Page 21 - Vegan Life - Issue 59 (February 2020)

If people can see that I can

complete 10 Ironman Triathlons

in 10 days, then that speaks

a lot to those who think that

vegans are weak

We catch up with plant-based athlete and chef, Matt Pritchard

ormer pro-skater, MTV Dirty Someone told me to watch Cowspiracy, previous diet — however, as soon as my
Sanchez daredevil, ultra-athlete and the next day I changed everything. digestive system got used to the change
Fand passionate vegan chef, Matt I suppose you could say that the I was more stable. My health became better,
Pritchard, has an expansive skillset. documentary changed my life — I haven’t my fitness excelled and my triathlon time
With two cook books under his belt (the looked back since and don’t plan on doing became faster. All positive things!
latest released in December 2019), and so either. More than anything, I’m an
as the presenter of the BBC’s first-ever animal lover and always have been, and Why do you think some people
vegan cookery show, Dirty Vegan, Matt that made me think, why the hell did I eat are still averse to veganism?
makes plant-based food accessible them for so many years?! I just put it down to cognitive dissonance.
and exciting, using his laid back style to Guilt normally triggers anger, and laziness
appeal to the masses. We chat to him is a big problem for it, too.
about why he went vegan, how it afected “Someone told me to
his performance as an athlete, and his watch Cowspiracy, and In your opinion, what is the best
upcoming projects. way to promote veganism?
the next day I changed
I tend to just let what I do in life do the
Tell us about your vegan journey. everything. I suppose talking. I very rarely do preachy posts
Almost four years ago, I started to realise you could say that the on social media, as the backlash of abuse
that a lot of endurance athletes were on documentary changed is a little too much for me, although
a vegan diet. I began researching why I don’t have anything against others doing
this was and, in the process, educating my life — I haven’t looked it. If people can see that I can complete
myself on veganism. All of this opened back since” 10 Ironman Triathlons in 10 days, then
my mind and made me question my food that speaks a lot to those who think that
decisions and the cruelty I was feeding and vegans are weak. I also give advice when
supporting, something you don’t really Did you notice any changes to people ask and if that helps then that’s
think about until you look into it. From your health and fitness? great news. You can talk to some people
birth I was told how milk is good for you, Yes I did — I lost a bit of weight at first, but about veganism until you’re blue in the
and that meat is part of a balanced diet I guess I’m putting that down to my body face, and you will not get anywhere with
— all of which I now know is utter rubbish. getting rid of the fatty build up from my them! At the end of the day, you can’t ›

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