What Does Taraji P. Henson Eat? A Look at Her Plant-Based Lifestyle

December 24, 2025 •

3 min read

After receiving a serious health warning from a doctor about her persistent stomach pains, actress Taraji P. Henson made a pivotal change to a plant-based lifestyle, which fundamentally altered what does Taraji P. Henson eat on a daily basis for improved health and well-being.

Quick Summary

Taraji P. Henson follows a mostly plant-based, gut-friendly diet, incorporating intermittent fasting and mindful indulgences. Her regimen prioritizes whole foods, supplements, and hydration to maintain her energy and overall wellness after a significant health scare.

Key Points

Health-Driven Diet: Taraji P. Henson adopted a plant-based diet after a doctor warned her about stomach cancer risk.
Veganism for Gut Health: Her diet focuses on vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fermented foods to heal her gut and reduce inflammation.
Intermittent Fasting: She practices intermittent fasting, often breaking her fast around 11 a.m. with a supplement-rich protein shake.
Mindful Indulgence: While her diet is disciplined, she practices moderation and enjoys treats like cheesecake, pasta, and her grandmother's Southern cooking on occasion.
Refined Sugar Replacement: She avoids white sugar, opting for natural alternatives like honey, agave, and coconut sugar in her diet.
Personal Chef Support: To stay on track, she works with a personal chef, Chef Mundi Griffin, for healthy, balanced meals.

Taraji P. Henson's Dietary Transformation

Taraji P. Henson's journey toward a plant-based diet was not a choice made for trendiness but a necessity prompted by a serious health scare. Following persistent stomach problems, a doctor's stark warning about the risk of stomach cancer spurred her to re-evaluate her entire diet. This was the turning point that led her to adopt a mostly vegan lifestyle, focusing on foods that support gut health and reduce inflammation. Her story is a powerful reminder of how food can dramatically impact one's health and the motivation that can come from a serious wake-up call.

The Shift to a Plant-Based Diet

For Henson, transitioning to a plant-based diet meant saying goodbye to processed foods and embracing a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. This dietary shift, along with eliminating alcohol, has been credited with noticeable health improvements, including losing 13 pounds. Her focus isn't just on what to remove, but on what to add to enrich her body's natural healing capabilities. This includes a heavy emphasis on gut-friendly foods like fermented vegetables and probiotics, which have helped restore her gut flora and alleviate the stomach issues she once faced. She has even admitted to occasionally enjoying a home-cooked meal from her grandmother, showing that balance and personal joy are still key parts of her regimen.

Intermittent Fasting and Morning Rituals

Part of Henson's wellness routine includes intermittent fasting. She typically delays her first meal of the day until around 11 a.m. to regulate her appetite and support fat metabolism. This morning fast is often broken with a nutrient-dense protein shake. Taraji has shared the precise recipe for her power-packed shake, which includes a blend of supplements aimed at boosting immunity and overall health.

What's in Taraji's Daily Shake?

Vitamin C
Iron
Elderberry powder
Spirulina
Collagen

Balancing Indulgence with Moderation

Despite her strict and disciplined approach to eating, Henson is a proponent of mindful indulgence and moderation. She acknowledges her love for food and doesn't believe in total deprivation. She has been open about enjoying treats and comfort foods on occasion, balancing them with her otherwise healthy eating habits.

Some of her favorite indulgences include:

Pasta and Cheesecake: Classics she enjoys in moderation.
Grandma's Cooking: Her grandmother's Southern-style barbecue chicken, collard greens, and Brunswick stew are cherished comforts.
Vegan Treats: Her fiancé (at the time), Kelvin Hayden, enjoyed the vegan treats she made, showing healthy eating doesn't mean sacrificing flavor.
Zancou Chicken: A beloved local spot for her, proving her diet isn't all fine dining.
Homemade Macaroons: Made with coconut oil, coconut, and vanilla extract, replacing refined sugar.
Italian Cuisine: She enjoys fresh, less-processed ingredients like langoustines and pasta when in Italy.

Taraji's Diet Before vs. After Her Health Scare

To better understand the magnitude of her dietary shift, here is a comparison of what Taraji P. Henson ate before and after her life-altering health event.


Feature	Before Health Scare	After Health Scare
Primary Focus	Comfort foods, processed items, quick meals	Plant-based, whole foods, gut health
Meat/Dairy	Included in diet (e.g., grandmother's chicken)	Excluded, follows vegan principles
Sugar	Refined sugars were a favorite	Replaced with natural sweeteners like agave and coconut sugar
Fasting	No mention of structured fasting	Practices intermittent fasting (e.g., 11 a.m. protein shake)
Alcohol	Included, specifically mentioned beer	Avoided for health benefits, contributed to weight loss
Gut Health	Ignored, leading to persistent issues	Targeted with fermented foods, probiotics

The Role of a Personal Chef

To maintain consistency and ensure her nutritional needs are met, Taraji has enlisted the help of a personal chef, Chef Mundi Griffin. This collaboration helps her prepare healthy, balanced meals that align with her dietary goals, removing the daily stress of meal planning and cooking. However, even with a personal chef, she still enjoys cooking, like making her special chili for friends.

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Wellness

Taraji P. Henson's diet is not just about what she eats, but about a holistic approach to well-being that connects nutrition, fitness, and mental health. Her health scare became a catalyst for a positive life change, proving it's never too late to prioritize your health. By adopting a plant-based, gut-focused diet, incorporating intermittent fasting, and managing indulgences, she serves as an inspiration for proactive wellness. For those interested in adopting a more plant-based approach to eating, research into veganism and its health benefits is a great place to start.

One Green Planet provides excellent resources for those interested in a plant-based diet

Frequently Asked Questions

Taraji P. Henson became vegan after a doctor warned her she was at risk for stomach cancer if she didn't change her eating habits. This health scare motivated her to adopt a plant-based diet to improve her gut health.

Yes, Taraji P. Henson has mentioned that she practices intermittent fasting, often delaying her first meal until around 11 a.m. This helps her manage her appetite and metabolism.

According to interviews, Taraji P. Henson's morning protein shake is packed with supplements, including vitamin C, iron, elderberry powder, spirulina, and collagen.

While she follows a largely plant-based diet, Henson maintains a philosophy of moderation. She has admitted to enjoying occasional indulgences and her grandmother's non-vegan cooking.

Taraji P. Henson has shared her love for a variety of foods, from Italian langoustines and pasta to her grandmother's Southern barbecue chicken and Brunswick stew. She also enjoys mindful indulgences like cheesecake and homemade macaroons.

Taraji P. Henson avoids refined, white sugar, which she calls 'the devil.' Instead, she opts for natural sweeteners like honey, agave, and coconut sugar for her treats.

Taraji P. Henson works with a personal chef named Chef Mundi Griffin, who helps her prepare balanced, healthy meals that align with her plant-based dietary requirements.