Have you ever considered swapping your steaks and protein shakes for tofu and oat milk? The fitness world has always mocked vegan bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts. However, actor and content creator Merle O’Neal decided to bust the myth once and for all, sharing four vegan recipes straight from bodybuilders’ plates.

As per Vegan Food and Living, O’Neal decided to test the vegan bodybuilders' diet, which meant hitting 160 grams of protein in a day with purely vegan food.

“I’m pretty happy with my protein intake,” she said at the end of the 24 hours. “I don’t like forcing protein powder into stuff if I don’t have to.”

Her diet, for the next 24 hours, included:

• Vegan protein oat bowl for breakfast (41 grams protein)
• Garlic seitan buns for lunch (30 grams protein)
• TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) pile plate for dinner (45 grams)
• Protein pancakes for dessert (42 grams protein)

She admitted that hitting her 160-gram protein goal wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be. Moreover, the vegan recipes were incredibly delicious, making the journey a delight, she concluded, as per Vegan Food and Living.

Moreover, numerous vegan bodybuilders have proved that packing on muscle without meat is completely possible.  

The proof: Three vegan bodybuilders who built elite muscle.'

If elite vegan bodybuilders are anything to go by, there is an abundance of delicious and healthy protein-packed food choices to explore.

Torre Washington

Washington is possibly one of the most popularly known vegan bodybuilders who has proved that you don’t need to stuff your plate with meat to pack on muscle.

He has successfully built elite-level muscles, winning the 2013 Musclemania Pro Card, and subsequently winning multiple natural bodybuilding titles and four more pro cards.

As per South China Morning Post, Washington was raised a vegetarian and had never tasted meat in his entire life. Over the years, he slowly moved to veganism, never looking back afterwards.

His typical diet consisted of leafy greens, lentils, beans, oatmeal, tofu, tempeh, seitan, sweet potatoes, brown rice, and vegan protein powder.

Patrik Baboumian

Bodybuilder and former strongman Baboumian is another famous vegan bodybuilder known for building elite strength and power on a purely plant-based diet.

He became one of the country’s top strength athletes after winning the 2011 Strongest Man (Open Division) in Germany. He subsequently won the 2012 European Powerlifting Championship in the 140 kg GPA division.

Robert Cheeke

The pioneer of vegan bodybuilding, Cheeke won multiple natural bodybuilding titles during his career. He co-founded one of the first major vegan bodybuilding platforms for strength athletes called VeganBodybuilding.com.

Furthermore, he co-authored two books with Matt Frazier, titled The Plant-Based Athlete and Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness.

O'Neal's success mirrors Washington's approach: whole foods over powder. Do you think you could swap your usual non-vegetarian plate for a vegan bodybuilder’s diet for a day?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi