Vegan Star Heather Rae El Moussa of ‘Selling Sunset’ Dishes on Fame, Family, and Her Favorite Gluten-Free Pizza

When she’s not promoting million-dollar homes in Los Angeles and wistfully gazing golden sunsets whereas on set within the Hollywood Hills, Heather Rae El Moussa, née Younger, could be discovered having fun with the less complicated issues in life. In her downtime, the Southern California native shares her love of plant-based residing, cooking, and all the information she’s amassed in her 12 years being vegan to her greater than 2.8 million Instagram followers. Now, the 34-year-old mannequin, actual property agent, and actuality TV star (ever see Netflix’s mega-hit Promoting Sundown?) is prepared for the following chapter in her life: marriage to HGTV’s Flip or Flop host Tarek El Moussa and being a stepmother to his two youngsters. We caught up with the star to seek out out about her vegan journey, finest recommendation, and the whole lot in between.

On being in a mixed-diet family

I don’t push something on anyone, as everybody has their very own rights on the best way they wish to dwell. Since Tarek and I’ve been collectively, he has lower out animal merchandise considerably, and once I prepare dinner dinner at dwelling, I prepare dinner gluten-free and plant-based. He’s very supportive of me being vegan. Even at our wedding ceremony, we had each an everyday and vegan menu, and the whole lot was gluten-free—the vegan Bolognese was a visitor favourite. We additionally had two muffins that have been each gluten-free and vegan. From the very starting of our relationship, he at all times made certain that at any time when we ate out, there have been at all times vegan choices—and our wedding ceremony was no totally different.

On her household’s weight loss program

The youngsters are each very conscious that I’m vegan. I’m very open with them, however I by no means push. We now have many dietary restrictions in our dwelling for medical causes—Brayden is dairy-free because of an allergy, and Taylor is gluten-free, like Tarek, due to celiac. It’s exhausting as a result of they’re children, and so they didn’t have these restrictions till final 12 months, so typically they don’t absolutely perceive that they’ll’t have sure issues that different children are having. Discovering choices they like could be difficult, particularly packing for college lunches, however happily, there are many choices on the market. So I simply strive various things. Tarek and I do a very good job of explaining to them how essential meals is for our well being and our our bodies. We clarify that meals can heal us, and we don’t simply eat meals for style—we eat meals to dwell. We inform them how essential it’s to eat wholesome, as we solely have one physique.

“We clarify that meals can heal us, and we don’t simply eat meals for style—we eat meals to dwell.”
—Heather Rae El Moussa

Lindy Lin

On her favourite meals

I like to prepare dinner—I’m the queen of 20-minute, wholesome meals. My go-tos are gluten-free pasta with vegan meatballs, broccoli, mushrooms, pasta sauce, recent herbs and spices, and Bitchin’ Sauce. I additionally make burgers with baked potatoes and greens. The youngsters love the best way I make veggies—I take advantage of vegan butter and prepare dinner them to the place they’re nearly crispy. We even have a pizza oven so we attempt to do pizza night time with the children as soon as per week—my hubby makes one of the best vegan pizza for me.

On her vegan recommendation

Once I was 22 years outdated, I had quite a lot of stomach issues, so I lower out dairy. From there, I began slicing out animal merchandise. I’ve at all times been an animal lover, so it was a simple and easy transition, however I do know a weight loss program change could be overwhelming. I might by no means need folks to really feel discouraged, so I encourage making small adjustments to start out. I actually consider well being is a way of life, not only a fast repair or development.

On the highest vegan merchandise she will be able to’t dwell with out

Prime magnificence product choose: Osmia Spotless Blemish Oil for stopping pimples of their tracks
Date-night spot in town: Seabirds Kitchen in Costa Mesa or Café Gratitude in Los Angeles
Snack I at all times have readily available: Rise Bar Sunflower Cinnamon protein bars
Household dinner du jour: Cauliflower crust pizza with vegan cheese, Past Meat crumbles, olives, sautéed mushrooms, and Bitchin’ Sauce
Gluten-free snack I at all times have within the pantry: Mary’s Gone Crackers Rosemary Super Seed Crackers

This interview first appeared within the Spring 2022 Best of Vegan Issue of VegNews Magazine, accessible now in The VegNews Store!

For extra vegan famous person interviews, learn:
Joaquin Phoenix on Veganism, the Environment, and Social Justice
Why Tabitha Brown Never Loses Sight of Faith, Family, or Why She’s VeganWorld’s First Vegan Miss Universe on Inner Beauty, Feminism, and Doing Good

Aruka Sanchir (@ruukes) is the Magnificence & Type Editor at VegNews who’s at all times on the lookout for thrilling new vegan merchandise to check out.