Is Shailene Woodley Vegan?
At present, there is no evidence to suggest that actress Shailene Woodley has adopted a plant-based diet or vegan lifestyle. She is, however, an environmental activist and is a board member for the political action committee ‘Our Revolution’.
Over the years, Shailene has been very vocal about her thoughts on diet, meat consumption, environmental issues, American politics, and climate change. This article looks into who Shailene Woodley is and her approach to living an ethical, cruelty-free lifestyle.
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Who is Shailene Woodley?
Shailene Diann Woodley was born on the 15th of November 1991, in San Bernardino, California. She is predominantly known for her work as a TV and film actress, as well as her activism for environmental and political issues.
Her acting career began in 2011 when she appeared in The Descendants. Her perhaps most prominent work to date includes her appearance in A Fault in Our Stars and the popular drama series Big Little Lies, in which she was nominated for an Emmy in 2019.
In her spare time, Shailene loves to read (Anais Nin being her favorite author), cook, and hang out with her dog.
Embed from Getty ImagesPolitical & Environmental Activism
All it Takes
Shailene is a keen advocate for environmental and climate issues.
In 2010, she co-launched a non-profit organisation called ‘All it Takes’, which was designed to help educate young people to “practice empathy, compassion, responsibility, and purpose in hopes to foster sustainable, positive change for themselves, others and the environment.”
Dakota Access Pipeline
She also took part in the well-documented protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline (the controversial underground petroleum transport pipeline) in 2016, which made for a global news story.
During this protest, she was arrested for ‘criminal trespassing’ and sentenced to a year of probation.
The protest around the pipeline was down to many people believing that the government funding for the pipeline should have been spent on renewable energy production and research instead. The pipeline also violated the rights of Native Americans in that area. Her arrest and conviction have not thwarted her efforts towards activism.
Our Revolution
‘Our Revolution’ was formed in 2016 and was borne of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign. Despite the unsuccessful result of the campaign, ‘Our Revolution’ continues its work to this day.
During the campaign, ‘Our Revolution’ raised $1.3 in support of ballot measures and candidates.
The purpose of the organization is to educate voters about issues, as well as to inspire people to get involved in the political process, and work to organize and elect progressive candidates. The organization’s name was inspired by the book of the same name written by Sanders.
How Environmental Activism & Veganism Correlate
Environmental activism and veganism go hand in hand because the two are often tied by the support of animal rights, welfare, and habitat.
While Shailene isn’t known to be a vegan, her approach and care for issues such as environmental protection and climate change is commendable. While she has always cared about environmental issues, she credits Bernie Sanders for opening her eyes to the link between environmental welfare and politics:
“I always considered myself a grassroots activist, someone who did things from the ground because I felt like the government was never paying attention to what we did.
…I was anti-political, and [then] Bernie Sanders came into the scene and into the picture and what he made me realize was that all issues that I care about are political.”
Embed from Getty ImagesSupporting Plant-Based Products
In an interview in 2019, Shailene expressed her support in cutting down meat consumption and how it correlates with positive environmental impact:
“When it comes to meat consumption, a lot of deforestation is to create cattle farms. So how do we, as a corporate society, talk about cutting down our meat consumption?”
She is also a keen supporter of the fashion designer Stella McCartney, who does not use leather, fur, or feathers in her work, which Shailene has vocally expressed her approval of.
In 2020, she invested in a plant-based company called Good Catch, which have created a plant-based alternative to tinned tuna chunks:
“As an advocate for conservation, our planet, and its oceans, I work with organizations around the world to help combat climate change and protect our oceans from pollution. That’s why aligning with Good Catch feels like a natural extension of my continued work.
They are a like-minded brand that is doing their part to have a positive impact on our oceans and our planet, all while creating delicious plant-based seafood alternatives. I’m excited to see what innovative products they come up with next.”
What Shailene Eats
Shailene has been vocal in interviews and on her social media about her love of food. Due to her environmental support, she is regularly asked in interviews if she is vegetarian or vegan.
So far the answer has always been a ‘no’. She has said, however, when she does eat meat that it is locally-sourced and organically raised.
“I’m not a vegan, but … if I eat meat, it’s only organic, but beyond organic — like only 20 chickens on the farm instead of 900. And I actually go to the farmers and order directly from them.”
Conclusion
“I’m not vegan or vegetarian.”
While many omnivores claim that eating locally-raised beef, poultry, and fish is better for the environment and less cruel than factory farmed meat, the fact of the matter is animals are often killed at a very young age for the purpose of their meat.
An example would be chickens, which are often killed when they’re only six weeks old. Chickens not killed for this purpose are known to live up to eight years.
While her efforts for the environment and support of plant-based meat replacement products are a good start, we hope Shailene will soon realize that she doesn’t need any animal products in her diet and in her life in general.
Adopting a vegan lifestyle is in the best interest of the animals, the environment, and her own health.
