, keep reading. We’ve got a list of really healthy smoothies to share with you, and most of them are plant-based. Enjoy!

Avocado, Basil, Boba, and Lime Smoothie

Let’s kick things off with an unconventional recipe. This one features avocado, basil, and tapioca pearls (boba) for a creamy, delicious beverage with some zip from lime juice. Incredible! Get the recipe here.

Strawberry, Banana, and Balsamic Vinegar

Take the classic strawberry and banana combination to the next level with the addition of tangy and fruity balsamic vinegar. As any smoothie enthusiast knows, frozen strawberries are the way to go. Get this delightful recipe here.

Coconut and Raspberry

This recipe could not be any simpler. Frozen raspberries, coconut flakes, and a milk of your choice are all it takes to make a fruity and refreshing drink. If you’re not using coconut in your smoothies, you’re really missing out! Pro tip: if you’ve got the time to toast your coconut flakes before blending, it takes on an even nuttier and sweet flavor. Get the recipe here.

Batida de Lechosa

Are you looking for an invigorating beverage best enjoyed on a hot day? Batida de lechosa is a papaya drink that’s a favorite in Dominican Republic. Blend papaya with milk, vanilla extract, lime juice, and zest for a frosty and frothy treat. Get the recipe here.

‘Green Kale Kiss’

The creator of this recipe refers to it as “Green Kale Kiss.” It’s a yummy one! You are missing out if you don’t have a kale smoothie recipe in your arsenal. Kale blends well into many beverages, and you likely know it’s one of the most nutritious leafy greens to put in your body. Kale, spinach, banana, and pineapple are the stars of the show in it. Get the recipe here.

Tahini and Banana

Do you love banana nut bread? Who doesn’t!? Bananas, dates, tahini, vanilla, and cinnamon replicate the flavors found in many banana bread recipes. This one is a must-try: creamy, nutty, warm-flavored, and dreamy. Get the recipe here.

Spiced Apple Juice (Apple Tea)

We’ve got more warming spices headed your way! Many of us enjoy warm apple cider for the holidays, but you can enjoy it year-round and chilled. You can extrude your own apple juice or make it easy on yourself by purchasing store-bought. Apple juice, cinnamon, star anise, and ginger come together on the stove, allowing the juice to pick up all those beautiful spices. Enjoy hot or let it cool and refrigerate to enjoy cold. Get the recipe here.

Acai Berry Goodness

Acai berries come frozen, or you can use a powder. Either way, it’s very, very good for you. This four-ingredient smoothie combines frozen blueberries, bananas, and coconut water for a vegan-friendly beverage packed with antioxidants. Get the recipe here.

Milk-Free Cacao and Almond

The Spruce’s “Cacao Almond Bliss Smoothie” is one of our favorites when we’re craving chocolate (which is always). Nut milk, almond butter, raw cacao powder, banana, honey, and cinnamon perfectly harmonize this smoothie that drinks like a milkshake. Get the recipe here.

Paradise in a Glass

When you feel low and need a zesty pick-me-up, reach for this tropically flavored beverage with banana, strawberry, pineapple, peach, mango, and flax seed for protein. Get the recipe here.

Nutty Tofu and Banana Protein Blast

Are you looking for a recipe that’s completely packed with protein? This one is perfect to fuel your next workout or get you through your day’s start. Tofu, nut butter, banana, cocoa, and various seeds will get you in gear. Get the recipe here.

Broccoli, Apple, and Spinach

If you’d like a beverage that’s like the most nutritious salad in a glass, you have to try this recipe that is packed with spinach and broccoli power. A few fruits are added for sweetness, but this recipe’s earthy goodness still shines. Get it here.

Mango and Yogurt Smoothie

The sweet tartness of mango and the creamy smoothness of yogurt are a match made in heaven. A little honey, a squeeze of lime, and a hint of cinnamon put this one over the top. Get the recipe here.

Balanced Fig and Yogurt Smoothie with Honey

Figs, a date, honey, yogurt, and lemon juice come together in one of the most balanced recipes on the list. Get the recipe here.

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Very, Very Berry

Put a bag of frozen mixed berries to good use in this sweet yet tart recipe. Yogurt adds creaminess and balances the acidity of all the berry goodness. Get the recipe here.

Mint Melon Smoothie

Mint and watermelon is one of the most beloved flavor pairings. For a refreshing summertime smoothie, try this one with strawberries and a little yogurt for added body. Get the recipe here.

Pina Colada Smoothie with Just Three Ingredients

This pineapple and coconut milk smoothie is so amazing you might be tempted to dump some rum into it, but let’s keep it healthy, folks. It only takes three ingredients to bring this baby to life. Get the recipe here.

Orange and Cream in the Style of Orange Julius

Orange and cream really can’t be beaten. If you love those famous Orange Julius smoothies, we’ve got a copycat recipe to share. The secret ingredient? Banana! Get it here.

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Pear and Kale

If you’re looking for a smoothie for a healthful reset, let us introduce you to this lovely recipe. Pear, kale, nut butter, and coconut milk will do the trick. Get the recipe here.

Gingered Carrot and Tumeric Juice

Lemon, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, and carrot come together to create an earthy, sweet juice packed with flavor and nutrition. Get the recipe here.