Tony Horton, the creator of the P90X extreme fitness program, has gone vegan. The fitness celebrity originally announced his foray into vegan food as an “experiment” via a video posted on Instagram. It was supposed to last for only two weeks, but according to VegNews, Horton decided to continue the it “indefinitely.”

In an interview with GoLocal, Horton described his new diet as a “wake up call.” In spite of being the creator of a widely popular fitness program, the results are astounding. Hortons says that not only has he lost 8-10 pounds, but also that “all my inflammation is gone” — which is often a benefit that one might see when switching to a whole foods, plant-based diet. In addition to that, he has noticed reduced joint pain, better sleep, and the strength and energy to “do more pull-ups.”


He concluded with “My ego wants me to be bigger and all that stuff, but the way I feel supersedes all that.” Although he’s not sure whether or not he’ll continue his plant-based diet for good, he cannot deny how amazing eating whole foods plant-based for over 30 days has made him feel.

Eat Like Tony Horton!

Horton says that he has been sticking to lean, plant-based proteins while experimenting with a vegan diet. So, we searched through the Food Monster App and found some protein-rich recipes that you can try at home:

1. Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Onigirazu

This protein-packed Chickpea “Tuna” Onigirazu by Rachael Hutchings is the perfect lunch for the fitness enthusiast on the go. The creamy chickpea salad is tucked in a pillow of fluffy sushi rice and then wrapped in nori. It is portable, palatable, and easy to make.

2. Black Bean Hemp Burgers

These Black Bean Hemp Burgers by Jenne Claiborne are so perfect for lunch, dinner, snack, even breakfast. They’re also a perfect travel companion that will pack up easily and keep you full for hours, thanks to all that protein, fiber, and super nutritiousness. These bad boys also happen to be really easy to make, as long as you have a food processor. Serve them with bread, in a leaf, or on top of a salad, if you want to keep it whole foods plant-based!


3. Spicy Sofritas Black Bean Bowls

These Spicy Sofritas Black Bean Bowls by Rene Barker are healthy, simple and super delicious. Perfect for meal prepping or busy weeknights! A combination of chipotle peppers in adobo, salsa, onion, and garlic are blended up to make this yummy sauce. It is then mixed in with crumbled tofu and black beans. Serve it up with some rice (or quinoa) and fresh avocado and you have the perfect meal.

4. Red Lentil Tikka Masala

Everything about this protein-rich Red Lentil Tikka Masala by Kristen Genton is wonderful. The flavors are on point, the texture on point, the satisfaction on point … everything! Red lentils are cooked in a creamy, spicy sauce that will delight your palate and keep you full. Plus, it cooks in just 30 minutes!


5. Oil-Free Baked Tofu

Not only is delicious, flavorful Oil-Free Baked Tofu possible, it’s so delicious that you’ll probably want to double or triple this recipe by Molly Patrick from the get-go. How do you do it? First, the tofu is pressed to remove all excess liquid and then it’s marinated in a sauce of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and rice vinegar with a sprinkle of sesame seeds. As it bakes, the edges get crispy and slightly caramelized. This tofu is perfect for serving in sandwiches, topping on salads, or as your protein for a meal with vegetables.

To learn more about how to build muscle on a vegan diet, read Top Vegan Foods That Build Lean Muscle, 10 Plant-Based Foods That Enhance Recovery, and 5 Plant-Based Foods That Will Help You Build Muscle.


For even more plant-based recipes and cooking how-to’s, we highly recommend checking out Food Monster app, a food app available for both Android and iPhone. The app has over 8,000+ vegan recipes with 10+ recipes added daily Give it a try — and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram (and share your photos using #FoodMonsterApp if you make any of the recipes)!

Lead image source: Tony Horton/YouTube