Is Drew Barrymore Still a Vegetarian? Her Journey to a Flexitarian Diet

December 26, 2025 •

4 min read

Drew Barrymore, the actress, talk show host, and entrepreneur, was famously a lifelong vegetarian until her mid-twenties. Today, she has shifted her diet to a more flexible approach, which she has openly discussed in interviews and on her talk show. This journey reflects a common evolution for many people navigating food choices over time and prioritizing overall wellness.

Quick Summary

Drew Barrymore no longer follows a strict vegetarian diet, identifying instead as a flexitarian who eats primarily plant-based meals with the occasional inclusion of meat. This change follows a lifelong vegetarian and vegan history and is influenced by her focus on sustainable and family-friendly eating.

Key Points

Not a vegetarian: Drew Barrymore currently identifies as a flexitarian, meaning she eats a mostly plant-based diet but occasionally includes meat.
Childhood vegetarian: Barrymore was raised as a vegetarian from a young age but began eating meat again in her mid-twenties.
Advocates for plant-based foods: While not strictly vegetarian, she is a passionate advocate for plant-based eating and promotes meatless alternatives.
Partners with Quorn: She serves as the Chief Mom Officer for the plant-based meat brand Quorn, celebrating accessible and delicious meatless options.
Embraces balance: Her current philosophy prioritizes balance over rigid rules, focusing on sustainable and healthy eating for herself and her family.
Advocates for wellness: Barrymore links her dietary approach to her overall mental and physical wellness, emphasizing progress over perfection.
Features plant-based content: Her talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, often features segments on plant-based cooking and alternative ingredients.

Drew Barrymore's Dietary History: From Vegetarian Childhood to Flexible Adulthood

Drew Barrymore's relationship with food has been a public topic for many years. She was raised in a vegetarian household, a lifestyle that was a constant throughout her childhood. Her upbringing as a "crunchy California girl" ingrained a deep appreciation for plant-based foods from a young age. However, her dietary choices have evolved, moving from strict veganism to her current identity as a flexitarian.

The Shift Away from Strict Vegetarianism

Around the age of 26, after attempting to maintain a vegan diet, Barrymore reintroduced some animal products back into her diet. This decision was influenced by the limitations she felt at the time, particularly with fewer plant-based options available decades ago compared to today. Later, during a period of weight loss, she again incorporated lean protein like chicken and fish, showing a willingness to adapt her eating habits based on her health goals. The demands of her career, life changes, and the desire to find a sustainable and balanced approach to eating have all played a role in this transition.

Embracing a Flexitarian Lifestyle

Today, Barrymore is a self-proclaimed flexitarian. This means her diet is predominantly plant-based, but she is not strictly bound by vegetarian or vegan rules, occasionally consuming meat. This approach allows her to enjoy a wider variety of foods while still prioritizing her health and environmental concerns. As she told VegNews in 2022, she hasn't eaten chicken in years but was delighted to find meatless chicken alternatives from the brand Quorn, for which she serves as Chief Mom Officer.

A New Partnership with Quorn

Barrymore's partnership with the meatless brand Quorn, which began in 2021, is a direct reflection of her modern dietary philosophy. She promotes the brand's fungi-based mycoprotein products as a delicious and accessible way to enjoy meat-free meals. Her work with Quorn is not just a celebrity endorsement but an extension of her personal beliefs, aligning with her long-standing passion for vegetarian food and wellness. The partnership emphasizes that adopting a more plant-forward diet is a journey, and Barrymore advocates for finding options that work for individuals rather than adhering to rigid rules.

Her Daily Eating Habits

While Barrymore's diet is flexible, it remains grounded in healthy, plant-forward choices. Her routine often includes a variety of colorful, nutrient-dense foods. Here's a look at some of her preferences:

Breakfast: Starts the day with lemon water and a probiotic. Often enjoys avocado toast or savory options like a breakfast salad with an egg.
Lunch: A meal on the go might consist of a grain bowl, veggie burrito, or a salad.
Snacks: Enjoys healthy snacks like hummus and vegetables, or cheese with fruit.
Dinner: Loves cooking and preparing meals like salmon and veggies, but also enjoys takeout.

Barrymore's Advocacy and Wellness Philosophy

Beyond her personal diet, Barrymore has used her platform to advocate for a more compassionate and balanced approach to food. On her talk show, she has featured segments on plant-based alternatives and egg substitutes, demonstrating a genuine interest in making healthy, meat-free options more accessible. Her message is one of empowerment and progress, encouraging others to find what works for them without judgment. She has openly discussed her own struggles with body image and weight fluctuations, framing her approach to diet and exercise as a journey toward feeling better, rather than a quest for perfection.

Comparison of Drew Barrymore's Diets


Aspect	Childhood/Early Adult Vegetarianism	Current Flexitarian Diet	Reason for Shift
Protein Sources	Strictly from plants, eggs, and dairy (lacto-ovo vegetarian).	Primarily plant-based, with occasional inclusion of meat, fish, or poultry.	Increased availability of tasty plant-based alternatives and a desire for more flexibility.
Dietary Flexibility	Little to no flexibility, adhering to strict guidelines.	High flexibility, allowing for a balanced, less restrictive approach.	Finding a sustainable and enjoyable long-term eating plan, and accommodating for family.
Focus	Primarily animal welfare-driven.	Holistic wellness, including mental health, balanced nutrition, and environmental consciousness.	Personal growth and a broader understanding of overall well-being.
Challenges	Limited food options, difficulty maintaining strict diet.	Navigating personal health goals with cravings and lifestyle factors.	Adaptability and finding a balanced, sustainable routine.

The Evolution of Drew Barrymore’s Diet

Drew Barrymore's path from a lifelong vegetarian to a flexitarian is a testament to the fact that dietary choices can and do change over a lifetime. Her public journey mirrors a larger cultural trend toward embracing more plant-forward eating without the rigidity of a strict label. By partnering with plant-based brands like Quorn, she actively promotes a message of accessible and enjoyable meat-free alternatives. This encourages her audience to consider their food choices from a compassionate, health-conscious, and practical perspective, moving away from all-or-nothing thinking about diet. Her evolving food philosophy highlights a focus on feeling good, managing weight sustainably, and finding a positive, long-term balance.

Conclusion

No, Drew Barrymore is no longer a strict vegetarian. She transitioned from a childhood vegetarian and temporary vegan lifestyle to now identifying as a flexitarian. Her current diet is primarily plant-based but includes occasional meat, fish, and chicken, aligning with her focus on balance, health, and sustainable eating. Through her talk show and partnerships with brands like Quorn, she promotes an inclusive approach to food that prioritizes wellness without strict dietary rules. Her journey serves as an example of how one’s eating habits can evolve, and that a predominantly plant-based diet can still be balanced and sustainable in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Drew Barrymore is not a strict vegetarian. She identifies as a flexitarian, consuming a primarily plant-based diet but occasionally including meat and fish.

Yes, Drew Barrymore was raised as a vegetarian throughout her childhood.

Barrymore stopped being a strict vegetarian and vegan due to the difficulty of maintaining the diet, especially in the early 2000s when plant-based alternatives were less widely available. She prefers a more flexible approach for balance.

A flexitarian diet emphasizes plant-based foods while allowing the occasional consumption of meat, poultry, or fish. It focuses on a flexible approach to eating rather than strict restrictions.

Drew Barrymore became the Chief Mom Officer for Quorn in 2021. In this role, she promotes the brand's fungi-based, meatless products as a convenient and delicious alternative for families.

While Barrymore has explored a vegan diet in the past, she found it difficult to maintain and does not currently follow a strict vegan diet. She advocates for plant-based eating through her flexitarian lifestyle.

Her diet is balanced and healthy, featuring plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, whether plant-based or animal-based. She often enjoys smoothies, salads, and meals featuring meatless products from Quorn.