High-fat and high-protein diets may be getting all the buzz these days, but Madelaine Petsch (AKA Cheryl Blossom on Riverdale) is firmly on the vegan train — and she's opening up about her diet in a new interview with People.
Vegans don’t eat animal products of any kind. So meat is out, obviously, as well as fish, eggs, and dairy.
“Being vegan keeps my body fueled and running smoothly,” Madelaine tells People. She says she's been "plant-based" her entire life.
This is what Madelaine eats as part of an energizing, “clean, non-processed food diet,” that totals nearly 1,700 calories a day, according to People:
- Breakfast: Overnight oats made with organic oats, almond milk, chia seeds, cacao nibs, and raspberries, plus coffee with more almond milk.
- Snack: Apple with almond butter; one scoop of Macro Greens powder with water (a superfood powder that contains non-dairy probiotics)
- Lunch: Spinach salad topped with cranberries, walnuts, chickpeas, brown rice and green goddess dressing.
- Snack: NuGo Slim Crunchy Peanut Butter Vegan Protein Bar
- Dinner: Broccoli “steak” (two heads of broccoli sliced, spiced, and roasted) with vegan cheddar "cheese" with a side of brown rice and black beans.
- Dessert: Vegan banana ice cream (FYI: you can make banana “ice cream” by whirling a frozen banana in a food processor).
Oh, and there’s the fact that she stays very hydrated — she downs 11 to 13 500 ml-bottles of water EVERY DAY.
FYI: that's about twice the recommended 2.7 liters of water per day, according to the Mayo Clinic. But since she also says she exercises six days a week, she's likely thirstier than the average person.
Madelaine has been outspoken about being vegan for a while. Last year, she shot a campaign for PETA wearing a dress made entirely out of bok choy. She says she took up veganism at age 14. “I felt a lot healthier. I didn’t feel as lethargic,” she told PETA about the switch.
While there are so many ways to eat healthy, going vegan can certainly help you eat better—as long as you’re loading up on the plant foods (whole grains, fruits, legumes, and lots of veggies). There are loads of junk foods — like candy, chips, burritos, and cookies — that are vegan but not necessarily more nutritious than the non-vegan versions.
And while many people worry that vegans can’t get enough protein — just ask this female bodybuilder who will tell you otherwise.
That said, if you’re going vegan, think about the reasons you want to make the switch. For one, many women find that it doesn’t help them lose weight, and can even cause them to pack on pounds. Planning out your diet—and even working with a registered dietitian — is key if you want to go vegan and do it well.
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