Marcus Daniell
The professional tennis player grew up on a Wairarapa farm, and recently became a vegetarian after an unforgettable meal in Japan.
When and why did you give up meat? I was in a sushi restaurant in Tokyo last year with some tennis players and one of them ordered whale sushi for the table. The idea of eating whale repulsed me. Afterwards, I questioned why I felt that way about eating whale but not such animals as pigs. Both are sentient beings with the capacity to suffer. I started researching the ethical and environmental issues of animal welfare and realised there is no valid argument for eating animals. So I stopped, and it’s been wonderful.
Are there other vegetarian tennis players on tour?
A lot of guys are trying it, or have tried it, and ask me how to get enough protein or energy. It’s very easy. Quite a few players are reducing their meat intake and working towards vegetarianism. And I had a brief chat with Venus [Williams] about it at the Australian Open when we were warming up. You’re competing with doubles partner Wesley Koolhof at Wimbledon. What do you eat before a match? I like light foods – rice, vegetables and tofu, for example.
What about after? I shake up some Nuzest Clean Lean Protein and have that with fruit or other quick carbs. That kick-starts the repair process. Then, after warming down and stretching, I’ll have a big meal.
What do you eat for breakfast? Today, I had Nuzest Good Green Stuff and Clean Lean Protein with propolis and water, a delicious pink lady apple, muesli with soy milk and a black filter coffee. If I’m training in the morning, I’ll have three to four eggs, sweet potato, spinach, sauerkraut and hummus instead of muesli.
What about for lunch? Today, I had sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, sauerkraut, hummus and scrambled tofu with turmeric.
What’s your favourite evening meal? I’ve been making delicious wraps – caramelised onion, sautéed mushrooms, spinach, tomato, hummus and seitan [wheat gluten protein] wrapped in a corn tortilla. I have about five of them.
What about snacking? I have a super-fast metabolism so I’m an incessant snacker on trail mix and fruit and I have a weakness for popcorn. Any food mistakes? Learning how to cook tasty tofu has been a bit of a process, with many mediocre meals. But now I
thoroughly enjoy it.