In an interview with Women’s Health magazine, the star of Bones, Emily Deschanel, talks about her diet and workout.

I assume those heels aren’t leather, because you’re a vegan, right?

They’re by Stella McCartney. All of her shoes are vegan. I’ve been a vegan for about 15 years.

I went to a pretty liberal high school, and we watched Diet for a New America [a 1987 exposé on how food choices affect health and the environment]. And I just stopped eating and wearing animal products after that.

Did you grow up in one of those no sugar-cereal families?

Totally. No sugar cereal. Hot dogs with no nitrates. We weren’t allowed to have McDonald’s. When the babysitter came, we could have Kraft macaroni and cheese.

Would you ever throw paint on anyone’s fur coat?

No. But I think I can convince anyone to become a vegetarian. [Bones costar] David Boreanaz used to make fun of me for being a vegan, but then I started giving him vegan food to eat, and he loves it. Now he tries to eat vegetarian 1 day a week.

Do you practice yoga too?

I used to, but now I’m so busy that it stresses me out. All I can think the whole time is, “How long am I going to be here?” The last class I took was with my sister, who, by the way, used to be annoyed that I was so into yoga. The teacher was so slow I wanted to strangle her. That’s not very Zen!

So how do you manage to fit into all those cute pants you wear on the show?

I have a treadmill, and I work out with my trainer, Julie Diamond, as often as possible. She’s so positive. She’s never like, “Move your fat butt!” It’s more like, “Think of how you’ll feel when you’re in great shape.” And she’s right. There are weeks when I don’t exercise at all, and I don’t feel good.

What motivates you to get on the treadmill?

For me, it always has to be about health. That’s why I’m a vegan. Well, I don’t even do that for my health entirely, I do it for animals. The point is, there always has to be a better reason than looking good, or I won’t stick with it.