Vegan convert Bate

FORMER Melbourne player Matthew Bate has written a book about his lifestyle change to vegan.

Bate, who played 102 games with the Demons between 2005-12, is the coauthor of 365 Days of Wholeness with his business partner Tegan Steele.

Test cricketer Peter Siddle, who famously stopped eating meat midway through his career, has endorsed the project.

Bate became passionate about nutrition after his playing career ended and he studied for a Bachelor of Science degree.

He now preaches a plantbased diet, which he says has turned his life around.

“For a long period I felt absolutely terrible,” Bate says. “I decided what I was doing was not sustainable and I started looking at more natural ways to increase energy and recovery.”