Mena Suvari wants to get the word out to mothers-to-be to, "Go Vegan, Baby!"
The American Pie actress, who recently posed nude for a PETA campaign, hopes that her image makes other expecting women consider choosing a vegan lifestyle. Not only for themselves, but for their unborn children as well.
Suvari, 42, who is expecting her first child, a baby boy, with her husband, Michael Hope, chose to become vegan in 2017. Because of the "health benefits" eating a plant-based diet provides, as well as "the cruelty of the meat industry," the actress said in a statement, according to People, that she knew she wanted to raise her son being vegan as well.
"I knew I wanted to raise my son to be a kind, loving and empathetic person," the American Beauty star said in her statement. Suvari continued, stating, "I think that can start with how we eat as a family."
The PETA poster, which shows Suvari posing with a large avocado hiding her baby bump, includes a link to the organization that provides information about how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy while continuing, or even starting, a vegan diet.
Suvari announced her pregnancy news with People in October. And while she was over the moon, conceiving was nothing short of a stressful experience.
The mother-to-be told People in January, that before she let go and "trust in [her] body," she was constantly taking her temperature, using ovulation strips, and taking pregnancy tests that were coming back negative. This caused Suvari to believe that pregnancy might not be in the cards, especially with naysayers questioning her choice to try to get pregnant after the age of 40.
When it all became too overwhelming to continue on the way she was, with some conscious effort, Suvari put the negative thoughts out of her head. The actress decided to trust in the "journey" she was on, which paid off, as just a short time later, Suvari discovered she was expecting.
The couple waited until October to make their pregnancy news public knowledge when Suvari posted on Instagram that Baby Hope was on the way. Since that time, there has been no shortage of beautiful baby bump pictures posted to Suvari's account, most of which take place in tranquil, outdoor locales.
Suvari told Us Magazine in January that being pregnant was still "surreal" to her. However, as the days inch closer to her due date, everything was starting to feel "really real."
The one thing that Suvari wanted to make sure that she focused on during her pregnancy was staying present. The actress told Us Magazine that people tend to, "get so ahead of ourselves," that she is making a point to enjoy everything about her pregnancy and take things "moment by moment."
Source: People, People, People, PETA, Us Magazine