I’m 6’3”, 260 pounds, and I’m the director of speed, strength, and conditioning at College of the Canyons in California.
I’ve also been a vegan for almost half my life.
Twenty-six years ago, I made the decision to stop eating anything that came from an animal (no meat, no eggs, no dairy) due to ethical reasons. I wanted my diet to be cruelty free.
It’s not as big of a deal as you might think. There’s nothing I find all that difficult about it. I just track calories and protein. I know I get lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and good fats on my vegan diet.
And, no, I don’t have a problem getting enough protein. My daily influx comes from sources like vegan protein powder, peanut butter, vegan “sausage,” lentils, beans, and other vegetables.
Here’s what I consume in a typical day.
Breakfast
Iced coffee shaken with 2 scoops Sunwarrior Blend vegan protein powder
½ avocado spread on large slice whole grain toast
Large ice water
Mid-Morning Snack
Large iced green tea
Dale’s Raw Food protein bar
“I feel much better when I drink 4 to 5 liters of water a day. I like to dilute green tea with lots of water or add some lemon.”
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Lunch
Huge salad with vegan Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage
Large iced green tea
“Typically I throw mixed greens, kale, beans, hearts of palm, carrots, and anything else I can find, into a 6 ½ liter bowl. This is one of the biggest salads you have seen anyone eat.”
Mid-Afternoon Snack
Apple with Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter with Flax & Chia
Four to five cups of cold grilled asparagus
“Yes, four to five cups of asparagus. When I eat vegetables, I don’t mess around.”
Dinner
Crock-Pot stew made with beans, squash, lentils, mushrooms, tomato, onions, green beans, barley, zucchini, and sweet potato
A few pieces of bread with soy-free buttery spread
“This stew accounts for 900 of my day’s calories and about 50 grams of protein.”
Related: Normal-Sized Guys Who Are Freakishly Strong Tell You How They Did It
Mid-Evening Snack
Fruit smoothie
“Before bed, my sweet tooth acts up so I make a fruit smoothie. This one was made with 2 cups frozen berries, a splash of OJ, and then I topped the NutriBullet cup with almond milk and blended everything.”
Total estimated calories: 3,150
Total estimated protein: 194 grams
Related: 20 Healthy Protein-Packed Smoothie Recipes
Your Takeaway: Eat Your Damn Vegetables
The USDA recommends that Americans eat 2 to 3 cups of vegetables daily. On average, they eat about half that.
Miss out on vegetables and you’ll miss out on their disease-fighting antioxidants, gut-filling fiber, protein, and general deliciousness. Heck, they may even make you happier too.
