Singer Halle Bailey recently revealed that she made a significant change to her diet during pregnancy, abandoning her long-standing vegan lifestyle in favor of consuming meat. The 24-year-old artist, known for her role in “The Little Mermaid,” shared this information during an Instagram Live session that was subsequently recorded and reposted by The Shade Room.
Bailey explained that she had been receiving numerous inquiries about whether she was still adhering to a vegan diet. She candidly admitted that she was no longer vegan, citing pregnancy cravings as the primary reason for this dietary shift. The singer disclosed that she had been following a vegan lifestyle for approximately 13 years before her pregnancy.
During her pregnancy, Bailey began experiencing strong cravings for meat, which prompted her to reconsider her dietary choices. She stated, “I was just like, ‘Well, I’m gonna give my body what it wants right now because I’m doing a really hard job of growing a human.'” Bailey also expressed her desire to ensure that her unborn child, whom she named Halo, received proper nutrition and essential nutrients during gestation.
Despite reintroducing meat into her diet, Bailey emphasized that she still maintains a predominantly plant-based eating pattern. She clarified that her current approach to eating meat is occasional and based on specific cravings. “If I have an inkling or craving for chicken or something, I’ll eat it. But I don’t eat a lot of meat. But it’s like if I want it, I’m going to have it, and then that’s it,” she explained.
The singer also shared that she had researched this topic and discovered that her experience was not uncommon among pregnant women who had previously followed vegan diets. She noted, “I was looking it up and I see so many women like me who were vegan for years and years. Once they got pregnant, it was, like, out the window.”
Medical professionals have weighed in on this phenomenon. Dr. Allison Suttle, a gynecologist and chief medical officer at Sanford Health, previously told Business Insider that cravings for meat during pregnancy could potentially indicate nutrient deficiencies,
particularly in iron and vitamin B12. While it is possible to maintain a vegan diet during pregnancy without necessarily posing risks to the mother or baby, Dr. Suttle explained that the body has a harder time absorbing plant-based iron compared to iron found in animal products.
Bailey’s journey to veganism began in her youth, influenced by her mother’s decision to try a vegetarian diet. In a 2017 interview with Complex, Bailey and her sister Chloe recounted how their mother proposed a week-long vegetarian experiment, which ultimately led to a long-term lifestyle change for the sisters.
The singer welcomed her son, Halo, with her partner DDG in 2023. Throughout her pregnancy and postpartum period, Bailey has been open about her experiences, including the changes in her dietary habits.
This revelation from Bailey highlights the personal nature of dietary choices and how they can evolve during significant life events such as pregnancy. It also underscores the importance of listening to one’s body and making informed decisions about nutrition, especially during periods of increased nutritional demands like pregnancy.