'Law & Order: Organized Crime' star Christopher Meloni is following a "semi gluten free" diet and is "dipping" his toes into veganism as a health experiment.
Christopher Meloni
The 60-year-old actor - who played Elliot Stabler on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' for 12 seasons before leaving the role in 2011, only to reprise his most famous part in his new spin-off series - is always looking at new ways to stay in shape and improve his physical health and so far he has been enjoying the benefits of omitting gluten from his diet, although it's been hard to find great gluten-free pasta.
Speaking to InterviewMagazine.com, he said: "I’m semi gluten free. I think that falls under the category of vegan, which I’m dipping my toes into. I’m unafraid to expand the horizons and see how it makes me feel.
"I actually had a gluten-free pasta just the other night that shocked and pleased me. It’s a close cousin to the Beyond Meat–type stuff, and I’m a big fan of those as a change of pace.”
Meloni - whose other TV credits include prison drama 'Oz' and 'True Blood' - is very particular about his food and when he eats out he will always quiz his server to find out what the best menu items are and how they've been prepared.
He said: "I always want to test the server. I usually find two or three things on the menu that I like, and I’ll ask a specific question about how something is prepared, or which is more filling, because I’m usually ravenous. And if it has the threat of being greasy, I ask that question, but not in such stark terms. "More often than not I’ll say, ’If you were me, which one would you order?’ And I appreciate it when they say, ‘I haven’t tasted that one so I can’t tell you.’ Honesty counts. You don’t have to have all the answers.”