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.
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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.”
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
