The Real-Life Diet of a Vegan NBA Player
Veganism is on the rise, and not just in the U.S. but globally. (The number of British vegans has more than tripled in the last decade, for example.) With animal-free diets picking up steam (“flexitarians!”), we can now add to the list Wilson Chandler, small forward for the Denver Nuggets and newly minted non-eater of animals.
Emphasis on new; he’s only been on the vegan train for a few months now. “I was pretty health-conscious even before going vegan,” Chandler says. “The transition came after I watched Food, Inc. and a documentary called GMO OMG. After that I went pescatarian for a while, but I went deeper and deeper with research.”
We’ve often heard NBA players complain that it’s hard to stick to any diet while traveling, but veganism complicates things even more. Chandler seems to be making the transition well enough: He spoke to GQ shortly after having a vegan fried catfish sandwich at Detroit Vegan Soul. “It’s been tough when you’re on the road trying to find restaurants with vegan options, but other than that, switching over from foods I used to eat hasn’t been bad at all. ”
Read MoreThe Real-Life Diet of a Vegan NFL Defensive LinemanBy Luke Darby
One of the big misconceptions about a vegan diet is that it doesn’t provide enough energy for athletes. It’s true that with a plants-only diet you can still keep up protein and energy, but you have to be a little more deliberate about what you eat. After all, a 100 percent French fry diet is still technically vegan. “When I first made the transition, I struggled a little with fatigue,” Chandler says, “because I was winging it. I just jumped in. But as I learned more and figured out which foods had more protein, I was fine. But at first it was hard to keep my stamina up and I would get tired faster, but now I’m more knowledgeable.”
The tradeoff has been worth it, and Chandler’s seen improvement in his recovery time and performance. “Part of why I stopped eating meat is because the more acid is in your body, the harder it is for muscles to recover.”
“Part of why I stopped eating meat is because the more acid is in your body, the harder it is for muscles to recover.”
Still, there are some things you miss with a vegan diet. “I definitely miss shrimp and salmon a lot,” he says, which makes sense. “But I also miss tacos. There’s something about the overall feel of the taco, all of it together: the tortilla, the sauce, the ground beef. That’s hard to get with vegan tacos. I’m sure I’ll find it, though; every time I say that I can’t find a vegan something, I find it right after.”
BreakfastStrawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapesBowl of oatmeal with cranberriesVegan protein shake
LunchBuffalo cauliflowerVeggie burger with vegan cheese and mayoSalad
SnackGoji berries
DinnerLentil soupVegan pizza
Luke Darby is a contributor to GQ, covering news, entertainment, and the environment. A Louisiana native, he now resides in Cleveland, and his writing has also appeared in Outside, the Dallas Observer, and Marie Claire.Related Stories for GQReal Life DietNBANBA