Protoje gets ready to enjoy a healthy meal. - Krista Henry Photos

It's all about a healthy lifestyle when THE STAR visited singjay Protoje at his home in Stony Hill, St Andrew, on Tuesday, where he discussed his healthy approach to living.

THE STAR of the month's friend Timmy was busy in the kitchen preparing ackee, potato, plantain, yam and banana for the singjay who had just come in from his weekly jog. Sitting down with THE STAR Protoje explained that he is a strict vegetarian who eats no meat, fish or dairy products. He commented, "I'm a vegetarian, for maybe a year and a half now. It was something that was on my mind for a long time and one day I got up and decided to eat meat no more. There are nuff reasons behind it like health but is more a spiritual ting."

The singjay was in a cheerful mood as he lamented that his favourite thing, breadfruit would not be on the menu for the morning. "I eat a lot of breadfruit, tofu, I try nuh do so much soy, eat nuff beans and peas," he added. According to the singjay he isn't in the kitchen often cooking for himself, but has his personal chef, friend Timmy, who does a lot of the cooking for him, although he admits he can help himself in the kitchen and makes an excellent garlic pasta.

vegetarian

The finished product.

According to the singjay his choice to be a vegetarian is an extremely healthy one that he encourages persons to explore. While he finds it hard sometimes to find food at restaurants late at nights he noted that there has been a number of growing vegetarian establishments being set up around Kingston. While outside of Jamaica, however, he said it can be hard, recounting how difficult it was to find healthy food while on his recent European tour.

He said, "I used to be very sickly before, but I haven't been as sickly since being a vegetarian. I try to run maybe four-five times a week and rehearsals are also testing as well. I've gotten into 'live food' as well, like raw ackee and veggie burgers made from grain and nuts. Live food is an interesting ting, some people eat no cooked food at all. I eat nuff fruits and drink nuff water and coconut water."

Protoje (right) checks on the pot as Timmy looks on.