Former NFL player David Carter goes from pigskin to vegan outreach

The vegan message should be mighty, not meek.

For former NFL star David Carter, lovingly known as the 300 Pound Vegan, it’s not enough to sit on the sidelines. The Daily Collegian shared the story of his recent visit to Penn State University, in which he spoke about the dietary benefits of cutting out animal products.

After his wife, Paige, coerced him in to watching the popular ‘Forks Over Knives’ documentary, the athlete decided to make the change. “That documentary changed my life,” he said. “I learned that milk, which I always thought would make me stronger, was actually causing my tendonitis.” He credited the diet swap for also having a huge impact on arthritis symptoms, his quality of sleep, and his stamina on the field.

A cornerstone of his advocacy, Carter adamantly refuses the popular low protein assumptions, crediting amazing less known sources like maca, and frequently comparing himself to the animal kingdom. “Have you ever heard of a lion or a tiger dying of cancer, or being overweight?” he said.

This speaking engagement isn’t the first or last for Carter, who recently joined Vegan Outreach (alongside his wife) as a motivational speaker and diversity specialist. It has me curious though, does this mean the star will only use synthetic sports gear? A cursory search for vegan footballs brings up more Carter than available products. If I can apply a football analogy here, I hope Carter uses his platform to focus on fundamentals. It’s important for new recruits to see veganism as much more than a diet. I wouldn’t want him to go the route of Vegan Outreach president, Jack Norris, and promote eating cheese. 

On his website, he says: “I can honestly say that being vegan is not only the most efficient way to be full-body strong, it’s also the most humane; everyone wins.” Way to bring animals to the team, Carter.

Photo from The Humane League