Black vegetarians are sprouting up everywhere. Surprisingly, a gang load of black celebrity notables have adopted this meatless lifestyle. A-list actress Angela Bassett, singer Erykah Badu, pop music icon Prince, and hip-hop mogul/entrepreneur Russell Simmons, are all among a growing list of African-Americans who have sidestepped the traditional delicacies of soul food in favor of living a meat-free existence.
1. Angela Bassett
Actress Angela Bassett says, "I try to eat healthy, but I won't get on other people's nerves about it. If you want to eat bacon, I'm OK with that." But she's not shy about her own eating choices either. "I love vegan choices, raw food choices, and I'll eat whatever I have to in order to get into whatever shape I need to get into for any one particular role."
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2. Omar Epps
Another vegetarian House cast member, Omar Epps follows a meat-free diet. He swears by Magma Plus, an all-natural green food. "I make a fruit shake in the mornings, and I have a multi-vitamin. I don't do too many amino acids, flax seeds and all that stuff. That's like real specific stuff when you're going for a certain look."
3. Q-Tip
The New York MC from the legendary hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest, has turned in his meat card for fresh fruits and veggies. And it's no wonder he did that since his partner in rhyme, Phife Dawg, has diabetes and opted for a better diet as well.
4. Prince
Grammy-winning rock royal Prince says he won't eat "anything with parents" because "Thou shalt not kill means just that!" The strict vegan was praised by animal lovers everywhere for giving fans the lowdown on wool in the liner notes of his CD Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic.
5. Phylicia Rashad
The actress, 66, has been a vegetarian since she was a teenager. She also practices Hatha yoga and begins each day at 5 a.m. with an hour of meditation.
6. Reuben Studdard
Studdard, who revealed a more slender look during the special all-star Ella Fitzgerald tribute concert special, was surprised by the effortlessness of going veg and says, "I just started reading little things from different vegetarians, and it was so much easier than I thought it would be, so I decided to try it ...."
7. Brandy Norwood
Singer Brandy, is a known vegetarian and former vegan. When asked what her New Year's resolutions for 2011 were: “Just being healthier," by watching what she puts into her body.
8. Cee Lo Green
Singer Cee Lo Green revealed plans to give up eating meat in 2011. The Gnarls Barkley star wants to be healthier and believes turning vegetarian will help him get in better shape. He said: "I think I'm gonna stop eating meat. Eating is probably my only vice. So I'd like to see myself committed to that correction. I've got to live as close to forever as I can, I've got to stick around for my little ones."
9. Leona Lewis
The sultry songstress was named the Sexiest Vegetarian Alive in 2008. The star said, "I don't have clothes, shoes or bags made from leather or suede or any animal products. ... I'm on a mission."
10. Cicely Tyson
Tyson isn’t a woman who takes to lying in bed too well. So she does everything she can to stay healthy, which includes following a strict vegetarian diet. She says, "You put the most expensive oil and gas in your car. You want it to be treated well in order for it to serve you well. We should start thinking
that about this body of ours."
11. Dick Gregory
For the always thought-provoking Gregory, the decision to go vegetarian was an ethical one. "Chickens, pigs, fish, and cows all feel pain just like you and I do," he says.
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12. Vanessa A. Williams
The Melrose Place and Soul Food star is a long time vegetarian who uses holisitic remedies, blending homeopathic, herbal, and nutritional methodologies to keep her and her family healthy.
13. Russell Simmons
The hip hop mogul credits yoga for inspiring him to change his eating habits. Simmons now makes efforts to bring healthier food options to inner-city communities and schools where the most accessible food is fast food and where diet-related illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are common.
READ: The Difference Between Plant-Based, Vegan, Vegetarian & Pescatarian
14. Erykah Badu
Badu, a vegetarian for over 20 years and a vegan for 10, does holistic health and healing, and has raised her children to be vegetarians from birth.
15. Forrest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker gained 50 pounds to play Idia Amin in The Last King of Scotland without eating any meat. “Life is full of choices, and many years ago, I chose to become a vegetarian, and it was one of the best choices I’ve ever made,” Forest said. He cites helping the environment and health benefits as reasons why he made his diet meat-free.
16. Andre 3000
OutKast frontman André 3000 took the music world by storm, landing a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and multiple number one hits on the Billboard charts. When he was asked how he would spend his last day on Earth, he replied, "I'd probably go for a great meal—some broccoli probably, because I'm a vegetarian."
17. Carl Lewis
You don’t need to look past track and field legend Carl Lewis to find a veggie powered speed machine. Lewis won a whopping 10 Olympic medals (9 of them gold) and 10 World Championship medals (8 gold). He proudly says “My best performances were when I was 30 years old and I was a vegan.
18. Keenan Ivory Wayans
Though Wayans is a well-known comedian, he says that health is no laughing matter. The actor says that a vegetarian diet helps him stay healthy and fit, not just for himself, but also for the ones that he loves.
19. Kevin Eubanks
The Tonight Show's Kevin Eubanks, who has long been known for his buff body in addition to his musical skills, is proof that turning to veggies doesn't mean turning down muscle. "Every night before the show, I make sure [my] guitar is perfectly tuned. And every day, I do the same for my body—with healthy, vegetarian meals," Eubanks has said. "It's the easiest way to stay fit and feel great."
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