Dante Carrillo
Venus Williams is a tennis legend and entrepreneur with seven Grand Slam titles under her belt. She has been eating a mostly plant-based diet for years, having gone vegan in 2011 after being diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disease. Williams has said that her switch to a plant-based diet was one of the factors that helped improve her performance and health, allowing her to recover faster and alleviate symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, and fatigue. She has also found healthy swaps to satisfy her sweet tooth, such as juices, smoothies, and the occasional donut.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet Type | Plant-based, mostly vegan |
| Diet Start Date | 2011 |
| Reason for Diet | To help alleviate symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome |
| Example Meals | Shakes, fruits, green juices, smoothies, kale chips, vegan Caesar salads, lentils, potatoes, rice |
| Example Snacks | Clif bars, kale chips, green juice, smoothies, protein shakes |
| Supplements | Happy Viking Green-a-colada |
| Sweet Alternatives | Juices, smoothies |
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What You'll Learn
Venus Williams' diet includes protein shakes, smoothies, and juices
Venus Williams, the tennis champion, businesswoman, and American icon, follows a mostly raw vegan diet. She adopted this diet to help her recover from an autoimmune disease called Sjögren's syndrome, which she was diagnosed with in 2011. The syndrome caused her debilitating joint pain, swelling, numbness, burning eyes, digestive problems, and fatigue.
Williams' diet includes protein shakes, smoothies, and juices. She starts her day with a protein shake or smoothie, especially since she trains in the morning and does not want to eat a big meal. Her breakfast smoothie typically contains fresh berries and a scoop of her Happy Viking protein powder, which she created to help her feel replenished after a hard workout. She also has a strawberry milkshake with protein powder for lunch sometimes. Williams also drinks green juices, which she finds help curb her sweet cravings. She also has a Green-Colada smoothie, which she makes with pineapple, canned coconut milk, coconut oil, vanilla flavoring, and kale. She sometimes adds a rum or prosecco floater to this smoothie.
Williams also consumes protein shakes after matches, along with a plant-based milk and protein powder, followed by a real meal shortly after. She also has protein-rich meals like a kale and grilled chicken salad, and a Caesar salad with greens, tomatoes, and Caesar dressing.
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She eats lots of fruits and vegetables
Venus Williams has been a vegan since 2011 when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome. She realised that changing her diet could help alleviate her symptoms of debilitating joint pain and fatigue. She eats lots of fruits and vegetables and has also added potatoes, rice, and lentils to help round out her meals while remaining plant-based.
Williams is a big fan of fruits and juices. She usually starts her day with fruits or juice. She also makes a protein shake or smoothie with fruits like strawberries and mangoes. She adds a few dates for sweetness and dehydrated fruits to make it taste like ice cream. She also makes a "Green-Colada" smoothie with pineapple, canned coconut milk, coconut oil, a little vanilla flavouring, and kale. She sometimes puts a rum or prosecco floater on top.
Williams also eats a lot of vegetables. She often cooks a kale and grilled chicken salad for her dad, who is on a low-sodium diet. She also makes a quick and easy Caesar salad with kale, greens, tomatoes, and Caesar dressing. She packs in the protein on match days with sweet potatoes and rice. She also eats lentils, which are one of her favourite post-training meals.
Williams also snacks on vegetables throughout the day. She is often running from practices to meetings, so she looks for small but filling snacks that are easy to bring on the go. She likes kale chips, green juice, and smoothies. She also makes protein shakes, especially if she is coming straight from practice. In the evening, she usually has a salad for dinner, like a vegan Caesar salad.
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Williams' diet helps her manage her autoimmune disease
Venus Williams, the tennis legend, has been following a plant-based diet for years. She switched to a vegan diet in 2011 when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome. The disease caused various symptoms, including joint pain, swelling, numbness, burning eyes, digestive problems, and fatigue. Williams' vegan diet has helped her manage these symptoms and stay in peak physical shape.
Williams' vegan diet has improved her performance and energy levels, aiding her recovery from the extreme fatigue and body aches associated with her autoimmune disease. The diet has also helped her reduce inflammation, which is a key factor in managing autoimmune conditions. By eliminating animal protein, Williams has been able to recover faster and maintain her active lifestyle.
Williams' typical day on a plant-based diet includes shakes, fruits, smoothies, and protein bars. She makes her shakes with different flavored powders, such as strawberry protein powder and red mangoes, and adds dates for sweetness and fiber. She also enjoys green juices, smoothies, and protein shakes, especially after practice. Williams is a fan of Clif Bars, which are small but filling, and often snacks on kale chips, green smoothies, and kale salads.
For lunch or dinner, Williams might have lentils prepared by her mother or a vegan Caesar salad. She also includes cooked foods like potatoes and rice in her diet, recognizing the importance of sufficient calories, carbohydrates, and protein for athletic performance. Williams' diet is not just about restriction; she allows herself treats like donuts and occasionally adds a rum or prosecco floater to her smoothies.
Williams' sister, Serena, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, also follow a plant-based diet. Serena told Bon Appetit that she and Venus learned to eat lots of raw foods and smoothies together. Williams' entire family has embraced the plant-based lifestyle, and she co-founded the company Happy Viking, which offers plant-based superfood protein powders.
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She eats cooked foods like potatoes, rice, and lentils
Venus Williams is a self-described "chegan", a vegan who cheats. She follows a mostly plant-based diet, which she adopted in 2011 after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome. She realised that drastically changing her diet could help alleviate her symptoms, including joint pain, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Williams has found that a raw vegan diet is unsustainable, so she now eats cooked foods like potatoes, rice, and lentils. These foods help her get sufficient carbohydrates and protein, which are critical for sports performance. In an interview, she said, "Sometimes you just need something more substantial — some rice, some potatoes — after a workout." Lentils are also one of her favourite post-training meals.
Williams also enjoys making smoothies and protein shakes, such as her favourite strawberry mango shake made with strawberry protein powder, red mangoes, and dates for sweetness. She also takes supplements for an extra boost of wellness and nutrition. Her go-to smoothie is a Green-Colada, made with pineapple, canned coconut milk, coconut oil, vanilla flavouring, and kale. She also loads her snacks with greens and veggies, often snacking on kale chips in meetings.
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Williams has called herself a chegan, meaning she cheats on her vegan diet
Venus Williams, the tennis legend, has been eating a mostly plant-based diet for years. She has called herself a "chegan", meaning she is not a strict vegan and cheats on her vegan diet occasionally.
Williams switched to a vegan diet in 2011 when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome. She realized that drastically changing her diet could help alleviate her symptoms, which included debilitating joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, and digestive issues. She chose to eat plant-based to recover her health and improve her athletic performance.
Williams has found that a vegan diet helps her reduce inflammation and provides her with more energy. However, she has also found it challenging to maintain a fully raw vegan diet, especially while travelling and training. As a result, she has added some cooked foods to her diet, such as potatoes, rice, and lentils, to help round out her meals and ensure she is getting enough calories and nutrients.
In addition to her plant-based meals, Williams also enjoys snacks and treats. She is a fan of Clif Bars, kale chips, green juice, and smoothies. She also satisfies her sweet tooth with healthy swaps, such as juices or smoothies with a rum or prosecco floater. Williams emphasizes that it's all about moderation and finding a balance that works for her.
While Williams mostly sticks to a vegan diet, she doesn't shy away from the occasional cheat. She has been known to indulge in treats like donuts and granola with almond milk. Her honest approach to her diet, acknowledging that she is not perfect and it's okay to be imperfect, is reflected in her self-proclaimed title of "chegan".
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Frequently asked questions
Venus Williams follows a mostly plant-based or vegan diet. She has also referred to herself as a "chegan", meaning she cheats on her vegan diet from time to time.
Venus Williams was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disease with symptoms like joint pain, swelling, digestive problems, and fatigue. She chose to eat plant-based to recover her health, and she says it worked so she stuck to it.
Venus Williams usually starts her day with a shake or fruit. She trains in the morning and doesn't like to eat a big meal before that. Her favourite shake is a strawberry mango shake with strawberry protein powder, red mangoes, and dates for sweetness. She also likes to add dehydrated fruit to make it taste like ice cream. She also enjoys green juices, smoothies, and protein shakes. For lunch or dinner, she might have lentils, and she often has a vegan Caesar salad. She also snacks on kale chips, green juice, smoothies, and protein shakes.
Venus Williams says that her diet has helped her improve her performance and recover from her autoimmune disease. She says that she recovers faster on a plant-based diet compared to when she ate animal protein. She also says that her diet helps her reduce inflammation.
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