Former All Black Eroni Clarke gives the 100% Vegetarian Challenge a try

Eroni Clarke is taking the team approach to his  latest goal, cutting out animal products from his and his family’s  diet. The ex-All Black cites his health as the main reason he’s giving a  vegan diet a go. When he was at the height of his career in the early  2000s, he weighed 103kg. But since then, his love of carbs, Island food  and takeaways meant he packed on another 50kgs.

While food is central to his Samoan culture, so is family, which is  why Clarke has signed up for SAFE’s 100% Vegetarian Challenge. “I think  the challenge for me was really seriously thinking about ‘am I going to  be around to enjoy the next 40, 50 years of my life with my children and  grandchildren?’ Obviously I’m getting close to my 50s now and that’s a  big question,” he said.

Clarke started changing the way he ate on the first day of World  Vegetarian Month and he’s enjoying the positive effects. “I’m not  hungry!” Clarke jokes. “It’s tasty. I’m seeing a whole new side to food.  It’s great and it’s healthy. I have so much more energy.”

In addition to his family, Clarke has the support of his colleague  who is also a fellow Samoan and is sticking to a food plan to help stay  on track.

Like Eroni, thousands of Kiwis from around the country have pledged  to change their habits and create a kinder world for animals, one meal  at a time. World Vegetarian Month is the perfect opportunity to give it a  try. Our 100% Vegetarian Challenge provides six weeks of supportive  emails filled with tips, recipes and advice on nutrition and eating out.

Not only can eating an exclusively plant-based diet protect our  health, it is also better for the environment and the best way to help  animals. 

Do Good, Feel Great!

• Take the 100% Vegetarian Challenge and order your FREE 100% Vegetarian Guide to get started