When I became a Vegetarian 40 years ago people looked at me a little strange.
You are a what? I am happy to say that more and more people today are realizing the health and environmental benefits of a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle and making the switch. Nothing makes me happier than seeing this lifestyle become a little more mainstream. It is so easy to maintain a vegan diet today. Non-meat, non-animal choices are in abundance everywhere you look.
As much as things have changed over the years we are still a long way from where we need to be in terms of diet. PETA reported that approximately 5% of the US population considers themselves vegetarian and half that amount 2.5% are vegans. That means that right now the total amount of vegetarians in the U.S. is approximately the same as the population of L.A. County! Imagine what that number was 40 years ago! The number is growing and we are doing all we can to help it!
I am sure you know of some pretty prominent people who have made the switch to a plant-based or no-animal product diet but there are a lot of people that you may be surprised to find out that they are (or were) veggie munchers and fruit-bats. Here are just a few that may surprise you!
| Al Gore – Vegan | Dennis Kucinich – Vegan | Cesar Chavez – Vegan |
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| Former Senator and Vice President, Received Nobel Peace Prize for his work in climate change activism. | Dennis Kucinich was youngest person ever to be elected mayor in US history. Democratic Congressman from Ohio. Ran for the US president in 2004 and 2008 as the “Peace Candidate.” He and his wife are both vegans. |
Cesar Chavez was a champion of farmer worker rights in the US. He organized migrant workers from Mexico, Central and South America“I became a vegetarian after realizing that animals feel afraid, cold, hungry and unhappy like we do.” |
| Coretta Scott King – Vegan | Paul McCartney – Vegan | B.B. King – Vegan |
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| Wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, tireless activist for social justice, was a vegan for more than ten years before her death in 2006. Dr. King’s son Dexter is also a vegan. Veganism honors the principles that were at the core of Dr. King’s work. | One of the world’s most famous celebrity Vegans. Musician, composer, singer, Original Beatle. “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” | American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter acclaimed for his expressive singing and guitar playing. – wikipedia |
| Christine Lagarde – Vegetarian | Jose Mujica – Vegetarian | Francisco Madero – Vegetarian |
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| French President and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Head of French Airline Unit at Air France-KLM; lawyer | José Alberto “Pepe” Mujica Cordano has been President of Uruguay since 2010 | Mexican statesman, writer, and revolutionary who served as the 33rd President of Mexico |
Want to see a more extensive lists of other famous people, diplomats, athletes and entertainment personalities that are vegan or vegetarian? Check out the resources below.
Simple Powerful Health is dedicated to making better health easy. Our objective is to expose you to a clear path of simple, powerful health principles and practices that can make a significant difference in the health of your family, your community and the planet.
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Calen Meza