New to veganism or just trying it out? Are you wondering where to start?
You know the reasons why you want to become vegan. You have the motivation. You’re listening to the voice in your heart. But how do you get from there to a place where you’re putting yummy wholesome food on the table?
My top 5 vegan cooks that every new vegan should follow are not only talented but have really inspiring life stories. Their recipes are delicious, healthy and wholesome. I hope this article will help you feel motivated and excited about this new lifestyle.
With so many vegan channels and blogs out there, which one (s) do I follow?
Cooking has never intimidated me, but one of the things I was worried about initially when I became vegan, was making food that tasted good. I’m a bit of a foodie, so flavor is very important to me. This is why I’ve included the best ones I have tried through my vegan journey.
There are a bunch of other good ones as well, but these are the ones that keep surprising me over the years. The criteria I used is: use of whole-foods with easy-to-find ingredients; a variety of simple recipes and techniques, crowd-pleasing comforting desserts (for those of us with a big sweet tooth), and creative dishes that will be loved by omnivores and vegans alike.
Ready to start cooking and connecting with wonderful souls? Here you go, these are my top 5 vegan cooks every new vegan should follow.
Kris Carr - There’s a reason why I start the list with her. A friend introduced me to Kris Carr when I was a pescatarian. I bought her books, tried her recipes but still wasn’t ready to let go of dairy. I was hoping one day I would be ready to become vegan, but it wasn’t until I enrolled in her 21 Day Total Wellness Program that I finally did. Her comprehensive, well-thought-out meal plan and her coaching made the transition not only easy but super enjoyable. Her vibes and inclination to live a spiritual, balanced life deeply resonated with me. Thank you Kris! You helped me get to my happy place.
♥ Why I like her - Kris Carr was diagnosed with an incurable and rare form of cancer in her early 30s. She wasn’t given a lot of time to live and so she decided to document her journey. It was then that she hit bottom and decided to change her lifestyle completely: from diet to emotions to spirituality, Kris became a “wellness warrior” and went back to school to get certified as a Holistic Nutrition Coach from the renowned Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
@ Where to find her: on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or visit her blog
> Books / Programs: Crazy Sexy Kitchen, Crazy Sexy Diet, Crazy Sexy Juice
✪ Recipe (s) to try: Too many to share here, but these are some of my family’s favorite:
Country Tofu Scrable ; Orange Dream smoothie ; Delightfully Green Tahini Dressing
2. Sadia Badei from Pick Up Limes: Sadia is a registered dietician from Canada currently living in The Netherlands. After quitting her job, she went on to explore faraway countries and it was there where she met her partner. She then moved to Holland and decided to start sharing her knowledge and cooking skills on YouTube. It’s easy to understand why Sadia is so popular. Her wisdom, beautiful contents and delicious recipes make every video a joy to watch.
♥ Why I like her - Sadia’s calm but assertive message has been a huge draw for me and for her over 2 million followers. Her recipes are truly delicious and I like the fact that they’re made by someone who is formally trained in nutrition. Pick Up Limes is her beautiful website, with gorgeous images and pretty PDF files to make cooking easier.
@ Where to find her: on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or visit her blog
> Books / Programs: PUL E-book Collection+ 20 Exclusive Recipes
✪ Recipe (s) to try: The same as with Kris Carr, Sadia has a ton of recipes that will surely delight you. These are our favorites:
One Bowl Dark Chocolate Banana Bread ; Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup with Crispy Tofu; Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie Bowl
3. Alison Andrews from Loving it Vegan - Alison became vegetarian over 20 years ago. She explored with different vegan and vegetarian foods (including raw foods) until she landed on a fabulous vegan galaxy named Loving it Vegan. If you’re looking for dishes that taste good even for picky eaters, then Loving it Vegan is a great resource for you.
♥ Why I like her - Alison provides something different from what other recipe developers do. Loving it Vegan is a site where you’ll find amazing comfort food and desserts. I eat very healthy on a daily basis, so having this resource with tons of vegan cakes, ice cream and dessert toppings is a lovely way to treat myself and find inspiration for gatherings. The food she creates is meant to taste as good or better than the one made with animal products. Not a “tastes healthy” kind of version, but a really absolutely yummy version.
@ Where to find her: on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or visit her blog
> Books / Programs: Simple Vegan Dinner Recipes Cookbook
✪ Recipe (s) to try: Undoubtedly try her Vegan Ice Cream (The best ever!) and her Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream (have one right now in my freezer)
4. Heather Crosby from Yum Universe - Heather started her path towards a plant-based diet after her health had deteriorated and the doctors had recommended that she take medications for the rest of her life. These were the catapults to change her diet in which she removed gluten and soy, hence the exclusive soy-free and wheat-free recipes in her site. After noticing the improvements in her overall health, Heather got certified as a plant-based nutritional coach and her blog YumUniverse was born. After 10 years, Heather continues to create great recipes and contents that help people with allergies and food sensitivities, all plant-based.
♥ Why I like her - Having been introduced to YumUniverse by another health-conscious friend, I decided to buy her book without knowing too much about who she was. Her recipes are so good that one of them became a staple in my pantry. A talented, ingenious cook, Heather’s YumUniverse is a great resource for those with different dietary restrictions, whether they subscribe to a vegan lifestyle or not.
@ Where to find her: Instagram, Facebook or visit her blog
> Books / Programs: YumUniverse Cookbook; Pantry to Plate Cookbook ; and Gluten-Free Bread Baking course
✪ Recipe (s) to try: Whole Food Lentil & Quinoa Breakfast Patties (These patties are not only for breakfast !) ; and her Roasted Garlic and Lime Dressing recipe. Her orange pepita granola is a-ma-zing but the recipe is only available in her YumUniverse cookbook.
Note: As I was writing this article I found an interview that says that Heather eats fish from time to time. Her YumUniverse cookbook is entirely vegan though.
5. Alyssa Rimmer from Simply Quinoa - Aside from her creativity and cooking talents, Alyssa is a dog lover and someone who goes beyond a vegan diet to take care of her health. Her journey, as that of many vegan cooks and health coaches. began with an illness. Switching to a healthy vegan and gluten-free lifestyle prompted her to create a space to help others eat and feel better. She is a full-time blogger, recipe creator and certified holistic nutritionist.
♥ Why I like her - Everything she cooks is natural and wholesome and gluten-free. She has curated different health programs according to your needs: one to reset and detox your body; another one to learn how to prepare your meals for the week and a third one to learn how to cook plant-based meals to improve your energy levels and shed some pounds.
@ Where to find her: on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or visit her blog
> Books / Programs: Meal Plans & Wellness Products
✪ Recipe (s) to try: Healthy Apple Pie Breakfast Parfait and I’ll be soon trying her Ultimate Superfood Quinoa Porridge
Now that you have these resources, you can start trying new recipes and connecting with their platforms to create a fun and supportive space for your new lifestyle. If you’re wondering how to continue with this lifestyle despite the challenges, read on.
How do I keep motivated when cravings or social pressure arise?
Honestly speaking, those two things will inevitably happen. To this day, I still crave a mouthwatering vanilla milk shake and feel a bit uncomfortable when people single me out or make comments regarding my lifestyle. However, it has gotten easier with time and I feel more confident than I did when I first became vegan. I remember those first couple of weeks, I did not dare tell anyone about my decision.
Recently someone wrote that in order to stay motivated during the first weeks and months of this transition, we must remember our whys. These might look different to each one, as I shared in my last blog article, Why are Omnivores Trying Veganuary? The reasons why people try or change to a vegan diet vary a lot.
If you disagree with the way animals are raised for food, consider volunteering at a farm or at a sanctuary. Spending time with animals help us stay connected to them and to our resolution.
If, for example, your body needs a different kind of nutrition, give yourself time to adjust and to explore vegan food. You can cook or join a cooking class and then choose what makes you feel good and nourished. Keeping a journal with the positive changes you’re experiencing in your body and mind will help you focus on the gains.
Or, if you’re concerned about climate change and the environment, consider watching documentaries or joining organizations that are promoting veganism as a solution for sustainability. This summary of the report carried out by Oxford University on the topic might be useful to you.
I hope these resources are helpful and that you find a supportive community through each one of them. And if you know of other vegan cooks and accounts that you recommend, please leave your comments in the section below.
As this year starts, my resolve is to promote the vegan lifestyle in a helpful, friendly and informative way. If what you read at The Elephant Soul resonates with you, subscribe to my blog where I’ll post thoughtful articles every Monday.
Thank you for being here ♥
Namaste.
Diana
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