Why is Beyoncé no longer vegan? Singer followed a vegan diet to prepare for her Coachella 2018 performance

Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, have always been huge advocates of plant-based healthy diets and have practiced their preachings time and time again in the past.

Beyoncé's encounters with veganism started in 2013 with her husband, where the two followed a meal-planning regime started by Beyoncé's friend, Marco Borges. In 2018, she again took to veganism to help the pop icon get back in shape after her pregnancy so that she could be in her best health before her performance at Coachella 2018.

However, Queen Bey is no longer a vegan and has never adhered to that diet rigidly in the past. She is an opportunistic follower of a plant-based diet to prepare herself physically before any significant event. In 2020, Beyoncé had to switch to taking fish (Omega3) and other non-vegetarian items citing that her brain would malfunction otherwise (according to a report by Marca).

Beyoncé commented about sticking to a vegan diet in a December 2022 interview with People:

"I am 100% sure I won’t stick with it once the challenge is done, but I’ll hopefully remember some valuable lessons of being more mindful of what you’re eating, planning your meals in advance and getting more than the daily recommended dose of fruits and veg."

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Beyoncé went full vegan as part of her preparation for Coachella 2018

2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Weekend 1 - Day 2 (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella )

Beyoncé went full vegan for a total of forty-four days before her performance at Coachella 2018. The 42-year-old had already had to cancel her Coachella 2017 show because of pregnancy complications but was determined to put in her best the next year.

On her YouTube channel, she uploaded a video titled '22 Days Nutrition' on July 24, 2019, and gave fans a walkthrough of her entire weight-loss journey for Coachella. She explained how it all started when she stepped on the dreaded weighing scale, calling it 'every woman's nightmare.' Beyoncé stuck to the 22-day challenge devised by her friend and exercise psychologist, Marco Borges.

By the end of the video, Beyoncé showed her final transformation and excitedly told Borges that she could fit into her Wonder Woman costume.

Beyoncé made history at Coachella 2018 by becoming the first black woman to headline the event. Queen Bey's performance included an entire band from the HBCUs (Historically black colleges and universities), and a duet with her sister, Solange. She also sang with the members of Destiny's Child in an iconic reunion.

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What is the 22 Days Nutrition Challenge?

Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, have been following the 22 Days Challenge since 2013. First devised by exercise psychologist Marco Borges, the plan focused on building habits and slowly transitioning to a healthier lifestyle.

"On December 3rd, one day before my 44th birthday, I will embark on a 22 Days challenge to go completely vegan, or as I prefer to call it, plant-based! This all began a few months back when a good friend and vegan challenged me to embrace a 'plant-based breakfast' everyday. It was surprisingly easier on me than I thought," explained Jay-Z on his website in 2013.

Marco Borges established a company called 22 Days Nutrition that helps people across the globe develop healthy plant-based eating habits. The company focuses on the fact that we humans generally take 21 days to build a habit and going vegan for 21 days is the start of a healthier lifestyle for people.

In a video on the website, Marco Borges addressed the myths and fads connected with switching to a plant-based diet. The psychologist pointed out that people either go 'all or nothing' while attempting the dietary plan. In the quest to pull off such a paradigm switch, they lose motivation and give up because of the ordeal.

“I realised there was this negative connotation, that you had to go 100% in. It was all or nothing, and in reality it is not about that. 22 Days is about allowing people to define plant-based living in the way it works best for them, by allowing people to enjoy the beauty, the deliciousness, the colors, the richness and the love that comes from sharing the food,” explained Borges.

Thereafter, he zeroed in on the benefits of adopting a plant-based diet through his devised plan. Humans generally take 21 days to form a new habit and by the 22nd day, they are already well on their way to making it a part of their lifestyle. Borges explained that positive results in a person's weight-loss journey are noticed immediately after going green.

“What most people find when they adopt the plant-based diet is that they will immediately lose weight, it’s going to become effortless," explained the exercise psychologist.

In the same video, Beyoncé shared how the 22 Days Challenge helped her take gigantic leaps toward losing excess fat.

“I am not naturally the thinnest one. I have curves. I am proud of my curves and I have struggled since a young age with diets and finding something that actually works and keeps the weight off. Once I tried the 22 Day programme, I’m like; this is something I have to share with everyone,” shared the Renaissance singer.

This challenge usually comes with a meal planner that provides a comprehensive guide for every individual based on their lifestyle, needs, and medical history. The plan also features on-demand consultation with food coaches and dietary experts and the raw materials can even be delivered home straight from Amazon or Instacart.