Raw recruits to the elite SAS are shunning meat in their diets.
Three in 10 of those taken on by the crack unit told bosses they are vegetarian or vegan.
Soldiers burn up to 3,500 calories a day training for the SAS, whose motto is Who Dares Wins, meaning a huge amount of veggies are being cooked at its Hereford HQ.
Ant Middleton, 40, host of C4’s SAS Who Dares Wins, revealed he was a vegetarian.
He said: “I start the day with fresh vegetable juice, eat plenty of protein, and avoid dairy. I went vegan for a year and have since stuck to a predominantly vegetarian lifestyle.”
The SAS has ditched meat on operations in hot countries.
One source said: “The last thing you want on operations is food poisoning and experience has shown that is less likely to happen with a plant-based diet.
“Guys started coming back from a six-month tour of duty where they haven’t eaten meat and have decided to stick with a veggie diet.”
Meat-free diets are also popular with younger recruits.
The source added: “Messes at Hereford now even serve coffee and tea with soya milk or other non-milk substitutes.”
The Ministry of Defence said all dietary needs are catered for, including vegan meals.
