Publication: Minneapolis Star Tribune [US]
Date: October 7, 1997
Section: News; C.J.
Page Number(s): 5b
Length: 842 Words
Title: "Vegetarian Diet Keeps Karma Cookin' For Prince; Working For 'The Artist' May Be More Than Your Average Carnivore Can Chew"
Written By: Cheryl Johnson

Prince has gotten very you-are-what-you-eat about his diet. He once thought of eliminating Looza Belgium fruit juices from his intake because the brand sounded so much like Loser. Prince had a thing for the Pear Looza. (I'm addicted to the Peach, as the folks at No Garlic Deli would attest.) Now come a few more Princely morsels from the October issue of Vegetarian Times magazine. "We don't eat anything with parents," Prince tells VT, via fax, his new favorite way of communicating. Andrea Mather, associate editor of VT, said, "His wife contacted us and said Prince is really involved in his vegetarianism and they wanted to do something with the magazine. They approached us, which is unusual for him." VT asked the couple about "everything from karma to Cap'n Crunch." FYI, Prince only has his Cap'n Crunch with soy milk. The Princely karma has been getting a good cleansing in the past 10 years, when he gave up red meat. "I actually enjoy eating more [since becoming a vegan]. I have more energy, and most of all, my aura is stronger." And isn't that a frightening thought? "One can actually feel one's karmic debt decrease with every meal." Prince noted that "Mayte enjoys preparing meals for the two of us. It strengthens our bond." Now the next question should have been: Do you strengthen the bond by cooking for her? Prince averred that this article wasn't the place for a discussion of his name change, ". . . but what I can say is that it is much easier to separate the ego from the personality now. And I am much happier since my name change," said the man whose wife calls him "the Artist." His ego is decreasing even more rapidly than his karmic debt.

Hard work for carnivores

Carnivores might want to think again before applying at Paisley Park - unless they are extremely artsy. Prince's personal art director and fellow vegetarian, Steven Parke, tells Vegetarian Times that Prince "seems to want people around him who are vegetarian, so there are a lot of us here. And when we work with people who aren't vegetarian, they often end up eating this way because they're with me." Parke said he wouldn't have his creative energy if he were still a meat eater. There's talk of hiring a staff farmer to keep them in fresh veggies.