Despite being stocked with nutritional powerhouses, the produce aisle has long been sidelined as people gravitate toward more indulgent options like meat and cheese. It’s not that people don’t recognize the health benefits of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and more; it’s just that these whole foods have often been seen as bland, boring, or less satisfying. For many, taste and the cultural cachet of a steak or a burger made produce feel like an afterthought. That’s changing.
Produce aisle staples—vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fungi—are having a moment, not just for what they offer nutritionally, but for their flavor, complexity, and creative potential.
Acclaimed chefs are leading the charge. Santiago Astudillo, head chef at The Wesley in New York, showcases eight standout dishes made entirely from plant-based ingredients. And in 2021, Daniel Humm overhauled the menu at the three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park to focus solely on vegan cuisine, earning both critical acclaim and high praise from David Beckham, who said he’d “never been blown away” by a meal quite like it.
Across Hollywood and beyond, A-listers are embracing humble vegetables, fruits, and more, finally giving them the love they deserve. These nutrient-packed powerhouses are more than just good for you; with the right combination of ingredients, they’re downright craveable. Keep reading for eight produce staples and the celebrities who swear by them, from Matt Damon to Reese Witherspoon.
Design by Richard Bowie
Matt Damon: Broccoli
Back in 2020, actor Matt Damon spoke to People about one of his go-to meals that he makes for himself and his three daughters. It’s simple, yet packed with nutrition, thanks to one key ingredient: broccoli. “I cook pasta with butter and steam broccoli,” he told the publication. “It’s all about getting enough healthy food in front of them every three hours.” This green, cruciferous vegetable is a great source of fiber, vitamin C, folate, and vitamin K. To make Damon’s recipe plant-based, just swap out the butter for a dairy-free alternative.
More broccoli recipe inspiration: Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s Tempeh and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Matthew McCaughney: Cabbage
Given he was born in Texas, it’s perhaps unsurprising that actor Matthew McCaughney loves Southern food. But one of his favorites? Nope, it’s not brisket or chili con carne, it’s his wife Camila Alves’ no-mayo slaw. As with most coleslaw recipes, the key ingredient is cabbage, which is combined with lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar (both red and white wine), and fresh mint. “It’s one of those things that I love so much and you haven’t done it for weeks, and I actually forgot about it,” he says in a social media video of the slaw recipe posted by Alves. “And now that you made it again, I don’t know how I forgot about it because I don’t know anything it doesn’t go with.”
More cabbage recipe inspiration: Indian Cabbage Slaw With Roasted Cashews (Koshimbir)
Design by Richard Bowie
Kate Middleton: Olives
Catherine, Princess of Wales, shares one of her favorite snacks with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and it’s not what you’d expect. Their go-to? Olives. While technically a fruit, olives often show up in savory dishes and are treated much like vegetables in everyday cooking. Unlike many kid-targeted snacks like chips or candy, olives offer real nutritional value. They’re rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and packed with antioxidants. According to Hello! Magazine, Catherine revealed in 2018 that she ate “lots and lots” of olives as a child. In 2020, she shared that Charlotte had inherited the same taste.
More olive recipe inspiration: Mixed Grain Vegetable Paella With Sausage and Castelvetrano Olives
Ariana Grande: Mushrooms
Technically fungi, mushrooms often get lumped in with vegetables, and for good reason. They play a similar role on the plate and are nutritional standouts in plant-based cooking. Mushrooms are rich in fiber, B vitamins like riboflavin and niacin, potassium for heart health, and powerful antioxidants such as selenium and ergothioneine, which help fight cellular damage. Lately, they’ve been getting a major glow-up, popping up everywhere from upscale tasting menus to TikTok recipe videos. Their meaty texture and deep umami flavor make them a favorite among veg-forward eaters, including singer Ariana Grande. “I’m vegan, so I like to roast mushrooms of different varieties and make a vegan pesto,” she shared on the SmartLess podcast. “I’m Italian, so we have to have [pasta].”
More mushroom recipe inspiration: Marinated Grilled King Oyster Mushroom Skewers
Greenpan
BECOME A VEGNEWS VIP: Get exclusive product deals, freebies, and perks galore!
Stanley Tucci: Cannellini Beans
Italian American actor Stanley Tucci loves to cook and is always sharing recipe tips on social media. In 2024, he shared a recipe for pasta e fagioli on Today. The classic Italian dish is incredibly simple, yet full of flavor. It consists of pasta and beans. Cannellini beans are Tucci’s bean of choice. “It’s a classic, classic dish, it’s been around forever,” Tucci said during the segment. “It’s been abused sometimes, and made, sometimes, really badly, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s incredibly simple.”
More cannellini bean recipe inspiration: White Bean Rosemary Bruschetta
Reese Witherspoon: Corn
Actor Reese Witherspoon used to love cooking with her grandma, Dorothea Draper, who taught her to make many different dishes. One of her stand-out favorites is a corn salad. In 2018, she shared the recipe for the salad with The Times, which includes a dressing made with white vinegar, lime juice, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, sugar, shallots, chopped cherry tomatoes, sliced green onion, herbs, and in-season corn. “Grandmother Dorothea was against two things: picking corn more than a day before you eat it and refrigerating a tomato,” Witherspoon wrote.
More corn recipe inspiration: Vegan Sweet Corn and Pepper Summer Gazpacho
Design by Richard Bowie
Adam Scott: Celery
Actor Adam Scott has a lot of healthy food habits. He loves fruit smoothies and veggie-loaded bowls, for example. But his go-to snack? It’s the classic kids’ snack, ants on a log. Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve real ants. It’s actually just peanut butter and raisins on a piece of celery. “I kind of figured out what the perfect snack is, and it’s been hiding in plain sight all of these years,” Scott told GQ. “I believe what that perfect snack is ants on a log.”
More celery recipe inspiration: Buttery Vegan Celery and Potato Soup
Amal Clooney: Seaweed
Amal Clooney is a human rights lawyer, a mom of twins, and married to an A-list celebrity, so it’s no surprise she keeps wellness top of mind. According to Vogue, she starts her mornings with miyeokguk, a traditional Korean seaweed soup often made with brown seaweed or wakame. Seaweed is a smart choice for someone constantly on the go: it’s quick to prepare, easy to digest, and packed with nutrients like iodine for thyroid support, fiber for gut health, and antioxidants. Other varieties like kelp and nori offer similar benefits, making seaweed a plant-based powerhouse in any busy person’s routine.
More seaweed recipe inspiration: Miso Soup With King Oyster Mushrooms, Quinoa, and Seaweed
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
