In our article on “Lowering Weight,” posted earlier this year, we touched on the notion of eating less as one of the best ways to control weight. This, of course, is not to say that people should skip meals or avoid adequate nutrition; instead, it’s a simple note that keeping from over-eating can help you maintain a healthy weight.
This is an idea that ties into the popularity of vegan diets quite closely. While the primary point of veganism is to avoid consuming animal-related products, the resulting dietary options can help people to eat less. As a piece on veganism at SFGate.com put it, “sensations of feeling full despite eating less food may accompany your choice to go vegan.” This is because a vegan diet involves more fiber and natural foods that fill you up without the need for high quantities.
The only issue for those who might want to try such a diet as a path toward eating less is that it’s not always clear where to start! So, to provide some tips, we’ve looked to some famously vegan celebrities for some of their favorite simple, filling preparations.
1 – Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde is a famous actress, viewed by many as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood and known for her roles in Rush and on the television show House. Wilde is also likely to see her star rise later this year; SlashFilm.com reports that she has joined the cast of Babylon alongside Spike Jonze and Tobey Maguire. And given that the film is to be directed by wunderkind filmmaker Damien Chazelle, it may be the most significant role of Wilde’s career.
As for her veganism, Wilde has practiced the lifestyle since about age 12 –– but has spoken about the fact that she still finds it somewhat inaccessible sometimes. As a result, she cooks up her recipes, and her “bomb-Diggity” vegan Bolognese is a favorite. The dish requires olive oil, onion, garlic, mushrooms, tempeh, vegetables, tomato sauce, basil, parsley, spices, and red wine –– but it’s all cooked up in a single pot for a delicious meat-free red sauce for pasta.
2 – Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu has been a famous professional poker player for about 20 years and might well be the most visible celebrity in the game. This is partly due to his consistent outreach –– on YouTube, through virtual seminars, and via his own licensed game. But it’s also a result of the sheer volume of his success. According to Poker.org’s bio piece on Negreanu, he’s earned $42 million in public live tournaments, complete with an enviable six World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles.
Negreanu has gained quite a platform through all that success, and he’s never shy to speak about his personal life –– including his switch to veganism, which he has credited with boosting his energy. The poker star has shared some past favorite meals, and his protein- and fiber-rich lunch salad caught our eye. With a base of spinach and lentils, Negreanu adds avocado, apple, pistachio, and cranberry to create a textured, healthy, and filling mix.
3 – Billie Eilish
At just 20 years old, Billie Eilish has become one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the world. She became the first woman to sweep the four major Grammy categories at 18 (best album, record, song, and new artist) and has since recorded more best-selling material –– as well as a Bond film song that won her an Academy Award.
In her personal life, Eilish is a climate and animal advocate and has taken to veganism as a means of lowering her carbon footprint. And as part of the lifestyle, she’s even released her recipes for vegan treats –– including cookies! One of her go-to recipes calls for a mixture of light brown sugar and peanut butter (1 cup each), with vanilla extract, non-dairy milk, baking soda, salt, and oat flour mixed in (and chocolate chips added later). It’s a simple list of ingredients with which one can produce some simple and delicious cookies.
4 – Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming is a revered Broadway actor who is best known to fans of the stage. He’s won multiple Olivier Awards and famously snagged a Tony for his work on Cabaret –– though a profile on Cumming at NPR.com points out that he’s also been celebrated for his television work, winning Emmys and Golden Globes for his role on The Good Wife. He has also been nominated recently for another Tony (for A Strange Loop).
Known to be a vegan due to his deep love of animals, Cumming has been known to cook up “stovies” (Scottish potato-based dishes) for theater casts at times. His go-to recipe combines olive oil, garlic, a significant amount of onion, large potatoes, soy and Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper. And by all accounts, his castmates love it!
There are, of course, thousands of great vegan recipes out there. But we hope these examples from prominent members of the vegan community have given you some good ideas for healthy meals that will fill you up without requiring that you overeat!
