Venus Williams reveals tips of her all round fitness

Becoming a top player in tennis wasn’t a coincidence for all-around superstar, Venus Williams. It took years and years of hard work for her to be at the top of her game. For her, staying in tip-top shape, not only means working on her skills, but on her overall wellness too—her mind, body, and skin.

One of the ways she makes sure she feels her best is by being vigilant of what she puts into her body, so Venus keeps a vegan diet. She eats mostly plant-based foods, but don’t be surprised if you catch her slipping. Instead of saying she’s fully vegan, Venus prefers to call herself a “chegan,” aka a vegan who cheats.

She also likes taking supplements for an extra boost of wellness and nutrition. That’s why she co-founded her own company, Happy Viking, which just launched a line of plant-based superfood protein powders.

Though Venus was a big meat eater before going vegan (she was “huge into steaks”), she’s now fully embraced the plant-based lifestyle. Though she’s always been a fan of plants and veggies, it wasn’t a walk in the park. Here’s what Venus’s plant-based diet looks like, and her tips for other people who want to follow a similar journey.

When it comes to a morning meal, Venus isn’t a huge breakfast person, since she often heads straight to the court or gym to train for about five hours. But she says she usually “survives” on either shakes or fruits. Her favorite shake right now is a strawberry mango, which she makes using strawberry protein powder and red mangoes.

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“I just throw in a few dates for sweetness, so you don’t have to add sugar,” she explains. “The dates have fiber in them, so they’re just a healthy, filling sweetener.” Occasionally, she adds dehydrated fruit. “It enhances the flavor and [the shake] tastes like ice cream,” she tells Women’s Health.