First Team

“You’re doing something good”

VfL midfielder Yannick Gerhardt on life as a vegan.

Wolves utility man Yannick Gerhardt has been on a vegan diet since 2017. Here he talks about the process as well as the pros and cons of the switch.

Yannick Gerhardt, what made you decide to become a vegan?

Yannick Gerhardt: “I came into closer contact with the idea through my teammate at the time, Daniel Didavi. He looked into a dietary change a few years ago because of his history of injuries, and a doctor had recommended a plant-based diet to him. Together with another player and friend, Mitchell Weiser, we researched it thoroughly and watched some documentaries about the vegan lifestyle – then we just tried it out.”

Was it a gradual adjustment or did you change your diet overnight?

Yannick: “I used to have one ‘cheat day’ a week, when I could eat whatever I wanted. I always looked forward to that because it’s not an easy transition at the start. Now it’s not as unusual in society to be vegan, and there are ethical and environmental reasons which validate the path I’ve chosen. When you realise that you’re doing something good for the environment and for yourself, it’s not difficult anymore. During the season I live 100 per cent vegan. On holiday I try to, but in some countries it’s challenging because there’s a lack of plant-based alternatives.”

How did your family and friends react? Are there maybe even people who have gone vegan because of you?

Yannick: “It antagonises some people in the beginning, especially at home. I don’t try to convert anyone and everyone should make their own decision about how they want to eat. A few people around me have subsequently looked into the topic more, though. And overall, the vegan lifestyle is being strongly promoted these days and the food industry also has a big interest in it.”

What effects has the change of diet had on your health in particular?

Yannick: “Firstly, I don’t think a vegan diet is crucial because you can still eat unhealthily as a vegan. What’s important is having a balanced diet. To begin with, you do notice a difference in your vitality and how full you feel, but they adjust after a while. My values, particularly my inflammatory markers in my body, have got better. For example, the mercury content, which is often related to fish and fish products, has decreased. That said, there are values that you have to make up for in other ways, such as iron requirements, which are primarily covered by meat consumption, or the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which are contained in fish. That's when I realise that, as a vegan, I have to make a bit of an effort to balance these values. Here at VfL we have a chef who helps us when it comes to nutrition and we also have the opportunity to have our values checked regularly. That way I’m always kept up to date and I know what I’m lacking or not lacking. I’ve been vegan for more than four years and haven’t had any serious injuries – that’s proof that it’s good for me.”

Do you have a favourite vegan dish? If so, what?

Yannick: “I often use vegan recipe books with lots of tasty dishes. If I had to choose one, I’d go for vegan lasagne.”