From the Ground Up

2017 • 95 minutes

About this movie

What makes up the meat of an athlete?

In the feature documentary From the Ground Up, former meat-eating college football player Santino Panico goes on a journey to rediscover the athlete within—this time, as a vegan.

As he meets with vegetarian and vegan elite competitors, this story about food and sport expands to confront the social norms and the far-reaching impacts of food choices.

Ratings and reviews

As a person into physical activity & eating a vegan diet, majority of it being whole-food, I really felt I could associate with this movie & it was truly a great source of inspiration to see so many names & faces I'd never heard of across so many sports. Talking about that, in my opinion, one of the best things in this movie was the fact that the focus wasn't only on bodybuilding, rather across so many different sports & how a plant-based food intake helped different athletes with different priorities (endurance, strength, agility, power, etc ...). It also accentuated the importance of whole-foods rather than just anything vegan especially when it comes to fitness & that's a great reminder to really focus on a food intake that is not only ethical & better for the environment but that is also nourishing to the body. This movie is a must-see for any person interested not only in fitness, but also in improving their health overall.

Whether you're plant-based, vegan, vegetarian, or a meat eater, this is an informative and interesting documentary that gives you something to think about , regardless if you've already started your journey to a healthier you, you're still in the thinking stage, or it's on the back burner for now. The most import thing is that we keep informing ourselves and asking questions. I started my plant-based journey 2 years ago and I'm still asking questions and informing myself.

This movie is just what the vegan community needs. It is not pushy, which is why I think it will do well with audiences that are not plant-based. The is the filmmaker's first film, and from what I read, he had no experience making films prior to this which is pretty impressive in itself. If you are someone looking to lose weight, go vegan, or get inspired to live a healthier lifestyle, this film is for you.