Brady is known for following a mostly plant-based diet, and his lifestyle brand, TB12, offers insight into the meals that fuel his routine. In her video, O’Neal recreated three of his typical meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – using plant-based swaps where needed.

From a smoothie that doubles as dessert to a romesco-topped broccoli dish that feels restaurant-worthy, the day’s meals proved that a performance-focused plant-based diet doesn’t have to be boring.

Here’s what she ate – and what she thought.

Read more: ‘5 Whole Food, Plant-Based Meals I Eat Every Week’

Where to find the high-protein plant-based recipes:

Breakfast: high-protein berry smoothie

Brady starts his day with a nutrient-packed smoothie, and O’Neal made a plant-based version that ended up being even higher in protein than the original.

She used almond and hemp milk, chia and hemp seeds, walnuts, almond butter, banana, blueberries, and a soy-based protein powder.

“This is really refreshing, really delicious, and so smooth,” she said after trying it.

Her version contained an impressive 39.5 grams of protein and 36.7 grams of healthy fat. It was rich, naturally sweet, and thanks to the banana and berries, felt like a treat without needing added sugar. She also suggested that using just one type of milk (like soy) could simplify it without losing nutritional value.

2. Lunch: crispy chickpea Caesar salad

Next up was a Caesar-style salad from TB12, made with baby kale, baby romaine, and shaved Brussels sprouts, topped with crispy chickpeas instead of croutons.

The creamy dressing was blended from cashews, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, capers, and maple syrup. O’Neal, who says she’s usually not a salad fan, was surprised by how much she liked it.

“This is a really good salad. For someone who doesn’t like salads, I would tear this up,” she said. “The chickpeas are like protein-packed croutons.”

She rated it a nine out of 10 and suggested adding avocado for an even more filling meal.

Read more: ‘Your New Favorite Easy Vegan Dinner’

3. Dinner: charred broccoli with romesco sauce

Dinner was a simple but elevated dish: charred broccoli served with a smoky romesco sauce made from almonds, garlic, and roasted red peppers. To bulk it up, O’Neal added blended Great Northern beans to the sauce for more protein and fiber.

“This looks so fancy and it tastes so good,” she said. “This is like an impress-your-friends kind of dish.”

She suggested serving it with tofu or grains if you want something heartier, but was impressed by how complete it felt on its own. The sauce, in particular, was a standout: “That is so flavorful… this sauce is a new staple for me.”

You can find more of Merle O’Neal’s recipes and videos on her YouTube channel.

Read more: ‘I Tried Travis Barker’s Pricey Vegan Diet – Here’s What It Was Like’

This article was written by Editorial Team on the PBN Website.

O’Neal is known for her down-to-earth food content and hilarious commentary. She’s tried everything from “what I eat in a day” celebrity videos to budget cooking challenges, always with a vegan twist. In this episode, she dove headfirst into Barker’s bougie world, saying: “I’ve known Travis Barker was vegan for quite a while now. It was always one of my favorite celebrity fun facts.”

Crossroads chicken & waffles: worth the hype?

O’Neal kicked off her day at Crossroads Kitchen, a high-end vegan restaurant Barker frequents. First on the list? His favorite: chicken and waffles.

“This is the best vegan fried chicken I have ever had in my life,” she said. “This is so beautifully crispy, the inside is just… it’s so chicken-like.” The maple syrup? “Tastes like it was taken from The Giving Tree.”

The only downside? The price. “$24… that makes each one of these breasts like $12 bucks.” Still, she admitted, “This is phenomenal.”

Read more: ‘5 Whole Food, Plant-Based Meals I Eat Every Week’

Protein shake, banana bread vibes

Next, she recreated Barker’s go-to protein shake at home, using oat milk with added pea protein, bananas, chia seeds (in place of flax), protein powder, dates, and cinnamon.

“It tasted like banana bread,” O’Neal said post-workout. “Cinnamon was a very nice touch as well.” She rated it a 7.8 out of 10, though noted it was “very thick” and would benefit from being thinned out.

Sausage muffin breakfast sandwich

Barker’s favorite at-home meal is simple: an English muffin with a Just Egg folded patty and an Impossible sausage. O’Neal recreated it and added vegan cheese and Sriracha.

“I’m learning that Travis Barker loves processed food,” she joked. “It’s a little bit of a junk food vegan, and that’s fine.” She gave it a 7.8 and described it as “a nice breakfast treat, maybe like a weekend treat.”

Erwan: the most expensive bowl of broccoli ever?

O’Neal headed to Erewhon (pronounced “air-won”), another Barker favorite, for a turmeric smoothie and a vegan meal. Barker’s go-to – beefless broccoli – was sold out, so she settled for a vegan short rib with sides.

The smoothie? “$13… It looks like a sunset in a cup.” She gave it a B+, noting, “It’s pretty good… but not worth 25 minutes and $13.”

As for the food: “The broccoli… boring. The beans… good. The short rib… a D.” She added, “This meat substitute… tastes like weird bread. There’s a cardboard aftertaste.”

Dinner at Crossroads: pizza, pasta & dessert

O’Neal ended the day with a takeout feast from Crossroads: gluten-free pepperoni pizza, pasta Bolognese, and a sundae.

The pizza was a hit: “The pepperoni is kind of amazing… tastes the most like pepperoni of any vegan pepperoni I’ve ever had.” The gluten-free crust was “a little dry, but very good.” She gave it an A.

The pasta impressed too: “It does not taste like any different than regular pasta… for a gluten-free option, I wouldn’t even feel like I’m missing out.”

The sundae, however, didn’t blow her away: “It was very good… but $12? That just doesn’t make any sense for me to do that.”

You can find more of Merle O’Neal’s recipes and videos on her YouTube channel.

Read more: ‘I Tried Making Vegan Chicken from Scratch – Here’s What Happened’

This article was written by Editorial Team on the PBN Website.

An audience question read out by Maher was directed to guest Jon Tester, the former Democratic Senator for Montana and a crop and beef farmer. The question was: “Are you concerned about bird flu and the Trump administration’s ability to respond to another pandemic?”

Tester said that “we should learn something from COVID and we should treat these things seriously.” In response, Maher said: “All the diseases come from animals, and it’s because of the way we treat them… badly.”

Tester agreed there “there’s no doubt” that the current bird flu situation is due to the “concentration of livestock in small areas, in this case, chickens.” Bird flu has become a global catastrophe for both wild and farmed animals, spreading rapidly through poultry farms until mutations allowed it to jump to a growing number of species.

Read more: Bird Flu Jumps To Sheep For First Time

Maher said that the cruel conditions that chickens are kept in are to blame for bird flu. “When you torture animals, it winds up coming [back on us],” he said. Maher has been a PETA board member since 1997, though he continues to eat meat.

‘We should deal with it’

Maher asked whether Tester, in his capacity as a Senator, had ever done anything about the way chickens are farmed. do anything about that?

“Look, we have a hard enough time getting a farm bill passed in Congress, for Christ’s sakes, much less dealing with those kind of issues in our food system,” said Tester. The farm bill is a legislative package that expires and is updated every five years in the US. It covers matters such as financial support for farmers and nutrition programs to help low-income families.

“Does that mean we shouldn’t deal with it?” Tester went on. “No, we absolutely should deal with it in common sense ways.” But he said instead, the political conversation ends up fixating on issues like which bathrooms trans people should be able to use.

Currently, the global response to bird flu is focused on containment through killing infected animals and implementing biosecurity measures on individual farms. However, intensive animal farms continue to proliferate across the globe. Experts have warned that countries must start preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic among humans, including developing vaccines and public communication programs.

Read more: First Human Case Of Bird Flu Confirmed In Nevada As New Strain Circulates

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Isaacs is one of the stars of season three of the hit HBO series The White Lotus, which has just released its fifth episode. He plays the character Timothy Ratliff, a wealthy businessman vacationing with his wife and three children.

The series is filmed in Koh Samui, an island in the Gulf of Thailand known for its tropical landscapes, stunning beaches, and luxury resorts. While Thailand is a popular destination for vegan travelers, Isaacs told the Evening Standard that he struggled to find animal-free food in the specific area he was staying in. 

“I’m a vegan. Everyone said to me, ‘Thailand’s gonna be amazing for you!’ It turned out to be the opposite,” he said. “Being a vegan out there is a nightmare. Even the hotels don’t really cater for it. I ended up eating a variation on the same dish nearly every day: some version of tofu curry.”

Read more: ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ Features Segment On Egg Alternatives

Isaacs’ experience isn’t necessarily representative of those of other vegans in Thailand. The country as a whole is generally regarded as an excellent destination for plant-based eaters, as many of its popular dishes (like Pad Thai and various soups, salads, and curries) are naturally vegan or can easily be made animal-free. While ingredients like egg and fish sauce are often found in dishes, these can be omitted. 

Read more: Vegan ‘Anora’ Star Mikey Madison Wins ‘Best Actress’ Oscar

When did Jason Isaacs go plant-based?

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Isaacs decided to go plant-based for health reasons during Veganuary 2021. He previously told GQ that he kept up the eating plan after experiencing significant health improvements. Isaacs also stopped eating oil and reduced his sugar intake soon after. 

“I’m infinitely healthier. I lost a bunch of weight – although that’s not what it was about; my stamina’s different; my sleep is different. My cholesterol plummeted,” he said. 

He added that he feels he has ‘found his lane’ with plant-based eating, saying: “I hope I stick to it because it’s clearly better. The science is incontrovertible around plant-based meals. If you’re even toying with the notion of going plant-based, do it for one meal a week or eat meat once a week, like our parents did when they were kids. You really will feel the difference.”

Read more: ‘The White Lotus’ Creator Urges Thai Government To End Monkey Exploitation

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

The actor, host, and businessperson grew up vegetarian and frequently advocates for vegan and plant-based foods for health reasons. She has previously said that she is flexitarian.

The Drew Barrymore Show often features lifestyle segments and celebrity guests. In a clip shared on YouTube earlier this month, Barrymore was joined by co-host Ross Mathews, actor Valerie Bertinelli, and the journalist and sustainability advocate Danny Seo, who demonstrated some of the different options for egg-free cooking and baking.

Barrymore tasted a simple omelet recipe made with chickpea flour, and Seo also showcased meringue pieces made with whipped aquafaba. He added that a mix of white vinegar and baking soda, ripe bananas, and ripe avocados can each replace eggs in “really sweet” recipes like muffins, and the group all sampled cookies prepared using applesauce.

“I think that I personally would like to find some egg alternatives,” said Barrymore, and highlighted the currently “astronomical” price of eggs caused by the US bird flu epidemic. At the end of the clip, Seo announced that audience members would each receive a USD $100 grocery gift card from Just Egg, which he described as “another great alternative to eggs.”

Read more: Drew Barrymore Partners With Quorn To Make Plant-Based Meat More Affordable

US egg crisis and the growth of egg alternatives

Demand for egg alternatives is growing rapidly in the US in the midst of high prices and shortages of traditional eggs. Brands such as Just Egg have responded by increasing production, and some have dropped prices to make vegan options more widely accessible.

Josh Tetrick, the CEO of food tech company Eat Just said that January sales of the Just Egg brand grew at five times the rate of the previous year. Fifty-six percent of shoppers have also returned to buy more, representing a three-point increase from 2024, and the company has had large foodservice brands and stores reaching out for something more “reliable.”

The Guardian reported today that more than 50 New York bodegas have rolled out something called the “Bird Flu Bailout” initiative this week, a concept created by Just Egg and Plantega, a plant-based New York deli chain. The initiative encourages New Yorkers to order their usual bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches with Just Egg, thereby avoiding shortages and high prices.

Read more: Think Free Range Eggs Are Ethical? Investigation Exposes Reality Of ‘Cage-Free’

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Steiner visited Ramsay at Ramsay’s new Lucky Cat restaurant in East London to chat about the venue’s plant-based options. Steiner recorded their meeting for Instagram. “Did you know that Gordon Ramsay actually loves vegan food?” Steiner said. Ramsay replied: “I absolutely do.”

Read more: Vegan ‘Anora’ Star Mikey Madison Wins ‘Best Actress’ Oscar

Lucky Cat, said Ramsay, has three plant-based “staples.” They are vegetable maki rolls, tom kha noodles, and miso glazed gochujang aubergine. Tom kha noodles traditionally contain chicken and fish sauce. But Ramsay said of Lucky Cat’s version: “It doesn’t warrant a protein, a chicken, it doesn’t need beef in there, it’s stand alone good.”

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Ramsay embraces vegan food

While Ramsay told Steiner he was not planning to go fully vegan, he has lately become an unlikely champion for plant-based eating.

On an episode of Masterchef in 2022, Ramsay said, “After all these years, I can finally admit, that I actually love vegan food.” He had previously been known to be disparaging of dishes that didn’t feature animal products. That same year he also did a TikTok “vegan challenge” for his BBC show Future Food Stars.

In January this year, he starred in an ad for dairy-free butter brand Flora. He said he was “blown away” by Flora’s spreads. “It gives me the creaminess and rich taste I get from butter, while being more sustainable. I would encourage home cooks to make the switch, try it for themselves, and see what they can create!”

Read more: Pamela Anderson Launching Pickle Brand Named ‘Pamela’s Pickles’

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Anderson is an activist, author, model, and actor, and recently starred in Gia Coppola’s film The Last Showgirl. Anderson also makes homemade pickles, and has said that she’s set to launch her own pickle-based brand under the name “Pamela’s Pickles.”

In an interview with This Morning’s Alison Hammond from February, Anderson said “I’m a pickler. I come from a long line of picklers. My Great Aunty Vi, she won all the pickle and mustard awards on Vancouver Island, so it’s a serious thing in my family.”

Anderson explained that her great aunt taught her how to make pickles, and she puts a spin on the recipe by adding dried roses. “We’re all trying to outdo each other,” she joked. Hammond presented Anderson with a jar of homemade pickles labeled “Pammy’s Pickles,” which prompted the actor to reveal her plans to launch a new pickle brand.

“I am doing something possibly called Pamela’s Pickles,” said Anderson. “I’m going to sell pickles. […] You’ve got to do a little bit of everything these days.”

She previously mentioned her love of food preservation in an interview with CBC earlier in the year, where she said she’d “never stop” making pickles and jam. She also discussed her family’s pickle-making on an episode of the chat show Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Read more: These Pickled Sesame Cucumbers Are Ready In Just 30 Minutes

‘I’ve been an activist for a very long time’

In 2024, Anderson published a vegan cookbook titled I Love You: Recipes From The Heart. According to Anderson, the idea began as a collection of updated, plant-based family recipes that she planned to gift to her sons, Brandon and Dylan Lee, but transformed into a “lifestyle cookbook” project that encapsulates all of her family’s “favorite things.”

A plant-based cooking show titled Pamela’s Cooking With Love finally aired on Canada’s Flavor Network in February after getting greenlit in 2023. The show sees Anderson host some of “today’s most sought-after and buzz-worthy chefs” at her rural home on Vancouver Island, where they prepare vegan meals for her family and friends.

Anderson previously told the Food Network that she first pitched an entirely plant-based cooking show over thirty years ago, but she was told they didn’t think anyone would watch.

“I’ve been an activist for a very long time. I’ve always fought for animal rights, human rights, vulnerable people, vulnerable beings, and nature and climate change,” explained Anderson. “So I don’t really even want to say the word ‘vegan’ when it comes to the show. We’re just celebrating vegetables. This is just how we eat.”

Read more: A History Of Pamela Anderson’s Animal Activism

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Madison took home the award for her titular role in the 2024 film Anora, where she portrayed a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The film scooped up five Oscars in total, including “Best Picture.”

Describing her win as “very surreal” in her acceptance speech, Madison said she wanted to “recognize and honor the sex worker community” and that she will “continue to support and be an ally.” Madison was up against fellow plant-based stars Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) and Demi Moore (The Substance), as well as Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez) and Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here).

Mikey Madison’s Veganism

Madison has said that she’s vegan, but she hasn’t spoken much publicly about her diet, lifestyle, and animal advocacy. Animal rights group PETA confirmed after her win that she “wants to help rescue ponies [and] has an adopted dog named Jam.”

According to PETA, Madison previously stated that her dog was adopted rather than bought. “My dog was born on my birthday… I didn’t even know because he was a rescue,” she was quoted as saying.

When previously asked by Hollywood Authentic what roles she would like to play in the future, Madison replied: “I just want to make enough money to have a ranch for my mini pony rescue. That’s really just what I want enough money to have.”

Last year, Madison revealed her favorite “sweet treat” is vegan chocolate chip cookies topped with flaky salt. She previously shared her recipe on The Drew Barrymore Show, explaining that she replaced butter and eggs with plant-based substitutes after going vegan. She also uses dark chocolate chips.

Read more: ‘The White Lotus’ Creator Urges Thai Government To End Monkey Exploitation

“This is my favorite recipe,” she told Barrymore. “I’ve refined it a little bit over the years because I’m vegan and a little older, so I like dark chocolate.”

She then added that her “secret” is using half unbleached flour and half almond flour. “I think that it makes it chewy and soft and airy. I think it’s really good,” she said.

Read more: Lady Gaga Says Plant-Based Wings Are ‘Very Good’ On Hot Ones

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

White wrote to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra about the issue following a new investigation into forced monkey labor by PETA. Investigators from PETA Asia captured footage inside “schools” where baby pig-tailed macaques, an endangered species, are “trained” to pick coconuts. They are forcibly removed from their mothers and chained by the neck, some without access to water, some unable to reach other monkeys from whom they want to seek comfort.

Read more: UK Government ‘Won’t Be Commenting’ On Pre-Election Pledge To Ban Foie Gras

The third season of The White Lotus was filmed on Thai island Ko Samui, which White described as “a beautiful place” in his letter. “But I was shocked to learn from my friends at PETA that there and elsewhere in Thailand, monkeys are forced to work for the coconut industry,” he wrote. “I urge you to end this exploitation of our fellow primates and ensure that Thailand’s entire coconut industry transitions to humane harvesting methods that don’t rely on forced monkey labor.”

Thailand’s coconut industry

Monkeys have been used to pick coconuts in Thailand for centuries because they can pick far more in a day than humans can. Thailand is the tenth biggest coconut-producing country in the world. PETA Asia has done multiple investigations into the Thai coconut industry, revealing that the exploitation and abuse of monkeys is rampant.

At the monkey “schools,” handlers intimidate and abuse the animals to make them obedient, PETA Asia has reported. Handlers use methods including hitting monkeys and dangling them by their necks. Once the monkeys are “trained” they are sold to coconut farms where they are kept chained up in isolation in unsanitary conditions when they aren’t picking.

The “schools” are promoted to tourists, with coconut-picking “demonstrations” put on with adult monkeys who have already been abused into submission.

Read more: Wales Announces Plans To Ban Greyhound Racing

“Thailand’s coconut-picking training schools trick unsuspecting tourists into supporting these pits of despair, where baby monkeys are snatched from their mothers, deprived of everything that’s natural and important to them, and chained until they lose their minds,” PETA Vice President of UK Programmes and Operations Elisa Allen said in a statement. “PETA is urging the Thai government to shut down these abusive training schools and calling on consumers to vote with their wallets and only buy coconut milk from countries where monkey labour isn’t used, such as India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.”

Mike White’s Animal Advocacy

White has been a vegan since 2005. In a testimonial for PETA in 2011, he explained that he it was his dog who influenced his decision to become vegan. “You know I have a dog who looks a lot like a pig, and I would look at him and I’d think, you know I can not eat pig any more,” he said.

His 2007 film Year of the Dog follows a character called Peggy as she deals with the death of her dog. Peggy becomes vegan, starts supporting animal rights causes, and adopts an abused dog.

When White was a contestant on The Amazing Race in 2009 with his dad, he sometimes struggled to find food he could eat. But he remained true to his principles. “Mike is a vegan, and there was hardly any food that he could eat along the way and he didn’t compromise, so there were times where he hadn’t eaten for two days, anything solid,” White’s father Mel said in an interview after the race.

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Murray recently appeared in a video published on YouTube by the charity River Action UK. The short clip shows Murray wearing a full suit and tie while standing in the middle of a river, where the conservationist addresses Nando’s CEO Mark Standish.

“Mark, your chicken is killing our rivers,” says Murray. “The industrial chicken farmers you buy your supplies from for your restaurants has [sic] literally polluted the River Wye to death.”

Nando’s responds

In a statement to Plant Based News, Nando’s denied polluting the River Wye. It also said that it was open to meeting with River Action to discuss its water policy.

“We care passionately about the environment and having a positive impact,” a spokesperson said. “We have a water policy in place for all our chicken suppliers. We will meet with River Action and we are happy to discuss with them how this might be further improved. We are not polluting the River Wye, and our supplier has assured us that no manure is spread, stored or otherwise disposed of on any of the chicken farms we source from. We will be conducting an independent third-party audit to provide further assurances.”

Murray told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that he had seen proof that Nando’s suppliers are polluting the River Wye, causing algae blooms and suffocating aquatic life there. According to the Environment Agency, agriculture and rural land management are responsible for about 40 percent of water pollution in the UK.

An open letter signed by Murray and other high-profile celebrities, artists, environmentalists, and campaign groups calls on Nando’s to “design and implement a sector-leading commitment to protecting Britain’s rivers.”

Signatories include Chris Packham, George Monbiot, Joanna Lumley, and many others, who ask for proof from Nando’s that it is not contributing to Wye pollution.

Read more: Factory Farms Cost UK Taxpayers Over 1.2 Billion Pounds Per Year, Says New Report

River Wye pollution

Tens of millions of chickens are factory-farmed along the banks of the River Wye. This causes extensive pollution and has brought one of the UK’s longest and most famous waterways to the brink of ecological collapse, as reported by River Action.

One of Nando’s key chicken suppliers, Avara Foods, is named in an ongoing lawsuit over alleged Wye pollution. As reported by the BBC, an Avara spokesperson previously said: “No manure is stored, spread or otherwise disposed on poultry farms that supply us, making accusations of ‘pollution’ hard to justify without evidence.”

In the BBC Gloucestershire interview, Murray said that Nando’s has an opportunity to “re-shape the whole supply chain” if it chooses to swap Avara Foods for another supplier.

“They’re an obvious restaurant chain to go for because we also believe that they might turn around and actually start becoming part of the solution rather than the problem,” he said.

Read more: Scientists Observe Factory Farm Pollution From Space

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

The multi-award-winning musician and actor is the latest non-vegan celebrity to choose plant-based wings while appearing on Hot Ones. The show’s host and co-creator, YouTuber Sean Evans, also chose to eat plant-based wings during Gaga’s appearance.

“These are good wings, too,” said Gaga. “I think I have the plant-based ones. They’re good.”

While Gaga is not vegan herself, she founded cruelty-free cosmetics brand Haus Labs in 2019, which uses only vegan ingredients. On Hot Ones, Gaga spoke to Evans about making outfits early in her career and even pretending to be her own manager. She also talked about songwriting, and how playing piano taught her “where to put the drama” in pop songs.

Gaga is currently promoting her sixth studio album, Mayhem, which will be released on March 7, 2025. The second and most recent single from the album, “Abracadabra,” came out earlier this month and has charted in the UK’s top 10 and the US’s top 30.

Read more: Gordon Ramsay Partners With Flora For ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign

Hot Ones and plant-based wings

Meat-free chicken wings have been featured on Hot Ones since Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA became the first vegan guest in 2016. Temple of Seitan has made some of the plant-based wings for certain UK-based episodes, while others have featured cauliflower and tempeh versions.

In addition to Gaga, non-vegan celebrities such as John Oliver,  Lizzo, and Florence Pugh have also opted for plant-based chicken wings while appearing on the show. Race car driver and plant-based entrepreneur Lewis Hamilton appeared on Hot Ones last year, and told Evans that he should “just do the vegan ones” as it would save “so many chickens.”

Read more: Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst Eats Vegan Wings On ‘Hot Ones’

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Ramsay, who has been a vocal critic of vegan food in the past, said that he was “blown away” by Flora’s spreads, all of which are free from dairy.

“It gives me the creaminess and rich taste I get from butter, while being more sustainable,” Ramsay said. “I would encourage home cooks to make the switch, try it for themselves, and see what they can create!”

A new 20-second ad shows a narrator explaining that Flora is made from ingredients that “haven’t been in a cow.” He then asks, “Is it great for baking?” The cow nods in agreement, prompting the narrator to reply: “Cow says yes. Could seem biased. Let’s ask an expert.” The ad then cuts to Ramsay holding up a cake while sitting on top of a cow. “Is that a serious question?” he responds. “Just look at this f***ing cake.” At the end of the clip, the words “Skip the Cow” appear on screen.

Flora goes dairy-free

Flora hasn’t always been a plant-based brand, but it removed dairy from its full line of products in October 2023.

It launched its “Skip the Cow” campaign later that year and has released a series of adverts distancing itself from dairy since then. In April 2024, Flora described dairy as “a bit weird” in an advert promoting its spreads. “There it is, Flora, made with plants,” a voiceover said. “And it tastes so good that it raises a question: is it a bit weird we’ve spent so many years pumping plants through a cow?”

Speaking about the latest iteration of the campaign featuring Ramsay, Flora Chief Marketing Officer for Developed Markets, Jorn Socquet, said that the brand “couldn’t be prouder” to be working with the chef.

“This campaign represents a bold step forward in showcasing the incredible versatility and taste of Flora for cooking and baking,” he continued. “Gordon’s passion for exceptional food aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation and offering sustainable, dairy-free alternatives that don’t compromise on flavor or performance. And if Gordon Ramsay thinks it’s good, who are we to disagree?”

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

According to Jackson, the makers of 2016’s The Legend of Tarzan planned to fire him if he didn’t gain weight. Jackson was plant-based at the time but stopped in order to bulk up.

In the movie, he played a fictionalized version of the lawyer and activist George Washington Williams opposite Alexander Skarsgard as the titular Tarzan. Jackson said that between getting cast in Tarzan and shooting he had lost around 30 pounds for a different role.

“My agent called and said ‘They’re going to fire you if you don’t gain 20 pounds.’ She’s like, ‘They want you to be formidable.’ I said, ‘I thought being thin like this would make Alexander look bigger,” explained Jackson. “I went out that night and bought a three-stack burger and stopped being a vegan pretty much immediately.”

Jackson made the comments nearly a decade ago in an interview with AllHipHop, and they resurfaced earlier this month in an article by Far Out Magazine. In 2017, Jackson confirmed in an Autocomplete Interview for WIRED that he used to be plant-based, but “not anymore.”

Read more: Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst Eats Vegan Wings On ‘Hot Ones’

Jackson went plant-based because he was ‘just trying to live forever’

Jackson first mentioned adopting a plant-based diet in a 2013 interview with Yahoo! Movies.

When asked about looking “remarkably trim” at a red carpet event for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Jackson replied that his secret is his “new vegan diet.” When asked why he went plant-based, Jackson added that he was “just trying to live forever.”

Several recent studies have indicated the health benefits of eating more whole plant foods. A major 20-year review published in 2024 that found plant-based diets can significantly improve health and lower the risk of developing heart disease and cancer.

Being plant-based also need not be an obstacle for those looking to bulk up. The last year has seen a wide range of achievements by vegan athletes in bodybuilding, powerlifting, running, arm wrestling, cycling, and more. At the end of 2024, a nutritional study funded by the beef industry inadvertently revealed that plant protein can have the same advantages as meat.

Read more: Experts Recommend US Dietary Guidelines Prioritize Plant-Based Proteins

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

McCall said she didn’t know why she felt that way. “I don’t want to give up meat,” she said. But now she hardly eats any red meat and finds eating any meat “less and less attractive.”

Read more: How To Watch ‘Uplifting’ New Vegan Documentary ‘Food For Thought’

McNeill, who is vegan, replied: “When you start researching animal agriculture, it’s a one way ticket to plant-based eating. It’s gruesome.” McCall acknowledged that many people don’t want to think about it but “we all know that” deep down.

Interview controversy

The interview wasn’t without controversy, due to some of the comments made by McNeill. She is known for having sold all her belongings at the age of 50 to move to Portugal and posts about fitness, food, and lifestyle on social media as FiftySister.

McNeill said that she calls herself plant-based rather than vegan because “the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan is, vegetarians have friends. Most people don’t like vegans.” She said that while she has the “utmost respect” for “militant” vegans who “try and convert other people, I’m not here to convert anyone else.”

Following the episode going live, McNeill posted on Instagram to say that her inbox immediately started “filling up with abuse” from “carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, and vegans.”

She further explained her views in the interview with McCall. “I feel that I can show people that by eating plants, you can exercise everyday, you can have lots of energy … you can feel full, you can feel well,” she said.

Read more: Shreya Ghodawat Wins ‘Podcaster of the Year’ Award At IWAA 2024 For Vegan Podcast

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

The food truck is parked in Pasadena this week and will serve food from 10am each day until the ingredients run out. They aim to feed at least 1,000 people.

The wildfires started nine days ago and have been unusually early, large, and destructive, partly due to the climate crisis, according to a new report by UCLA researchers.

The Palisades blaze alone – just 30 miles from Pasadena – is currently the largest, and has destroyed 23,700 acres so far. The wildfires have made thousands of people homeless, and around 88,000 Californians across the region remain under evacuation orders.

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A post shared by Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)

Brown, an actor, author, and social media personality, appeared in a short Instagram video alongside Vurger Guyz founder Na’eem Outler. “LA is going through a real tragedy right now,” said Brown. “We wanted to partner together and feed as many people as we can.”

“This is a way that we can help to serve the community,” she added.

Tabitha Brown x Vurger Guyz partnership shows ‘the power of compassion’

Vurger Guyz is a pop-up and event-based company that serves all of Southern California, serving “some of the best burgers you’ve ever had in your life,” according to Brown. She will be supplying ingredients for the next few days, and Vurger Guyz will be serving meals.

“Your unwavering kindness and generosity continue to inspire so many, and this act of love is yet another testament to the pureness of your heart,” wrote Outler in a separate post on Instagram thanking Tabitha Brown. “You have always been a beacon of love and light, and the way you show up for others reminds us all of the power of compassion.”

Earlier in the week, Vurger Guyz also thanked Beyond Meat for “stepping up and providing” ingredients to support “first responders and those affected by the wildfires.”

Outler founded Vurger Guyz in 2018 to promote healthy, plant-based foods with great flavors. Outlet is a former NCAA D1 athlete and has previously said that he created the brand as a “gateway” to show different communities the potential of plant-based food.

The Vurger Guyz truck is parked at Pasadena Church East Campus, 425 SIERRA MADRE VILLA AVE, PASADENA 91107, from Tuesday, January 14 to Thursday, January 16, 2025.

Read more: Celebrity Chef Supreme Dow Serves 1,000 Vegan Community Meals, Sets Guinness World Record

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.