Olympic Gold Medalist Stephanie Rice On How Becoming A Vegan Changed Her

Plants are powering even the greatest of athletes these days; from endurance runners to bodybuilders and tennis superstars. Now, we can add yet another Olympic gold medallist vegan athlete to the ever-growing list. Retired winning swimmer Stephanie Rice says that becoming a vegan has transformed her entire body and mind.

The 29-year old motivational speaker and now vegan cookbook author told Sporteluxe, “I’ve done a lot of introspection and personal inner growth to get to this point and am just happy that everything is finally in sync, especially as I was a bit lost after I retired and didn’t know where my life was headed,” she says. “For me, the vegan lifestyle just works really well. I’m certainly not saying that everyone else should become a vegan as well, but I do think people should consider having more meat-free days. People may be surprised at just how good it makes them feel.”

She went from training nonstop in the pool for up to seven hours a day, to doing bodyweight workouts on her balcony while completely eliminating her previous dairy and meat-heavy diet. She told the website that she enjoys the variety of foods veganism provides her with, exclaiming that sweet potatoes seasoned with rosemary and fried kale salads are some of her favorites.

She also told the news site about her favorite meal of the day, “I guess it would be breakfast. Usually, I’ll eat half a cup of oats with chia seeds, flax seeds, and almond milk. I’ll also have a black coffee with soy milk.”

Eat Like A Vegan Gold Medalist!

Looking to eat like Stephanie Rice? Here some delicious recipes from the Food Monster App to get you started on a vegan athlete’s diet!

Bananas Foster Oatmeal

This Bananas Foster Oatmeal is the perfect start to your day! Combine creamy oatmeal with nutritious bananas for an energy-packed breakfast.

Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili

This Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili is a great way to get the health benefits of quinoa and sweet potatoes! It’s also perfect for leftovers.

Kale Salad With Apricots and Almonds

Looking for a healthy kale salad for a nutrition-packed lunch? Look no further than this Kale Salad With Apricots and Almonds! Sliced fruit and nuts make this salad crunchy and delicious.

Hungry for more plant-based wellness ideas? Download the Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day.

Lead Image Source: Wikimedia Commons