Plant-Based vs. Omnivore diets for athletic performance outcomes among recreational athletes in university dining halls: a randomized crossover study

Background Some research suggests that transitioning from an omnivorous to a plant-based diet does not significantly change athletic performance for endurance or resistance athletes, implying comparability to animal-based diets for athletic goals. However, there is a relative paucity of these studies and widespread social media misinformation suggesting insufficient calorie, protein, and micronutrient intake of plant-based diets to meet the demands of athletic performance. This multi-site study, conducted in collaboration with the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative (MCURC), investigates the impact of plant-based diets in several university dining halls on athletic performance among recreational athletes. Methods In this crossover study, recreational runners and resistance trainers were recruited from four universities: Stanford, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, and the University of Reading (n = 36; runners = 16, resistance trainers = 20). Participants were assigned to complete two 4-week diet interventions, Omnivore and Plant-based, in random order. Primary outcomes for runners (12-minute timed run) and resistance trainers (3-rep maximum test for chest press, lat pulldown, and leg press) were collected at baseline and after each diet. Paired t-tests and linear regression models were used to compare performance between diets. Results Mean differences between Omnivore and Plant-based diets in 12-minute timed run (− 36.2 m; 95% CI: -130.3 to 57.9 m; p = 0.43) and composite machine strength (− 4.0%; 95% CI: − 8.5 to 0.6%; p = 0.08) were not significant. Conclusion Recreational runners and resistance trainers may be able to adopt a plant-based diet without significant changes in athletic performance. These findings can support universities in offering plant-based food options for recreational athletes in dining halls. Trial registration This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under registration number NCT06014307 on 08/23/2023. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12937-026-01290-1.