What Diet Is Gabrielle Union On? Inside Her Health and Wellness Plan

January 11, 2026 •

3 min read

After experiencing a sudden 27-pound weight gain during perimenopause, Gabrielle Union consulted a hormone specialist and adopted a specific eating plan. The diet that Gabrielle Union is on is an anti-inflammatory plan that is primarily plant-based, but also allows for occasional treats.

Quick Summary

Following a sudden weight gain attributed to perimenopause, Gabrielle Union shifted to an anti-inflammatory diet under a specialist's guidance. Her eating habits focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods, being 'almost vegan' with regular vegetables, fruits, and lean protein, while allowing for balanced indulgence. She emphasizes hydration and a mindful, non-obsessive approach to food and fitness.

Key Points

Anti-Inflammatory Diet: After experiencing perimenopause-related weight gain, Gabrielle Union adopted an anti-inflammatory diet, eliminating gluten, dairy, alcohol, and excessive sugar.
Almost Vegan: Her eating style is predominantly plant-based, featuring a high intake of vegetables, fruits, and healthy grains.
Focused on Hydration: She maintains a rigorous hydration schedule, drinking a gallon of water each day and aiming to consume half of it by noon.
Mindful Indulgence: Union believes in balance, allowing herself to enjoy favorite foods like bacon or cheeseburgers occasionally without feeling guilt or stress.
Prioritizes Healthy Habits: Instead of strict deprivation, her philosophy focuses on consistent, healthy habits, such as eating whole foods and exercising, while being forgiving of herself for splurges.
Consulted a Specialist: Her dietary shift was guided by a hormone specialist to address her specific health issues during perimenopause.

Gabrielle Union's Anti-Inflammatory Approach

In recent years, Gabrielle Union has been candid about her health journey, particularly her experience with perimenopause and how it impacted her body. A key turning point was working with a hormone specialist, who recommended she adopt an anti-inflammatory diet. This eating plan is less about strict rules and more about focusing on foods that reduce inflammation in the body and listening to her body's specific needs. This shift marked a fundamental change from previous, less sustainable diets she had attempted.

Core Tenets of Union's Diet

Gabrielle Union's nutritional strategy is built on several key principles that prioritize overall wellness and hormonal balance. Unlike short-term fads, her diet is a holistic lifestyle that includes hydration, mindful eating, and balanced indulgences.

Almost Vegan: While not strictly vegan, Union's diet is heavily plant-based. She includes a high volume of vegetables, and her go-to meal plan often features colorful, wholesome ingredients.
Avoiding Inflammatory Foods: On her anti-inflammatory plan, she consciously avoids certain foods that can trigger inflammation. These include dairy, gluten, excessive sugar, and caffeine.
Prioritizing Hydration: Union stresses the importance of drinking a gallon of water daily, a habit she adopted in her mid-thirties. She even offers a tip for making it manageable: drinking half by noon.
Lean Protein and Healthy Fats: While her diet is plant-heavy, she does consume meat occasionally. She focuses on lean proteins and healthy fats, paying close attention to portion sizes.

A Typical Day of Eating for Gabrielle Union

Based on what she has shared, here is an example of what Gabrielle Union might eat on an average day:

Breakfast: A vibrant, seasonal fruit platter often featuring fruits like mango, kiwi, and blueberries. She sometimes adds gluten-free pancakes with fresh fruit and maple syrup.
Lunch: A nutrient-rich salad is a common midday meal. She's mentioned enjoying a salad with collard greens, shaved fennel, arugula, and avocado with a champagne vinaigrette dressing.
Snacks: Healthy, homemade options like peanut butter energy bites, made with ingredients such as hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, and rolled oats, are among her favorites.
Dinner: While many of her meals are plant-based, she does enjoy meat sometimes. A sample dinner shared was cabernet sauvignon braised short ribs with a garlic cauliflower puree and roasted vegetables.

The Role of Balance and Indulgence

One of the most relatable aspects of Gabrielle Union's diet is her philosophy on indulgence. She avoids being obsessive about her food choices and understands that balance is key to a sustainable lifestyle. Instead of denying herself, she allows for an occasional treat and simply adjusts her habits the following day, such as increasing her water intake. This mindful approach allows her to enjoy favorite foods like bacon or cheeseburgers without guilt.

Comparison: Union's Diet vs. Restrictive Diets

Gabrielle Union's diet stands in stark contrast to many popular and highly restrictive plans. Her approach prioritizes listening to her body, a long-term mindset, and mental well-being over rigid adherence.


Feature	Gabrielle Union's Approach	Restrictive Fad Diets
Primary Goal	Reduces inflammation, balances hormones, and promotes overall wellness.	Rapid, short-term weight loss.
Sustainability	Designed for long-term lifestyle changes and consistency.	Often unsustainable due to strict rules and deprivation.
Flexibility	Allows for occasional indulgences and treats without guilt.	Highly restrictive, often demonizing certain food groups entirely.
Focus	Emphasizes whole foods, hydration, and listening to the body.	Relies on calorie counting, specific food timing, or elimination.
Mental Health	Promotes a healthy relationship with food and reduces anxiety around eating.	Can lead to feelings of deprivation, stress, and anxiety.

Conclusion: A Balanced and Mindful Lifestyle

Ultimately, the diet Gabrielle Union is on is not a one-size-fits-all plan but a personalized, mindful approach to health and wellness. By adopting an anti-inflammatory, plant-heavy style of eating, and consulting with health specialists, she successfully addressed symptoms related to perimenopause. Her philosophy of finding a healthy balance and not obsessing over food is an inspiring takeaway. The core pillars of her plan—hydration, whole foods, and a kind, forgiving attitude toward herself—are powerful tools for anyone seeking a more sustainable and healthy eating routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

While Gabrielle Union's diet is heavily plant-based and described as 'almost vegan,' she does occasionally eat meat and allows for other indulgences, such as bacon.

She altered her diet to address sudden weight gain and hormonal imbalances she experienced during perimenopause, after consulting with a hormone specialist.

Her diet limits or cuts out gluten, dairy, alcohol, and excessive caffeine to help reduce inflammation.

Gabrielle Union drinks a gallon of water daily, a habit she adopted to improve her overall health.

A typical breakfast for her includes a seasonal fruit platter, or sometimes gluten-free pancakes with fresh fruit.

Yes, she embraces balance and allows for occasional cheat meals, such as a cheeseburger or bacon, without feeling obsessive or stressed about it.

In addition to her diet, she stays active with workouts that include Pilates and strength training, focusing on consistency and listening to her body.

Her meals often consist of salads with leafy greens and lean protein, along with healthy snacks like energy bites. She has also shared recipes for meals like braised short ribs.