Nadine Lustre on challenges she encountered at the beginning of her vegan journey

From the start, the actress has always been open about her vegan journey, and even went on to start her own coconut milk brand, Dehusk, in an effort to promote healthier and more sustainable consumption practices.

Nadine’s latest initiative is her partnership with the international animal rights organization, PETA. In this campaign, she holds up a “Save the Planet, Go Vegan!” sign as she poses as a semi-nude “Mother Earth,” where the Philippines’ spot on the globe is the centerpiece. The ad, set to be released several months from now, aims to explain the harmful effects of animal agriculture.

Actress and singer Nadine Lustre dons body paint depicting Mother Earth while holding a ‘Save the Planet, Go Vegan’ sign, at a photo shoot for the promotion of the vegan lifestyle campaign of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in Pasig City, on March 17, 2025.

During the campaign the shoot, Rappler was able to speak to Nadine about what it was like for her when she was just starting to go vegan — which isn’t just about the food you eat, but also the things you wear and the everyday products you use. In other words, it’s a whole lifestyle that calls for rather big adjustments.

One of the biggest challenges the Nokturno star faced in transitioning to a vegan lifestyle was the sheer amount of research she had to do. It’s a whole commitment in itself to look up the ingredients of a product to find out if it’s vegan-friendly or not.

Actress and singer Nadine Lustre dons body paint depicting Mother Earth while holding a ‘Save the Planet, Go Vegan’ sign, at a photo shoot for the promotion of the vegan lifestyle campaign of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in Pasig City, on March 17, 2025.

“I have to know which brands or products are fully vegan and plant-based. For example, in a skincare product, there are ingredients there that don’t necessarily say that it’s an animal ingredient unless you look it up. It’s just a lot of research and understanding what these elements or these ingredients are. But eventually, you’ll get the hang of it because there are a lot of articles online that tell you which brands are vegan, which products, and even the products from a brand that are vegan-friendly,” she told Rappler, adding that it becomes easy once you get the hang of it.

Cost-friendly tips for first-time vegans on a budget

Nadine also addressed the common misconception that adopting a vegan diet is costly. She shared that ever since she went vegan, her grocery expenses had actually gone down significantly because she stopped buying meat. All of the vegetables she buys are also available in her local palengke (wet market).

“As a tip for people who want to save, please go to the palengke because everything, like the produce, is much cheaper. It’s more fresh, and at least you know that a lot of farmers, you’re supporting as well,” the actress added.

She said that you don’t necessarily have to buy the meat alternatives you see in groceries, as these tend to be costly. She shared that she and her boyfriend, Christophe Bariou — who is also a vegan and animal rights advocate — prefer to eat whole foods.

“Avoid muna siguro ‘yung mga expensive alternative meats and just go for a more natural and whole food. Alternatives like tofu, chickpeas, munggo (mung beans), all of that,” she added as another tip.

The 31-year-old actress has always been vocal about her stance on animal welfare and environmental preservation — and this campaign is another testament to that. – Rappler.com