Does JD Vance Eat Meat? Here's What You'll Find In His Daily Diet
In an interview during his 2024 vice presidential campaign, JD Vance shared that over the course of two years, he successfully shaved 30 pounds off his weight. He attributed his decision to go on a weight loss journey — which included skipping breakfast, going to the gym, running, and generally reducing the amount of food he ate — to the fact that he once found himself out of breath after playing with his kids. He was also adamant that weight loss drugs were not a part of his path to a slimmer figure.
Unsurprisingly, this piqued the curiosity of many people who wanted to know more about what Vance eats on a daily basis, and how similar — or different — his meal choices are from his boss, Donald Trump's. (By the way, here's everything you'll find in Donald Trump's daily diet.) From his interviews and public appearances, it's easy to piece together a rough sketch of what Vance eats in a day — or at least, what he likes to eat. For the most part, he seems to enjoy generally healthy foods (including the predominantly vegetable-based dishes in Indian cuisine) mixed with a bit of the tasty-but-not-so-nutritious stuff.
With that said, one thing you're unlikely to find on his plate is "fake meat," which he called "disgusting" during his guest appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
JD Vance appreciates Indian cuisine and vegetarian dishes (but still eats meat)
During the aforementioned podcast interview, JD Vance went into more detail about his appreciation for Indian food, which, as he made abundantly clear, was largely influenced by the "exceptional" cooking of his wife, Usha. Vance described her vegetarian Indian dishes as "delicious" and "flavorful," praised their variety and how they're "the real deal," and even mentioned paneer (a type of cheese) and chickpeas as some of the star ingredients that elevate Usha's dishes. As it turns out, it was Vance embracing his wife's diet that strengthened his bond with Usha's mother, with the veep even learning how to cook traditional Indian fare from his mother-in-law.
Despite being a fan of authentic vegetarian food, however, it seems that Vance hasn't gone completely vegan yet. (Here's why a plant-based diet is different from going vegan.) Per his wife's testimonial at the Republican National Convention 2024 (via YouTube), Vance is very much a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy. There's also the fact that in 2022, Vance joined the Ohio State Fair's rib-eating contest (which is around the time he started his weight loss quest).
JD Vance also enjoys ice cream, baked goods, and a little bit too much beer
While JD Vance professes to making smarter, healthier food choices, that doesn't mean he has completely eliminated indulgent snacks and beverages from his diet. For starters, it appears that he is passionate about ice cream, as well as specific flavors that should — or shouldn't — be found on a cone. Reacting to news that Ohio-based ice cream company Graeter's was coming out with a chili flavor, Vance tweeted that he and Trump "will stop this." Judging from this and the fact that he enjoys baking cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip scones, and dulce de leche rolls at home, it can be inferred that Vance has quite the sweet tooth.
The Vice President is also a fan of beer and doesn't seem to miss opportunities to share a cold one with colleagues, especially when it's work-related. In April 2025, during an official visit, Vance gave a toast to — and enjoyed some beer with — U.S. service members at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. And of course, there was the infamous moment during his 2024 campaign when Vance said that people in Wisconsin would want to have a beer with him simply because he "actually [does] like to drink beer," perhaps even "a little bit too much." (Here's what you're really doing to your body if you drink beer every night.)