Zendaya’s love for animals changed her diet

Zendaya and Zac Efron being interviewed. PHOTO: MTV International

Zendaya, a popular actress and singer in recent years, has been a vegetarian since she was nine years old. Her dietary choices are closely tied to her love for animals and a personal preference for a plant-based lifestyle.

Zendaya’s Diet Journey

Zendaya’s vegetarian diet isn’t just about health–it’s a reflection of her ethical and personal values.

Despite her busy lifestyle with roles in major productions like “Spider-Man” and “Euphoria,” she manages to maintain her vegetarian diet by making smart choices, even when eating out at fast-food restaurants.

Zendaya at 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards. PHOTO: Nicole Alexander

She’s known for creatively navigating menus to find vegetarian-friendly options that still satisfy her taste buds.

What Zendaya Eats

While Zendaya enjoys a variety of vegetarian dishes, she also indulges in treats like ice cream, her favorite dessert. Interestingly, she is not a big fan of vegetables, which she admits makes her dietary choices a bit challenging.

However, she compensates by including other nutrient-rich foods in her meals. For breakfast, she might skip traditional choices and go for something simple like Nutella with pancakes and berries.

RELATED: Here’s why Zendaya’s Avocado Pasta recipe went viral

Lunch often includes quick and convenient foods like ramen noodles, which she prefers to keep vegetarian. Dinner might be something light like a homemade seasonal salad or a rice dish with vegetables.

Zendaya at the premiere of ” Spiderman: Far From Home” in Hollywood, 2019. PHOTO: Glenn Francis

Zendaya’s approach to food is flexible and balanced, allowing her to enjoy both healthy meals and occasional indulgences. Her ability to maintain a vegetarian diet despite her hectic lifestyle and sometimes distaste for vegetables means she still keeps her commitment to her diet.

Zendaya’s Daily Diet

Zendaya, a popular actress and singer, has a distinctive approach to her diet. As a longtime vegetarian she goes for plant-based choices and occasionally bites into some favorite treats.

Her diet is a balance between health-conscious decisions and the joys of comfort food, making her meal choices interesting and relatable for many of her fans. Take a look at a typical day:

Zendaya’s has pancakes for breakfast occasionally. PHOTO: Stock image

Breakfast

Zendaya is not a typical breakfast enthusiast but when she does indulge, her go-to choice often includes a dash of Nutella. She prefers light breakfast foods like pancakes or berries, always with a layer of Nutella to start her day sweetly. This combination of grains and fruits provides a balanced mix of carbs and vitamins to fuel her busy mornings​.

Lunch is often ramen noodles. PHOTO: Stock image

Lunch

For lunch, Zendaya often opts for simplicity and convenience, especially on busy days. A frequent choice is ramen noodles with hot sauce, adjusted to be vegetarian. This meal shows her preference for quick, satisfying foods that fit her strict diet. That means that even her fast-food choices, like her beloved vegetarian ramen, go alongside her vegetarian lifestyle​.

A simple rice salad loaded with vegetables is her favorite. PHOTO: Stock image

Dinner

Dinner is where Zendaya likes to get more involved, often choosing to prepare meals herself when she’s not too tired. A typical dinner might include a hearty rice salad loaded with vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms, seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil for extra flavor. This meal not only fits her vegetarian diet, but also packs in nutrients important for her overall health​.

Coffee ice cream is a dessert indulgence. PHOTO: Stock image

Dessert

Zendaya’s all-time favorite dessert is ice cream. She has a particular fondness for Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream which she enjoys regularly. This treat shows that while she maintains a mostly healthy diet, she doesn’t shy away from enjoying her favorite sweets​.

A bag of chips is Zendaya’s snack go-to. PHOTO: Stock image

Snacks

Throughout the day, Zendaya enjoys snacking, particularly on set or during long working hours. Her snacks are varied but often include items like fresh fruit or the occasional bag of chips. These snacks provide quick energy boosts and help her stay focused during her demanding schedule​.

Zendaya at the “Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off ‘Shake It Up’, 2012. PHOTO: Mingle MediaTV

5 Food Quotes From Zendaya

“I’ll eat breakfast food, but it must have some Nutella on it: pancakes, berries, and Nutella.”
Zendaya describes her ideal breakfast, emphasizing her love for Nutella in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. (Eat This Not That)

“Don’t mess with me and my Haagen Dazs.”
In an Instagram post, Zendaya expressed her affection for Häagen-Dazs ice cream, underscoring her love for this particular dessert. (Eat This Not That)

“If you’re with me long enough, you will be eating ice cream on a daily basis and I just can’t help it. I call it the Zendaya diet.”
Zendaya shares her daily indulgence in ice cream, humorously naming it after herself, revealing her casual approach to dieting. (Spoon University)

“Think a vegetarian can’t go to basically any fast-food joint and order up a storm? Think again!”
From her own website, Zendaya discusses her ability to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle while enjoying fast food, highlighting her flexibility in food choices. (The Beet)

“I can have anything I want; that’s the beauty of ordering food.”
In a discussion about her dietary habits with Harper’s Bazaar, Zendaya talks about the convenience and satisfaction of ordering food to suit her tastes and vegetarian lifestyle. (The Everygirl)

Zendaya promotes the film Smallfoot for MTV UK, 2018. PHOTO: MTV International

Zendaya FAQ

Zendaya’s diet is frequently discussed due to her status as a vegetarian and her notable food preferences. Here’s a guide to some of the most common questions about her eating habits.

What foods does Zendaya prefer for breakfast?

Zendaya is not particularly fond of traditional breakfasts but enjoys pancakes with Nutella and berries when she does eat in the morning.

Does Zendaya have any food allergies?

There is no public information available that suggests Zendaya has any specific food allergies.

What is Zendaya’s favorite snack?

Zendaya loves snacking on ice cream, especially Häagen-Dazs coffee flavor, which she often treats herself to after long days.

What food does the star avoid?

The star avoids syrup on her pancakes and is not a fan of vegetables, though she is vegetarian.

How does Zendaya incorporate vegetables into her diet?

Zendaya finds creative ways to include vegetables in her diet, despite not liking them much. She often eats them in dishes where they can be blended with other flavors, like in her favorite rice salads.

What does Zendaya drink during meals?

Zendaya enjoys drinking juice with her meals, especially lemonade or orange juice, and avoids caffeinated beverages like coffee and soda.

Does Zendaya follow any specific dietary regimen?

Zendaya has been a vegetarian since she was nine years old, primarily for ethical reasons related to animal welfare.

What is Zendaya’s approach to cooking?

Zendaya admits to not being much of a cook and prefers ordering food or eating simple meals she can prepare quickly, like salads or instant noodles.

How does this star handle dining out?

Zendaya is skilled at navigating restaurant menus to find vegetarian options and enjoys exploring different vegetarian dishes when she eats out.

A vegetarian meal. PHOTO: Stock image

DIET VERDICT

Zendaya’s meals are a slightly modified Vegetarian Diet. Her consistent choice of plant-based meals, occasional indulgence in vegetarian fast foods, and overall avoidance of meat products is a typical vegetarian lifestyle.

This diet focuses on vegetables, grains, and occasional treats like ice cream, fitting her eating habits perfectly.

PHOTO: Stock image

What The Experts Say About Zendaya’s Diet Choices

Rich in Nutrients

Zendaya’s diet, which includes a variety of grains, fruits, and occasional nuts, provides a balanced intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Nutrition Foundation

Low in Saturated Fats

The vegetarian choices that Zendaya makes are generally low in saturated fats, which is beneficial for heart health. American Heart Association

High in Fiber

Zendaya’s preference for meals like salads and whole grains ensures her diet is rich in dietary fiber, supporting digestive health. Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Supports Weight Management

The high vegetable and fruit content in Zendaya’s diet helps maintain a healthy weight by providing satiety with fewer calories. Mayo Clinic

Reduces Disease Risk

Zendaya’s vegetarian diet can lower the risk of various diseases, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes, by avoiding processed meats and high-fat dairy products. Harvard Medical School

Bella Thorne (L) and Zendaya at the “Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off ‘Shake It Up’, 2017. PHOTO: Mingle MediaTV

3 Things You Didn’t Know About Zendaya

Zendaya’s Early Fashion Influence

From a young age, Zendaya was influenced by iconic styles, notably by dressing like Michael Jackson during a period of her life. Her unique fashion sense has since evolved, making her a trendsetter on red carpets and beyond.

Shakespeare Played a Role in Her Acting Development

Zendaya’s acting skills were honed through exposure to Shakespeare’s plays, thanks to her mother’s job at the Californian Shakespeare Theatre. She grew up watching plays and cites Viola from “Twelfth Night” as one of her favorite characters.

Zendaya’s Unique Ice Cream Habit

Interestingly, Zendaya enjoys eating ice cream with her teeth, a quirky trait owing to her lack of sensitivity in her teeth. This unusual way of eating ice cream is a fun fact that highlights her fearless approach to enjoying her favorite treat.