Was Mike Tyson Vegetarian? Unpacking the Boxing Legend's Dietary Journey

January 11, 2026 •

3 min read

Mike Tyson, known for his ferocity in the ring, once dropped over 100 pounds after his retirement by switching to a plant-based diet. This fact leads many to wonder, 'Was Mike Tyson vegetarian?' The answer is more specific: he went vegan, an even more restrictive form of plant-based eating, for several years.

Quick Summary

Mike Tyson adopted a vegan, not vegetarian, diet post-retirement to improve his health and lose weight, before reintroducing meat on training days. His diet changed significantly over his career.

Key Points

Vegan, Not Vegetarian: Mike Tyson was a vegan, not vegetarian, during a specific period after his boxing career, which means he avoided all animal products, including dairy and eggs.
Post-Retirement Shift: He adopted a plant-based diet around 2010 to combat severe health problems and significant weight gain that occurred after he retired from boxing.
Health Benefits: His vegan diet helped him lose over 100 pounds, lower his blood pressure, and alleviate arthritis symptoms.
Prime Fighting Diet: During his professional boxing career, his diet was rich in animal protein, including steak, chicken, and pasta, to fuel his intense training.
No Longer Strictly Vegan: In preparation for recent events like the Jake Paul fight, he has reintroduced meat, such as bison and elk, into his diet on training days.
Adapting to Needs: Tyson's dietary changes reflect his evolving health and fitness needs, moving from a fighter's diet to a health-focused plant-based diet, and then a more performance-based diet.

From 'Iron Mike' to Plant-Based: The Dietary Evolution

Mike Tyson's diet has undergone a dramatic transformation throughout his life, reflecting significant shifts in his health, lifestyle, and fitness goals. During his prime as a world-champion heavyweight boxer, his diet was fueled by meat and high-calorie foods designed to support his intense training regimen. However, in his post-retirement years, he embraced a vegan diet to address serious health issues before transitioning to a more flexible approach recently. The assumption that Mike Tyson was vegetarian often stems from a misunderstanding of his well-publicized veganism.

The Heavyweight Carnivore: Tyson's Fighting Diet

During his most explosive years in the ring, Mike Tyson followed a diet packed with animal protein and carbohydrates to build and sustain his immense power. This was a classic 'fighter's diet' designed for maximum energy output and muscle recovery. A typical day's eating schedule under the guidance of his trainer, Cus D'Amato, included:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with fruit and a protein shake.
Lunch: Chicken breast, rice, and vegetables.
Dinner: Steak and pasta.
Snacks: Protein shakes blended with bananas for quick fuel.

This high-protein, carb-heavy approach fueled his grueling schedule, which could involve up to 60 hours of training per week. An interview revealed that he would even eat a steak and a chocolate bar for a quick sugar rush an hour before a fight. This starkly contrasts with the plant-based approach he would later adopt.

The Vegan Transformation: A New Path to Health

Following his retirement in 2005, Tyson's health declined, and his weight ballooned to nearly 400 pounds. He struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, high blood pressure, and arthritis. In 2010, seeking to turn his life around, Tyson made a monumental change and became a vegan. He credits this shift for dramatically improving his health, as he explained in a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

His transition to veganism helped him:

Lose over 100 pounds.
Lower his blood pressure.
Diminish the effects of arthritis.
Eliminate the congestion he felt from years of drug abuse.

His vegan lifestyle was also a reflection of his personal growth and a broader change in his outlook on life. In a 2019 interview with GQ Sports, he famously stated, "I don't eat anything that has a mother and father," reinforcing his commitment to a meat-free, plant-based lifestyle during this period.

Diet Comparison: Prime vs. Plant-Based vs. Current

To better understand the evolution of Mike Tyson's diet, here is a comparison of his different dietary phases.


Dietary Phase	Protein Sources	Primary Goal	Notable Foods	Animal Products Included?
Boxing Prime	Steak, chicken	High energy, muscle building	Steak, chicken, pasta, rice, protein shakes	Yes (Meat, milk, possibly more)
Post-2010 Vegan	Beans, legumes, vegetables, fruits	Health recovery, weight loss	Vegetable smoothies, fruits, legumes	No (Strictly plant-based)
Current (Training)	Bison, elk, vegetables	Athletic performance, strength	Wild game, vegetables	Yes (Wild game)

The Latest Twist: Reintroducing Meat

More recently, Tyson's dietary journey has taken another turn. As he prepared for his exhibition bout against Jake Paul, reports indicated he was no longer a strict vegan. He explained that he has reintroduced certain types of meat, like bison and elk, into his diet, specifically on training days. He noted that he feels stronger with the inclusion of animal protein for high-level athletic performance.

This shift demonstrates that Tyson's diet is not static but a dynamic process adapting to his life's circumstances and physical demands. The move back towards incorporating some animal protein, even if primarily for training purposes, highlights that his veganism was a period of his life rather than a permanent state.

Conclusion

So, was Mike Tyson vegetarian? No, he was famously vegan, which is a key distinction. For several years, he adhered to a strict plant-based diet that helped him overcome severe health issues and manage his weight after retirement. This period marked a profound personal transformation. However, his diet has been far from consistent, ranging from the high-protein intake of his boxing prime to his more recent, flexible approach that includes meat for athletic performance. His dietary story is a complex one, not simply a 'vegetarian' label, and it reflects his evolving needs throughout his incredible and challenging life.

Outbound Link

For more details on Mike Tyson's health journey and vegan diet transition, you can read the report from ABC News following his interview with Oprah Winfrey: Mike Tyson Goes Vegan to Flush Drugs, 'Bad Cocaine'.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Mike Tyson is not a vegetarian. While he was a strict vegan for a period, he has since reintroduced meat into his diet, particularly on training days.

He went vegan around 2010 to address severe health issues, including high blood pressure and arthritis, which he developed after retiring and gaining significant weight.

During his prime boxing career, Mike Tyson's diet included high-protein animal products such as steak, chicken, and protein shakes, alongside carbs like rice and pasta.

Yes, during interviews leading up to his fight with Jake Paul, he stated he had started eating meat again, specifically wild game like bison and elk, on training days.

Tyson credited his vegan diet with helping him lose over 100 pounds, reducing his blood pressure, and alleviating his arthritis symptoms.

No, despite his strict training diet during his boxing career, Tyson was known to enjoy cheat meals, including ice cream and his favorite cereal, Cap'n Crunch.

The key difference is that Tyson's vegan diet strictly excluded all animal products, including dairy and eggs, while a vegetarian diet typically only excludes meat.