Here’s What the Nutritionists Have to Say About Simon Cowell Ditching Vegan Diet

In August, the TV personality Simon Cowell, unfortunately, broke his back while riding his new electric bike in the courtyard of his home in Malibu, California. While he had been adhering to a plant-based diet, in light of the accident—which required a metal rod being inserted into his back—he reportedly switched back to eating animal products to regain weight, per The Sun. Previously, Cowell had lost over 60 pounds following a vegan diet after a health scare, but it seems the diet has disappeared from his life for now.

American-British singer, and pal of Cowell’s, Sinitta Malone told the outlet in an October 25th scoop “He’s gained a bit of weight and is looking healthier. He said he had to start eating protein, calcium and break his vegan diet to rebuild his strength.” While we’re all for Cowell regaining his strength—and of course support his following the advice of any trusted medical advisers if this explains his diet shift—we can’t help but wonder if this is truly the best move.

In fact, following a vegan diet can support healthy weight gain and flood your body with nutrition so long as you follow a plant-based diet focusing on whole foods. “Cowell could have definitely stuck to the vegan diet post his accident to stay strong and healthy. It is a huge misconception that you will not obtain enough protein on the vegan diet,” says Bansari Acharya, MA, RD, adding that such high-protein choices include hemp seeds, tofu, tempeh, beans, legumes, and nuts.

Bonus: “Along with protein, these foods are also high in other nutrients that aid in improving energy levels and improving health outcomes. For example, walnuts and hemp seeds are an excellent source of protein but also contain essential omega-3 fatty acids,” she says. “As long as you are making smart choices, a vegan diet can be even more beneficial in providing strength and nourishment back into the body post an accident.”

Explaining the potential rationale behind Cowell ditching his plant-based ways, Amanda A. Kostro Miller, RD, LDN, who serves on the advisory board for Fitter Living, suggests that it could have been on the advice of his medical team. “Even though many people are avid vegans, there can be a time and place where it may be necessary to break your diet pattern in the name of better health. This is the same for other diets and eating rules as well. For example: When a malnourished person needs to gain weight, often the primary goal of nutrition care is to get that person to a healthy weight, by using high calorie-high fat foods that may have saturated fat and sugar (think Ensure shake),” she offers.

“In Cowell’s case, perhaps his medical team prioritized his health needs and suggested liberalizing his diet to include animal foods. Since there were reports of fatigue and weakness (not clear how he was before the accident) he may have had some nutritional deficiencies from an inadequate vegan diet. Vegan diets can be complete, well-rounded and healthy if done correctly…[Cowell] could have stuck with a vegan diet, especially if followed by a registered dietitian, but perhaps diet liberalization with non-vegan foods fit better with his recovery plan,” Kostro Miller continues. We’re not a fly on the wall in his doc’s office, so we have no way of knowing, but we certainly hope he ultimately goes back to his vegan ways.

Some healthy vegan suggestions should Cowell’s medical team support his plant-based lifestyle amidst his recovery? While the possibilities are virtually endless, Acharya has some thoughts for a mock meal plan to keep him fueled and eating a healthy, balanced vegan diet.

Breakfast: Vegan breakfast burrito (key ingredients - black beans, tofu, avocado, other veggies of choice)

Lunch: Vegan Cobb Salad (key ingredients - chickpeas, sunflower seeds, almonds, avocados, beets, quinoa, cucumbers, leafy greens, asparagus, cucumbers, chia seeds)

Dinner: Chickpea Curry with Brown Rice and Whole Wheat Roti Bread

Simon, if you’re reading this, we’ll totally join you for that bowl of chickpea curry, especially if it’s this creamy potato chickpea curry with tomatoes, onions, and fresh ginger. Here’s to hoping you continue to recover well, and we can win you back over to the plant-powered life.

Sir James Paul McCartney is no stranger to a meat-free life as he's been vegetarian for 45 years. He initially went vegetarian in 1975 with his first wife Linda McCartney and began his advocacy for animal rights.

If you find yourself constantly singing along to the song The Greatest, then you're already a Sia fan. Sia tweeted that she is "fully vegan now" back in 2014 and stays true to her word

Way back at the start of Grey's Anatomy, Sandra Oh took the cast out for a plant-based lunch at Truly Vegan in Hollywood. In her effort to inspire contemporaries to eat vegan, the TV star is known to invite her friends for vegan meals that are delicious. She adopted the vegan lifestyle years ago and continues to quietly live a cruelty-free life.

Giselle revealed that when she was at the peak of her modeling career, her diet consisted of "cigarettes, wine, and mocha Frappuccinos," according to an interview in People Magazine. Now 39 and the mother of two children, Gisele eats a "mostly" plant-based diet to nourish her body and stay fueled.

Alec Baldwin has made a bigger commitment to plant-based eating since he was first told by doctors that he was pre-diabetic and needed to change his diet. That was decades ago. But, over the last few years, he's been vocal about the benefits not only to his health but also the impact plant-based eating has on the environment.

Miley adopted a gluten-free diet back in 2012 for health reasons and two years later, committed to a vegan diet she still lives by today.

We all remember Pamela Anderson as the curvaceous blonde in the hit series Baywatch as she played Casey Jean in the red one-piece swimsuit that brought her world-class fame. She is a life-long active animal rights advocate and teamed up with PETA to join the Animal Protection Organization.

"We shouldn't eat as much meat guys," Kristen Stewart told GQ in an interview in January. The Twilight star has made a full 180 from vampire to vegan. When she appeared on the game show "Hot Ones" she chose to skip the wings and instead compete by eating increasing spicier sauce on vegan cauliflower wings.

This award-winning actor eats a high-protein diet consisting of only plants. Leto, who has been plant-based for 20 years, says it keeps him "shredded" in an interview. Now, 48, Leto looks half his age.

Jaden Smith switched up his diet from vegan to vegetarian, meaning that he doesn't eat meat but does eat dairy from time to time. In a recent article by Plant Based News, Smith admits he skipped meals and was not getting the proper nutrition when he was vegan, but this hasn't stopped him from espousing the plant-based life.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has never admitted to being fully vegan, but sources say, she eats a plant-based diet most days during the week. She is teaching Prince Harry vegan cooking and in a Plant-Based News article, Markle explained how she hopes to raise baby Archie on a mostly vegan diet.

As a professional athlete, fueling the body is a key factor to Willaim's successes. In a Bon Appetite article, she explained that she adopted a plant-based diet back in 2012, she was eating a lot "healthier" for her sister, Venus, who eats a strict vegan diet for health reasons.

The popular grocery store, Whole Foods Market sells vegan products and nonvegan products which arises black lash from ethical vegans as CEO John Mackey follows a strict vegan diet. The successful businessman grew up in Houston Texas and told Business Insider that he would traditionally eat processed foods for dinner while watching TV with his family. Now, Mackey steers clear from the processed isle and eats a clean vegan diet and feels amazing at the age of 65.

Jason Mraz, singer of the popular song, I'm Yours, committed to a vegan diet to support his friend diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Mraz says he eats mostly raw food and told magazine sources his favorite vegan dish is "Chocomole, a mixture of avocados, dates, cacao, agave nectar, and coconut oil."

Long time vegan, Leona Lewis grew up in a vegan household and continues to eat a plant-based diet. Lewis first adopted the diet at 12 when she learned about the health risks of eating animal products but told Women's Health Magazine she occasionally eats an omelet. She also mentioned her 2:30 lunch is normally a kale salad topped with dried cranberries and she loves a veggie stir-fry for dinner.

Hannah Teter changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how "horrible" factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed as an athlete and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games.

You may recognize Maggie Q as the star of the Nikita series, but in the plant-based world, she's well-known for her heroic activism. Maggie Q has followed a strict vegan diet for 19 years, making her a true veteran of the lifestyle. She made the plant-based diet transition because she felt sluggish and had low energy, she has said. The famous actress keeps in shape by eating veggies and plant-based protein and working out with a passion.

Winner of the first Masterchef vegan cook-off with Gordon Ramsay, Madelaine Petsch was raised vegetarian and went completely vegan at age 14. She claims that she started this diet before it was "trendy" and shot a campaign for PETA last year wearing a dress made of bok choy. Petsch says her vegan diet allows her to feel "healthier" and not "lethargic."

After doing a little sleuthing on her social media platforms we think Millie Bobbi Brown qualifies as plant-based. Whether or not she is actually skipping all meat and dairy, one thing is for sure: She eats mostly salads, vegetables and grains and lives a predominantly plant-based lifestyle full of healthy foods.

The grammy-nominated sisters went vegan for a week with their mom but liked it so much they decided to stick with it. For one thing, it helps keep their "voices in shape" by eating a vegan diet and they emphasize the fact that dairy helps to limit extra mucus build-up, according to a PETA interview.

Best known for her role as Lizzie Mcguire in the long-running series, Hilary Duff is a recent vegan advocate and entrepreneur. She recently launched the vegan and cruelty-free eyeshadow palette, "Day Dreamer" and changed her diet to plant-based last fall.