Natalie Portman Gives Up Vegan Diet

By Sarah Crow Posted Apr 11th 2011 10:00AM

Natalie Portman's pregnancy has brought about some interesting cravings for the health-conscious mom-to-be.

The former self-proclaimed "vegan activist" realized that continuing to live free of all animal products no longer suited her, Us Weekly reports.

Portman, who adopted a vegan diet after reading Jonathan Safran Foer's book, 'Eating Animals,' told Atlanta's Q100 Bert Show, "I actually went back to being vegetarian when I became pregnant, just because I felt like I wanted that stuff. I was listening to my body to have eggs and dairy and that sort of stuff."

The actress, who recently launched a line of vegan shoes with company Te Casan, said of the switch, "If you're not eating eggs, then you can't have cookies or cake from regular bakeries, which can become a problem when that's all you want to eat."

"I actually wanted eggs at the beginning and then they grossed me out after awhile," she says of her broadened diet. "I know there are people who do stay vegan," she added, "but I think you have to just be careful, watch your iron levels and your B12 levels and supplement those if there are things you might be low in in your diet."

So is the switch permanent? It seems likely that Portman, who is due this summer, may revert to her former diet after giving birth, considering her strong convictions.

"We are capable of considering others' minds and others' pain," she told the Huffington Post of others who favor a vegan lifestyle. "Whereas those who justify eating animals say the same thing: We are not them. They do not merit the same value of being as us. They are not us."

Tags: natalie Portman

Comments

(45)

Monday 11 April

By mw

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Where's the beef? After the nice weather we had this weekend, grilling steak and burgers, the beefs in my tummy. Yummy

By J

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"They do not merit the same value of being as us. They are not us."

But a cow isn't me. So it seems like a good argument.

By Party Bus DC

Here is Similar News

She’s preggers with her first child, and Natalie Portman has decided to give up her vegan convictions in favor of her baby cravings.

The “Garden State” babe explained, "I actually went back to being vegetarian when I became pregnant, just because I felt like I wanted that stuff. I was listening to my body to have eggs and dairy and that sort of stuff."

By Kat2988

Good, i can rest now.

By Andy

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Wake up, Natalie, and eat !!!!!!

By cmcdowell71

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Let me get this straight, so it's okay for these celebs to point fingers and call meat eaters "killers", but as soon as they have a craving,...All of a sudden it's okay. Yeah, got it. That's why I actually live my life on their rules.......NOT!!!!!

By Becca

She's not eating meat...she's switching from a vegan diet to vegetarianism..huge difference. Did you even read this article?

Tuesday 12 April

By lita

I just cant with some people. VEGETARIAN, this means she will not eat meat, and why should her diet bother you.

Friday 03 June

By Lindsey

Do you understand the difference between Vegan and Vegetarian? They are both different. Neither of them involve meat.

By barrio

Some of the healthiest people I know are vegan, and there are some very successful professional athletes that follow plant-based diets. Like an omnivore's diet, it's all in how you do it: if you eat healthy, you'll be healthy.
Having said that, I can't fault Portman and wouldn't stand between a pregnant woman and her cookie craving!

By MelindaWarren1

"We are capable of considering others' minds and others' pain," she told the Huffington Post of others who favor a vegan lifestyle. "Whereas those who justify eating animals say the same thing: We are not them. They do not merit the same value of being as us. They are not us."

Yeah right she value other beings to mush she stole another women's boyfriend!

By Bubbles

It is not healthy not to have a balanced diet and that means plenty of protein for muscle, hair, nails and whatever else. You would have to eat so many beans to get the amount of protein that you get from meat you would be an atomic (toot) bomb. No thanks.

By mary

such ignorance is not to be believed

By Jason

I actually just came off of a vegan diet as well. I ate a great balance of plant foods and supplemented with vegan vitamins and at first I felt incredibly healthy; however, after 3 months with no animal protein I began experiencing negative changes in my health: decreased endurance during exercise, constant hunger, mood swings, decreased muscle tone. All of these things were corrected when I became an omnivore again. There are certainly people who can maintain a vegan diet, but I am not one of them. From my experience, it is a great diet for a "cleanse" but does not promote optimal health in the long run. Kudos to Natalie for listening to her body!

blochuckles: you are uneducated. humans are not carnivores. if done properly, veganism is way to go!!

By blochuckles

Don't be insulting ME you stupid fool!

YOU need to educate YOURSELF!! Human beings are omnivores - eaters of both animals and vegetation! Look it up!

By milliebsp

Jeez mary in one post you say we're not omnivores, and in another post you say we're not carnivores! What, exactly do you think we are??? Sounds like YOU are the one who is uneducated!! Make up your mind!

By Beach Mama

This news saddens me. At a crucial time Ms. Portman decided to begin eating dairy. Casien is milk protein which science has proven grows cancer cells. Dairy is also full of toxins from our environment not to mention how the acidity of dairy wreaks havoc in our bodies. It's a personal choice I respect. I was not yet vegan when I was pregnant 16 years ago. It is the one time more than any that I wish I had been.

By hungry baby

Her blood work result was probably not within the normal range in some aspects. She was probably perfectly healthy when she wasn't pregnant and on a Vegan diet. Being pregnant is a whole new ball game she's finding out. Our bodies, heart, kidney etc. work harder. Our baby demands more food, more protein, more calcium, more sleep..a little more of everything. I wish her all the best. I'm glad she's listening to her body and I'm sure..her baby too.

Thursday 14 April

By Shannon

"We are not them. They do not merit the same value of being as us. They are not us."

You are not me, either, so by that logic it's OK if I kill you and consume your flesh.

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