Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has featured in Beyond Meat's latest campaign after noticing "such a difference" in his sporting performance thanks to plant-based foods.
Professional footballer Romelu Lukaku has joined Beyond Meat’s latest campaign, Go Beyond, promoting the plant-based brand to his 8.6 million followers.
The 28-year-old Chelsea striker, who also plays for Belgium’s national team, The Belgian Red Devils, is the first European athlete to join a roster of international ambassadors for the brand.
Beyond Meat’s other ambassadors include Shaquille O’Neal, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, Leonardo DiCaprio, Maya Moore, Snoop Dogg, and Jessica Chastain.
In a video shared on social media, Lukaku can be seen tucking into a plate of Beyond Sausage and mash in a Chelsea pub.
In the caption, Lukaku is quoted as saying: “I discovered that food can completely change my training performance and mindset…
“Since changing my eating habits, I’ve noticed such a difference. Over time I’ve really understood how eating more plant-based food, like Beyond Meat, can seamlessly fit within my routine.”
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But is Romelu Lukaku vegan?
Lukaku does not describe himself as vegan, but he is taking steps to include more plant-based meals in his diet for his health and performance as an athlete.
This is according to an interview, in which he also said: “I think a lot of players are incorporating more plant-based meals as they help us achieve a more balanced lifestyle.”
In an official Beyond Meat statement, Lukaku was quoted as saying: “I think this is an opportunity to help people see an alternative to meat and maybe change their diet.
“From my time in Italy, diet became a big part of my daily life. I understood that food can completely change my training performance and mindset. I found out that I had a digestive problem that I didn’t know about before, and since changing my eating habits, I’ve noticed such a difference.”
“You don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian to go beyond meat,” he added.
Want to know how a plant-based diet can fit into your athletic lifestyle? Read our nutrition tips for active vegans.
Image credit: Robin Jones/Getty Images
