This piece has been syndicated from Her Campus at Wells. You can join a chapter at your school (or start your own!).
When you think about a vegan or a vegetarian diet, you probably think of a restricted diet that consists of nothing but salads. Don’t worry, you’re not alone, I did too. But for 2019, I decided to research a bit more about what vegan and vegetarian diets actually were and how it can contribute to living a healthier lifestyle and even give back to mama earth.
According to Healthline, “A large study in over 200,000 people found that those who followed a healthy plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains legumes, and nuts had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease than those following non-plant-based diets.”
Of course, adopting a vegan or a vegetarian lifestyle is not for everyone, however, it has been proven to lower your risks of diseases that can easily be avoided just by opting for healthier food options. Even if you start off by eating plant-based for one meal a day, and then gradually incorporate it into your daily habit, you’ll be on your way to ‘nourishing your cells and your soul’ as Pick Up Limes would say.
Here are 5 women of color plant-based influencers that inspire me every day to continue to fuel my body with healthy and wholesome foods:
1. Rachel Ama
Rachel Ama is the perfect influencer to follow if you come from a Caribbean background and want to transition into a plant-based diet but still crave those delicious home-cooked meals. She takes your favorite Caribbean recipes and puts a vegan twist on it to bring out your favorite Caribbean flavors.
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2. Pick Up Limes
Sadia Badiei, also known as Pick Up Limes, is a breath of fresh air. Her YouTube channel is a beautiful mixture of vegan recipes and inspiration to live your best life. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate vegan snacks into your diet, check out her video on Healthy Eating Snacks. Or if you need a pick me up (pun kind of intended) to get your day started, check out her 3-part video on meditation. You’ll find all things health and wellness on the Pick Up Limes channel!
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3. SweetPotatoSoul
Jenne Clairborne or you may know her as SweetPotatoSoul, is a great resource when getting into a plant-based lifestyle. She has books, videos, and recipes to encourage you to play with different vegetables, nuts, and legumes. If you’re thinking about trying a vegan diet, SweetPotatoSoul’s YouTube channel is the best place to start!
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4. CookingwithJaritzzz
A budding influencer, Jaritza Santiago, also know as @CookingwithJaritzzz on Instagram will have your mouth watering with her delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. If you’re too nervous to dive in with whole meals, try one of her energizing smoothies, you’ll find a rainbow of ‘potions’ on her page that I’m sure you’ll love!
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5. Tish Wonders
If it weren't for CookingwithJaritzzz, I would have never found another woman of color to inspire me to adopt a healthy lifestyle. If you don’t follow Tish Wonder’s Instagram page, you are seriously missing out on some of the most colorful vegan palettes you may ever see! You’ll find recipes with veggies, legumes, herbs & spices. Tish Wonders will walk you through an array of recipes if you’re just diving into your plant-based journey. As you can see below, I've already dived into the wonders (pun intended) of her channel, check it out!
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Happy plant-based eating!