Tag Archives: Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton & His Vegan Diet Make an Impression on AARP’s Joe Conason

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After nearly dying from heart problems arising from years of a meat-heavy diet, former US president Bill Clinton was forced to make a change. His doctors recommended he eliminate all the meat and dairy from his diet. He has said that he was at first reluctant to do so, but gradually removed all the animal products from his diet — and now he’s thrilled with his diet and his newfound health.

Joe Conason of AARP magazine recently met (and dined) with President Clinton, and found the vegan meal and conversation was an eye-opening (and even mouth-watering) experience for him:

When Bill Clinton invited me to lunch in May, I knew better than to expect fried catfish or barbecued ribs. The former president is now a devoted vegan… and he has pursued a healthier way of life for more than three years. While I figured our lunch menu might be bland, that would be a small price to pay for private time with a world leader who is anything but.

As it happens, the fit, trim and sharply attired Clinton, whom I’ve come to know well during more than two decades covering his career, is his usual gregarious, charismatic self. But a bland menu? Not even close.

And President Clinton was happy to tout the benefits of his new diet:

I’ve stopped eating meat, cheese, milk, even fish. No dairy at all.” He smiled and yanked on his waistband. “I’ve lost more than 20 pounds so far, aiming for about 30 before Chelsea’s wedding. And I have so much more energy now! I feel great.

You can read the full article at the AARP website here.

Advice on Going Vegan from the New York Times

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Like many other omnivores, New York Times health columnist Tara Parker-Pope was inspired by former US President Bill Clinton’s journey from a deadly, meat-centric, junk-heavy diet to a life-saving vegan one. “After all,” she writes, “if a man with a penchant for fast-food burgers and Southern cooking could go vegan, surely I could too.”

As many new vegans do, Ms. Parker-Pope found that merely modifying her favorite animal-based dishes with processed, plant-based imitations of the meat and dairy products was often unsatisfying. Instead of giving up, though, she dug deeper and struck gold. Speaking with many vegans, including vegan chefs and authors, and trying their suggestions, she discovered the richly rewarding world of creative vegan cuisine and found new dishes she liked even better than her old meat and dairy favorites.

In her new article in the New York Times, she describes her journey and offers some mouth-watering menu ideas with links to recipes that passed her own taste tests. She also provides a list of recommended replacements for animal ingredients such as butter, eggs, and cheese, including a discussion of the uses for nutritional yeast.

Most seasoned vegans will agree with her conclusion that going vegan is a learning process with many rewards along the way. The most successful transitions to a vegan diet are those that embrace the journey as a process of exploration and discovery. We applaud Ms. Parker-Pope for going for it, and for sharing her story with the world.

You can read the full article on the New York Times website here.

Have you written about your own learning on the path to a vegan diet and lifestyle? If so, you can share it on our Facebook page.