Understanding Why Does Carrie Underwood Not Eat Meat?

October 2, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2017 interview with SELF magazine, Carrie Underwood's journey to vegetarianism began at age 13 after a profound experience on her family's farm. This article explores why does Carrie Underwood not eat meat? by examining the ethical origins of her choice, its evolution over time, and her modern approach to a primarily plant-based lifestyle.

Quick Summary

Carrie Underwood's dietary choice to not eat meat stems from a pivotal childhood event, evolving over the years from firm vegetarianism to a flexible, primarily plant-based approach balancing animal welfare with personal health.

Key Points

Ethical Beginnings: Carrie Underwood stopped eating meat due to a traumatic childhood experience on her family's Oklahoma cattle farm, leading her to embrace vegetarianism.
Health and Wellness Focus: Her initial ethical choice evolved to include personal health, a desire for strength, and setting a good example for her children, especially after she found earlier restrictive diets unsustainable.
Flexible Plant-Based Diet: She follows a primarily plant-based diet, describing herself as a "wannabe vegan" because she occasionally eats animal products like eggs and cheese, often from her backyard hens.
Balance Over Perfection: A key part of her philosophy is pursuing balance and consistency rather than restrictive perfection, acknowledging the difficulties of maintaining a strict vegan diet, especially while touring.
Mindful Eating: Underwood advocates for simple, whole-food eating and tracks her macronutrients, focusing on nourishment rather than deprivation.

The Ethical Roots of Her Meat-Free Lifestyle

Carrie Underwood’s decision to stop eating meat is deeply personal and began during her childhood in Oklahoma. On her family's cattle farm, a young Carrie witnessed the neutering of calves. This event, and the realization that these animals would one day become food, was deeply impactful. As she explained to SELF magazine, "it just freaked me out and that was that". This traumatic experience led her to eliminate beef from her diet at 13.

Her commitment to animal welfare continued to grow. When she moved away from Oklahoma around the age of 21, she became a full-fledged vegetarian. Over time, she has also become an outspoken animal rights activist and a supporter of organizations like PETA and the Humane Society. Her hometown animal shelter is even funded by her own C.A.T.S. (Checotah Animal, Town and School) Foundation.

Evolution to a 'Wannabe Vegan' and Health Motivations

While her diet's foundation is ethical, it has evolved to incorporate health and fitness goals. After her American Idol win, Underwood faced online scrutiny about her weight, leading her to experiment with more restrictive dieting. This phase was ultimately unsustainable, and she credits guidance from a trainer and nutritionist for helping her find a more balanced approach. Her focus shifted from simply being a certain size to feeling strong and healthy.

Today, Underwood often refers to herself as a “wannabe vegan”. The label reflects her flexible, primarily plant-based diet, which occasionally includes animal products. A notable exception is the eggs she consumes from her backyard chickens, a choice that has sometimes drawn criticism from strict vegan circles. For Underwood, this approach is about finding balance and consistency rather than striving for perfect adherence, especially when balancing her busy schedule, family, and touring.

Comparison: Earlier Diet vs. Current Plant-Based Approach


Aspect	Earlier Diet (Post-American Idol)	Current Diet (Primarily Plant-Based)
Primary Motivation	Public image, weight scrutiny	Overall health, longevity, and animal welfare
Dietary Philosophy	Restrictive, focused on low calories	Balanced, mindful eating, sustainable approach
Calorie Intake	Insufficient; she admits her body was "screaming for more carbs"	Adequately fueled; she tracks macronutrients (e.g., 45-30-25 ratio)
Exercise Role	Heavy on cardio, sometimes overdone	Balanced mix of strength training and cardio
Food Choices	Often focused on weight loss, could be repetitive (e.g., quesadillas and pasta on tour)	Diverse, whole-food options; tofu scrambles, vegan sandwiches, roasted vegetables
Flexibility	Less flexible, more strict	High flexibility, allowing occasional exceptions (eggs, cheese)

Typical Plant-Powered Meals

Underwood's daily food choices are a testament to her balanced, clean-eating philosophy. Here’s a snapshot of what her meals might include:

Breakfast: A tofu or egg-white scramble with Ezekiel toast, accompanied by fresh berries and coffee.
Lunch: A nutrient-dense vegan sandwich featuring Tofurky, avocado, spinach, tomato, and mustard.
Snacks: Portable and healthy options are key, such as a green smoothie or a protein bar.
Dinner: Roasted vegetables with vegan chicken or a flavorful tofu stir-fry.
Indulgences: She allows for treats in moderation, like dark chocolate or a glass of red wine.

She emphasizes keeping things simple and avoiding ultra-processed foods. This mindful approach has helped her build a positive, long-term relationship with food, moving away from the restrictive mindset of her younger years.

The Role of Family and Public Reception

Carrie's family life adds another layer to her diet. While she avoids meat, her husband and children do not follow the same diet. This creates a balancing act, such as her admission to canning meat for her children’s tacos, a choice that caused some confusion among fans. Her experience highlights that individual dietary decisions don’t always translate to the entire family. She is open about this compromise, showing that her path is a personal one rather than a strict mandate for everyone around her.

The public reaction to her diet is mixed. While many fans are inspired by her dedication to health and animal welfare, some in the vegan community feel that her occasional consumption of eggs and dairy undermines the movement. Her honesty about not being 100% vegan, however, also provides a relatable and realistic perspective on a demanding dietary lifestyle.

Conclusion: A Sustainable and Ethical Choice

Ultimately, the question of why does Carrie Underwood not eat meat? has a multi-faceted answer. What began as an ethical choice rooted in a childhood experience has evolved into a sustainable lifestyle that benefits her overall health, fitness, and longevity. Her “wannabe vegan” approach allows for flexibility and balance, acknowledging the challenges of a strict diet while on the road. Rather than aiming for perfection, she focuses on consistency and making mindful, healthy choices. Her journey provides an inspiring example of how a personal conviction can evolve into a holistic approach to nutrition and wellness. For more insights into her health philosophy, you can explore resources like her book, Find Your Path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Carrie Underwood follows a primarily plant-based diet and describes herself as a 'wannabe vegan'. She eats mostly whole, unprocessed foods but occasionally includes animal products like eggs and cheese for balance, especially when traveling.

Yes, Carrie Underwood’s decision to become vegetarian was prompted by a traumatic childhood event on her family's cattle farm, where she witnessed a procedure that made her realize the animals would be used for meat.

No, Carrie Underwood is not a strict vegan. While she is committed to a mostly plant-based diet, she admits that a 100% vegan lifestyle is challenging for her, particularly when traveling.

She uses the term "wannabe vegan" to describe her aspirational, but not perfectly consistent, plant-based diet. It reflects her commitment to the philosophy while acknowledging that she doesn't always adhere to it strictly due to practical reasons, like her consumption of eggs from her backyard chickens.

Carrie's family does not follow her diet. She has publicly stated that her husband enjoys meat, and she has canned meat for her children's tacos. Her choice is a personal one, and she accommodates her family's different dietary preferences.

Underwood has stated that eating without meat makes her body feel and function better. Her shift towards a balanced, nutrient-dense plant-based diet helped her transition away from an earlier, overly restrictive diet and achieve her long-term health and fitness goals.

To manage her diet on tour, Carrie Underwood often brings her own food and makes frequent trips to grocery stores to prepare for her meals. She prefers healthier packaged meals, like vegetarian burritos, over fast food takeout.