When did the Lewis Hamilton Vegan Diet Begin?

Published 10/05/2019, 5:23 AM EDT

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For the past few years, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has been on a vegan diet. Veganism has been on the upsurge in the past few years and a number of well-known people have adopted it. Since then, there have been zero regrets on implementing the Lewis Hamilton vegan diet

The sudden change in his diet came during the 2017 Formula One season. Hamilton said that he and other F1 drivers typically enjoy a bowl of porridge for breakfast. However, he admitted that sometimes he opts for baked beans on toast. Vegan pancakes are another favorite of his.

Now, it seems that the Lewis Hamilton vegan diet is spreading and quite quickly too. He recently partnered a night club impresario to back a meat-free burger chain. The outlet is called ‘Neat Burger‘ and it will has just opened to the masses in London’s Regent Street.

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The Lewis Hamilton vegan chain even lined up restaurants in Covent Garden and Kings Cross. There are also plans for a US launch in 2020 and the aim to open 14 outlets around Europe within the next two years.

According to co-investor Ryan Bishti, “We are not aiming for vegans or a plant-based niche, we are aiming to convert meat eaters. We are part of a movement happening when you look at the world today in the Amazon with deforestation for crops and agri-farming. This is a perfect way to make a change.”

The chefs of the Lewis Hamilton vegan chain spent 10 months working with the Los Angeles-based company Beyond Meat. At it turns out, the idea was to develop their own patty based on the US company’s plant-based burger mix.

Beyond Meat, which makes burgers based on pea protein from yellow peas and uses beetroot juice to ooze or “bleed”, joined the US stock market in May and its shares have since climbed 150%, valuing the business at nearly $10bn.

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The consumer goods giant Unilever even bought the meat substitute company the Vegetarian Butcher, while Greggs is working on vegan versions of all its bestselling products, from steak bakes to pasties and doughnuts, after the success of a vegan sausage roll.

Hamilton, who stopped eating meat in 2017, has a significant stake in Neat, according to Bishti, who is the majority owner of the business with Chiabra.

If there’s one thing Hamilton misses, it’s Nutella. He recently said, “I miss Nutella. I miss sweets but now I know what’s in that stuff, it’s gross.” 

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Despite avoiding dairy, Hamilton doesn’t have to miss out on the chocolatey hazelnut spread. This is because, German brand Vego launched a vegan Nutella-like spread earlier this year.

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Written by:

Dhruv George

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Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.
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