CLEVELAND — Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah spoke to youth at John Adams High School about taking care of themselves spiritually, physically and mentally.
Plant-based eating is becoming more popular.
According to Food Insight, 65% of Americans have consumed plant-based meat alternatives in the past year, with 2 in 5 eating them daily or weekly.
One Cleveland Browns linebacker implements plant-based eating into his everyday lifestyle and encourages youth to try it as well.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah said his body is his temple, and he hopes the children who look up to him feel the same way.
“Sometimes we squander our youth, do whatever we want to do, eat whatever we want to eat, and here we’re just trying to emphasize — or aiming to emphasize — taking care of yourself mentally, spiritually and physically,” Owusu-Koramoah said.
Owusu-Koramoah also spoke about what his plant-based diet consists of.
“I may wake up, have a coconut water, an acai bowl or something," he said. "When I’m breaking my fast, I’ve been fasting for about seven to eight hours. I want to make sure I have something electric, something that is light on my body. When the sun is at its highest point, then I’ll have the heaviest meal. So I’ll maybe include some pastas, a lot of greens, but about 60% of my diet is fruits."
Owusu-Koramoah said all the foods he consumes have to have vitamins and minerals. He believes food is his medicine so he can stay away from actual medicines.
The children got the chance to ask him questions, play games and try the plant-based foods made by the NFL linebacker’s chef.
He said taking care of yourself is more than just in the foods you eat.
“I think it goes for food, I think it goes what you listen to, it goes to the clothes you wear, it goes to the things that you watch, all of it,” Owusu-Koramoah said.
The event was held in partnership with the Local Legends Foundation. The foundation's president, Shaun Crawford was also in the NFL and said his mission is to connect athletes and public figures with youth.
“I wanted to be a bridge to be able to give back to the community that I come from," he said. "When I was growing up, didn’t really have an opportunity to meet some of the people that I saw on TV, some of the people I saw in the newspaper or anything like that, so I just felt with the network that I have, and resources that I have that this could be an opportunity that helps the future kids."
Owusu-Koramoah and Crawford met playing football together at Notre Dame. Together, they plan to give back to the community and mentor young people.
“I feel like today our youth, if they are in front of the mayor, or are in front of a councilman it may be for a negative thing, and I kind of want to change that outlook to where I want you to be able to connect, use these people as resources to get out of a situation, to not get in a situation, and so I want to be able to change the narrative going forward,” Crawford said.