You’ve got in all probability seen her movies in the event you frequent meals pages on Instagram or TikTok. Carleigh Bodrug is the face of PlantYou, her weblog and username she wears with pleasure to her hundreds of thousands of followers throughout a number of social media platforms. Surpassing over 27 million likes on her TikTok movies, Bodrug is greatest recognized for her plant-based hacks and recipes that simplify a vegan weight loss plan.
In her current partnership with Take Root Organics, Bodrug developed vegan recipes like Creamy Gnocchi Soup and Vegan Tomato Cauliflower Parm utilizing easy substances like canned tomatoes and sauce, making them sensible and scrumptious vacation dishes everybody can take pleasure in. We sat down with Bodrug to speak extra about these recipes and her journey since she switched to a plant-based weight loss plan seven years in the past.
Learn on to study extra about her vegan life-style, the recommendation she has for brand spanking new plant-based eaters and the Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies recipe from her cookbook that she shared with EatingWell.
EatingWell: What impressed you to transition to a vegan consuming sample?
Bodrug: I began transitioning to a vegan life-style in 2015 after the World Well being Group got here out with the information that purple and processed meat had been classed as Group 2 and Group 1 carcinogens. My father’s a stage-2 colon most cancers survivor, and this information was notably stunning as a result of 10 years prior when he had colon most cancers, we by no means thought of [his] weight loss plan as a contributing issue or as one thing to regulate post-treatment. Meat was a mainstay on Canada’s Meals Information—the place we’re from—so it was very contradictory to something we have ever heard. I’ve a journalism background, so I began actually delving into the analysis about meat and most cancers being linked, particularly purple and processed meat, in addition to the influence animal agriculture has on the atmosphere. It grew to become abundantly clear {that a} plant-based life-style was a wholesome resolution.
Once I first began transitioning to a plant-based weight loss plan, it was rocky as a result of I grew up on a pastime farm. Previous to this, I [had] by no means eaten a completely vegan meal in my life! I had no concept what to eat and was embarking on this journey with a very clear slate. That is why I went plant-based: I all the time say I went vegan for my well being, and I stayed vegan due to the atmosphere and the animals.
EatingWell: What impressed you to start out sharing your favourite vegan recipes on social media?
Bodrug: It actually stemmed from Carleigh again in 2015 who had no concept go vegan. I bear in mind one of many first issues I did once I was contemplating this was hopping on Pinterest and searching up the phrase “vegan” and there was this endless stream of those stunning nourishables. Carved avocados, spiralized zucchini … I bear in mind considering “I can not do that!” as a result of it was such a far departure from the meals that I grew up consuming. Given my journalism background and my curiosity in documenting this journey, I began sharing actually sensible plant-based meals on Instagram and on a weblog beneath the title “PlantYou” and what have you learnt! Now I am sitting on this interview with you seven years later. Folks had been actually interested in the practicality and the convenience of it versus actually complicating a vegan weight loss plan.
EatingWell: What suggestions do you might have for somebody seeking to begin a vegan weight loss plan?
Bodrug: What I all the time say to individuals is to not essentially go in full-fledged—until they’re tremendous motivated—however to check out what they sometimes eat in a standard week and the meals that they love and already know. For instance, in the event you begin your day with cereal, have a tuna salad for lunch and dinner is tacos, there’s small tweaks you may make in these meals to make them plant-based as an alternative of introducing all of this meals that you just’re not acquainted with. In order that [could be] swapping out your morning milk for a dairy-free possibility, changing your tuna salad with a smashed chickpea salad sandwich, and choosing a vegan meat in the marketplace or attempting your individual with tofu, walnuts and mushrooms in place for dinner. That is going that can assist you preserve that familiarity in your weight loss plan with meals you’re keen on whereas additionally slowly transitioning.
And I all the time say that we do not should be good, and it is not about being good. It is about adjusting and doing one thing that is sustainable for you. You can begin by attempting out Meatless Mondays or going to a vegan restaurant. All of these items make a distinction, they usually add as much as you changing into increasingly plant-based over time.
EatingWell: What are your favourite vegan recipes for entertaining?
Bodrug: If I wish to win somebody over with a tremendous, mind-blowing plant-based recipe, my Creamy Gnocchi Soup utilizing Take Root Natural’s diced tomatoes and their tomato paste is such a winner. I take advantage of the diced tomato and tomato paste for the soup base, which provides a really wealthy tomato taste, however then you definately add cashew cream to it and gnocchi on the finish. Folks all the time adore it, they usually by no means know it is vegan. It is a true winner and one thing that everybody—vegan or not—ought to strive.
EatingWell: Do you might have any suggestions for somebody who’s vegan and attending a gathering with household or pals? How do you navigate that?
Bodrug: Holidays is usually a difficult time for vegans as a result of I feel the stakes are excessive when you are going to a social gathering with household and pals that may not be as accepting of your new life-style. One of many issues I all the time recommend to individuals is bringing a vegan dish to share with everyone. That method, you might have one thing to eat and it takes the strain off the host, and also you’re bringing one thing scrumptious to share and speak about.
I completely love making a Vegan Tomato Cauliflower Parm utilizing Take Root Natural’s Roma tomato sauce. You narrow your cauliflower into steaks and bread it with breadcrumbs, pop them within the oven and prime it with tomato sauce and cashew cream. It is like a rooster Parm cutlet however cauliflower as an alternative. It is good for the vacations and the right meal to share.
EatingWell: What does consuming properly imply to you?
Bodrug: Consuming properly to me means getting again to fundamentals. Once we have a look at a plant-based life-style, I actually assume that specializing in complete meals and stocking your pantry with actually easy substances is a very good spot to start out. It is taking a look at unprocessed meals and making meals from plant-based meals that you recognize you possibly can love and share with household and pals. To me, it is easy consuming. We are likely to overcomplicate issues, particularly in a vegan life-style there’s tons of processed choices, however actually, there’s nice meals that may be made with canned tomatoes, beans, rice and greens.
Up subsequent: Consuming Extra Fruits and Veggies Could Enhance Your Reminiscence—Here is Why, In accordance with Analysis
Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies
We love Bodrug’s recommendation about making small tweaks to meals you already take pleasure in when getting began on a extra plant-based consuming sample. Having choices that may be made forward for grab-and-go are nice for making wholesome, plant-based decisions straightforward as properly, which is the place these scrumptious breakfast cookies are available.
By Carleigh Bodrug
Lively: 10 minutes
Whole: 25 minutes
Servings: 8
Substances
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/3 cup darkish chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon floor cinnamon
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Mash bananas in a big bowl. Add oats, chocolate chips, baking powder and cinnamon; combine properly. Utilizing moist arms, kind the combination into balls (about 1/4 cup every). Place a minimum of 1 inch aside on the ready baking sheet. Flatten the balls together with your arms or the again of a fork till they’re roughly a 1/2-inch thick.
Step 3
Bake till a toothpick inserted right into a cookie comes out clear, about 12 minutes.
Recipe tailored from the PlantYou cookbook.
