Exclusive Interview with Ethical Entrepreneur Daniella Monet
Actress and ethical entrepreneur Daniella Monet has never been afraid to speak out in defense of animals. She often posts about vegan eating to her 4.1 million Instagram followers and invests only in businesses that are ethical and plant-based. She even helped open up an amazing vegan restaurant in Los Angeles and recently launched Sprouted—a cruelty-free diaper line!
Daniella Monet has been a close ally of Mercy For Animals over the years, hosting our Hidden Heroes Gala, gracing the cover of our Compassionate Living magazine, and collaborating with us on campaigns. Just last year, she took part in a Mercy For Animals-produced TV ad urging fast-food giant McDonald’s to treat chickens better.
When Daniella was pregnant with her son, she shared a powerful video of herself watching two undercover investigations into the dairy industry. In the video, she shares that thinking of mother cows being separated from their babies was the “hardest part of her pregnancy” and urges her followers to reconsider buying dairy. The video garnered overwhelmingly positive comments and surpassed 400,000 views on YouTube.
Now, with her son born and a daughter on the way, Daniella is finding new ways to combine her family with her passion for animals. She was kind enough to take a quick break from her busy schedule and answer a few of our questions.
How has your life changed since you became a mother?
Becoming a mother has proven to me just how strong women are. Caring for a child is the most consuming job I’ve ever had, and it has given me an entirely new outlook on my priorities. I absolutely love and value the time I get with Gio, and I know how lucky I am to be his mom. He motivates me to be the best version of myself and work hard to create a comfortable lifestyle full of compassion and kindness. I’ve been able to see life through his eyes, and it’s a beautiful thing.
Congratulations on baby number two! Are you having any surprising cravings?
Thank you! No cravings, but I have been eating very well. I love cooking, and being home more has allotted myself and Andrew the time to be able to cook plenty, and we’re loving that—so is Gio! He’s such a little foodie!
What are your son’s favorite plant-based snacks?
He loves EVERYTHING! We just shot some cute promos for the new Outstanding Foods TakeOut Meal-In-A-Bag Puffs, and everyone was cracking up over how obsessed he was. He literally had two handfuls of puffs at all times, but that’s how he is with pretty much anything we feed him. While he was exclusively nursing, he was a machine. So it’s no surprise he loves to eat but certainly funny how mindful I have to be about stocking the fridge with my one-year-old’s favorite foods!
Do you have any advice for other parents raising vegan children?
I’ve leaned in to my intuition when it comes to feeding Gio. I didn’t read any blogs or follow any sort of meal plan. I cook for our family, and Gio eats a portion of what we do. I think it’s important for families raising vegan children to try and incorporate as much seasonal organic fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and legumes as possible. There are plenty of vegan snacks and teething crackers that are great for in-between meals and on the go, but we try really hard to make sure Gio is exposed to flavorful home-cooked meals.
What led you to launch your brand-new diaper line, Sprouted?
Sprouted was conceived when I realized natural diapers just didn’t meet the quality and transparency standards I was looking for. Diapers are so incredibly wasteful, and I am fully aware that not even Sprouted ticks every environmental box I would like it to, but we’re working on changing that.
What sets Sprouted apart from the other diapers out there?
No matter what business I’m part of, first and foremost it needs to be vegan and cruelty free, and unfortunately most of these brands in the diaper space just haven’t made that a priority. Sprouted diapers are certified by BeVeg and never have and never will be tested on animals. Our diapers are made with renewable, sustainable untreated fluff pulp with chlorine-free processing. They’re free of parabens, natural latex, gluten, fragrances, alcohol, and lotion. Plus, they come shipped in 100 percent post-consumer recycled cartons. All of that aside, I personally just love the fit and feel of our diapers. Diapers are the only thing touching our baby’s skin 24/7. I didn’t want to compromise comfort or functionality.
I hope what really sets us apart is my willingness to work tirelessly to create a brand that cares not only about the well-being of our babies but the well-being of our planet we raise our families on.
What’s next for you?
That’s a loaded question! Tons. My goal is to continue growing the conscious companies I’m building and this strong little girl in my tummy! I’m really excited to meet her, and I’ll hopefully show her how cool it is to live a purposeful, kind, and compassionate life.
Are you as obsessed with Daniella Monet as we are? Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. And download our FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide to learn more about compassionate plant-based eating.