Our grandmas are not the only ones advising us to eat our vegetables! Turns out, bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has the same advice.

In an edition of Arnold’s Pump Club from February 2025, Schwarzenegger once highlighted the importance of eating at least one serving of vegetables per day, irrespective of whether you enjoy them.

He further shares that cruciferous vegetables may help in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal, lung, and breast cancer. These vegetables include cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and other greens.

"Do we want you to eat more than one serving of vegetables daily? Of course. But that’s not the point. Too often, people make their goals unnecessarily difficult instead of starting with a change that can make a meaningful difference," the bodybuilding legend wrote.

This line definitely resonates with a lot of people, as most of us may be aware of the benefits of eating vegetables, but we avoid doing the right thing anyway. Arnold Schwarzenegger further advises us to begin with just one serving of vegetables per day and gradually increase the amount.

 "Cancer-fighting nutrients appear to be most closely tied to cruciferous vegetables. These vegetables contain potent compounds like sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol, which have been shown to help detoxify carcinogens, protect your cells against DNA damage, fight inflammation, and offer some antiviral and antibacterial benefits," Schwarzenegger further advised.

He highlights the benefits, sharing how his own diet has changed over the decades.

How Arnold Schwarzenegger Pivoted To A Vegan-Heavy Diet

Arnold Schwarzenegger has intentionally and sustainably changed his diet dramatically since his bodybuilding days. In 2023, the seven-time Mr. Olympia revealed how he sticks to a mostly vegan diet while sharing how he hits his daily protein goals.

"Some people feel forced to eat animal proteins to support muscle and strength. But you actually have more flexibility than you’ve been led to believe. New research suggests that it doesn’t matter if you eat plant protein or animal protein. Both dieting styles can deliver similar body transformation results," he says, as quoted by Fitness Volt.

Schwarzenegger also explained how he is not completely vegan but eats about 80% less meat than before. He used to get his protein from chicken, eggs, and salmon, but now, he has switched to a more plant-based diet.

This includes chickpea soups, pea-powered protein powders, and vegetable burgers with lentils and beans. He opts for oatmeal or yogurt with granola for breakfast, and plant-based burgers, salads, or salmon or chicken for lunch. And for dinner, different kinds of soup is hi go-to.

What are your thoughts on Schwarzenegger’s current food choices? Would you consider a primarily vegan diet?  

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Yask Kotak