Shaquille O'Neal said he's switching to a vegan diet with healthy plant-based versions of foods like cheeseburgers

• NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal said he's switching to a vegan diet, according to a recent interview.
• O'Neal said eating plant-based food helps him enjoy healthy versions of foods like cheeseburgers.

Retired basketball star Shaquille O'Neal said he's switching to vegan eating in a May 2 interview with Rip Micheals, host of the food and travel show Urban Eats & Treats.

The NBA Hall of Famer told Micheals that the Atlanta restaurant Slutty Vegan offers plant-based alternatives so he can enjoy favorite foods while still getting the health benefits of a vegan diet.

"I like cheeseburgers, right? But the way she cooks it, I can eat healthy, but still feel like I'm eating bad. So whenever I want to cheat, I come over here and cheat," O'Neal said.

O'Neal previously said a high-protein, low-carb diet helped him get more defined ab muscles, and it involved eating lots of chicken and fish such as a salmon.

He previously said his go-to breakfast was a vegan smoothie, and includes blueberries, peanut butter, and bananas, similar to Tom Brady's performance protein shake.

Other high-profile vegan athletes include tennis great Venus Williams, soccer star Alex Morgan, and fellow NBA athletes Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving.

Some pros also follow a predominantly plant-based diet, including Brady, as well as bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said he eats 80% vegan with foods like cucumber salad with pumpkin seed oil.