Is Novak Djokovic Vegan or Vegetarian? Unpacking His Plant-Based Diet

December 15, 2025 •

4 min read

Over a decade ago, after experiencing a mid-match collapse due to physical issues, Novak Djokovic drastically changed his diet, leading many to question, 'Is Novak Djokovic vegan or vegetarian?'. He now follows a strictly plant-based, gluten-free diet but has distanced himself from the vegan label, preferring the term 'plant-based'.

Quick Summary

Novak Djokovic adheres to a strict, predominantly plant-based and gluten-free diet, but prefers not to use the 'vegan' label. This nutritional change was vital for his career and overall health, born from a diagnosed intolerance and focusing on whole foods.

Key Points

Predominantly Plant-Based: Djokovic adheres to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and actively avoids most animal products.
Not Self-Identified Vegan: He has publicly stated that he prefers not to be labeled 'vegan' to avoid misinterpretations of his health-focused motivations.
Gluten and Dairy-Free: His dietary shift was triggered by diagnosed intolerances to both gluten and dairy in 2010, which he credits with revitalizing his health.
Focused on Performance and Longevity: His primary motivation for his diet change was to optimize his performance, increase his energy, and improve his recovery times, rather than solely for ethical reasons.
Emphasizes Whole Foods: The core of his diet is centered on unprocessed, nutrient-dense whole foods, with an avoidance of refined sugar and processed items.
Part of a Holistic Approach: His diet is one piece of a larger wellness puzzle that includes intermittent fasting, yoga, meditation, and other recovery techniques.
Inspiration for Others: His remarkable success following his dietary changes has inspired many, including other athletes, to explore plant-based eating.

In 2010, at the height of his career, a troubling pattern of mid-match collapses and fatigue plagued Novak Djokovic, threatening his position as a top tennis player. Following a 2010 Davis Cup tie, a Serbian nutritionist and holistic practitioner, Dr. Igor Cetojevic, identified a severe gluten and dairy intolerance through a series of tests. This discovery served as the catalyst for one of the most significant dietary transformations in professional sports history, moving Djokovic away from animal products and towards a performance-optimized, plant-based regimen.

The Discovery and the Shift

From Pizza to Plant-Based

Growing up in a family that owned a pizzeria, Djokovic was accustomed to a diet rich in pasta, bread, and cheese. The diagnosis of gluten and dairy intolerance was a shocking wake-up call that forced him to rethink his entire relationship with food. He eliminated these products from his diet for just two weeks and immediately felt a profound difference, reporting better sleep, increased energy, and a lighter feeling. When he intentionally ate a bagel after the trial period, the old symptoms of lethargy and fatigue returned, solidifying his commitment to the change. This was the 'X factor' that unlocked his body's potential, moving him towards his record-breaking success.

The Move Away from the 'Vegan' Label

Despite his diet consisting of 100% plant-based foods, Djokovic has publicly expressed his preference for not being called 'vegan'. The term 'vegan' often carries associations that he feels may be misinterpreted or don't fully capture his holistic health philosophy. His primary motivation appears to be performance and wellness rather than a purely ethical stance, though he has acknowledged the ethical and environmental benefits. His involvement as an executive producer in the documentary The Game Changers, which highlights the performance benefits of a plant-based diet for athletes, further illustrates this focus.

Contrasting Djokovic's Diet with Other Dietary Approaches

Djokovic's specific diet is a fine-tuned machine built for peak athletic performance, distinct from the broader categories of veganism and vegetarianism. While both of the latter have health benefits, they may not include the strict gluten and dairy-free components that are crucial for Djokovic. His diet is characterized by an emphasis on whole, unprocessed foods and specific supplements.


Aspect	Novak Djokovic's Diet	Vegetarian Diet (Standard)	Vegan Diet (Standard)
Animal Products	Avoids meat, dairy, eggs. Occasionally includes fish/seafood (though this is disputed and less common in his current regimen).	Excludes meat, poultry, and fish. Includes dairy and eggs.	Excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs.
Gluten	Strict gluten-free due to intolerance.	Can include gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, and rye.	Can include gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, and rye.
Dairy	Strict dairy-free due to intolerance.	Includes dairy products such as cheese, milk, and yogurt.	Excludes all dairy products.
Processed Foods & Sugar	Largely avoids processed foods and refined sugar.	May include processed vegetarian options and refined sugars.	May include processed vegan options and refined sugars.
Primary Motivation	Optimized performance and longevity due to health intolerances.	Personal health, ethical reasons, or cultural background.	Ethical, environmental, and health reasons.

The Components of Djokovic's Daily Fuel

Djokovic's dietary regimen is a testament to meticulous planning and discipline. His day begins with a foundational routine that prepares his body for the intense demands of his training and matches.

Morning Ritual: A glass of warm water with lemon helps detoxify his body and kickstart his metabolism. He often follows this with a glass of celery juice.
The Power Bowl: A daily breakfast of mixed seeds, nuts, gluten-free muesli, berries, and bananas, blended with rice or almond milk, provides a consistent and powerful energy source.
Light Lunch: His lunchtime meals are typically based on gluten-free pasta (quinoa or buckwheat) combined with a variety of vegetables like arugula, broccoli, and sun-dried tomatoes. He uses healthy oils and sometimes a plant-based 'cheese'.
Protein-Rich Dinner: Despite a history of eating some fish or white meat, his dinner is now primarily plant-based, featuring lentils, chickpeas, or other legumes paired with steamed vegetables. Earlier accounts also mentioned salmon and chicken, but more recent information emphasizes the strictly plant-based approach since 2016.
Strategic Snacking: For quick energy, he relies on dates, apples with cashew butter, or homemade hummus with gluten-free crackers.
Hydration: Constant hydration is key, and he focuses on water and electrolyte-rich drinks during workouts.
Honey: He has also been known to consume two spoonfuls of manuka honey daily for its anti-inflammatory properties and natural energy.

Conclusion

While the answer to "is Novak Djokovic vegan or vegetarian?" isn't a simple yes or no, his diet is clearly and intentionally plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free. The decision, catalyzed by a physical health issue, evolved into a high-performance lifestyle and philosophy that he attributes much of his success to. By meticulously controlling his nutrition and prioritizing whole foods, Djokovic has not only overcome past physical limitations but has also demonstrated the incredible potential of a well-planned, plant-centric diet for elite athletes. His journey serves as a powerful testament to the impact of personalized nutrition on achieving physical and mental excellence.

For more insight into the world of plant-based athletes, you can explore the documentary The Game Changers in which Djokovic was involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Novak Djokovic does not identify as a vegan. While his diet is almost entirely plant-based and he avoids animal products, he has publicly stated that he prefers not to be labeled vegan.

Novak Djokovic follows a predominantly plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free diet. It is focused on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and gluten-free grains.

Djokovic changed his diet after being diagnosed with a gluten and dairy intolerance in 2010. The intolerance caused mid-match fatigue and breathing issues, which his new diet successfully eliminated.

Yes, Djokovic has stated that he used to eat meat, but found it was hard on his digestion. Some older reports or his book from 2014 mentioned he occasionally included fish or white meat, though his regimen has become stricter since then.

Djokovic credits his success to a holistic approach to wellness, of which his personalized diet is a key component. The gluten and dairy-free, plant-based plan significantly improved his energy levels, recovery, and overall health.

Dr. Igor Cetojevic, a nutritionist, was instrumental in diagnosing Djokovic's gluten and dairy sensitivities in 2010. He helped guide Djokovic toward the dietary changes that transformed his career.

Djokovic largely avoids processed foods, refined sugars, and caffeinated drinks. He instead opts for natural sweeteners like manuka honey and dates for energy.