Excuse me if I’m a little captivated by my hotlist of 6 plant-based all-stars who have broken barriers in the whole foods world.

Their mouth-watering recipes and willingness to champion a healthy, sustainable lifestyle will give you plenty of motivation to stay on our plant-based journey.

You’ll see why these wellness warriors prove there are so many other ways to enjoy eating plant-based foods.

Sweet Potato Soul

Jenne Claiborne learned how to cook deeply satisfying food from her grandmother, but this YouTube star does it with a vegan twist.

I made her sweet potato home fries (below), and they were delish.

One of the most popular vegan bloggers on the internet, Claiborne has introduced thousands of people to plant-based eating.

If you’re looking for practical ways to add flavor and technique to plant-based meals, Claiborne can show you how.

Her recent cookbook Sweet Potato Soul 100 Easy Vegan Recipes is a staple in my kitchen.

Check Out:  sweetpotatosoul.com

Try this:   Ultimate Vegan Burrito Bowl

Natasha “Chef Beee” Brewley

D. Natasha Brewley, also known as Chef Beee, lost 70 lbs and overcame high blood pressure on a plant-based diet.   

After experiencing her own personal journey, she set out to teach others the abundant power of holistic living.

Chef Beee is my go-to for great raw plant-based recipes, and she ups the flavor and healing potential of her dishes by infusing them with certified pure essential oils.

The result is simply luscious and even life-altering.

Check Out:  ChefBeee.com

Try this:  Chef Beee’s Kick-ass Essential oil infused Vegan Lasagna.

Bryant Terry 

I remember the first time I picked up Bryant Terry’s’ cookbook, Vegan Soul Kitchen, a tribute to Southern, Afro-American, and Caribbean food.  I was immediately smitten.

Terry highlighted his recipes with titles of hip hop, soul, and jazz-infused songs.

Talk about setting the mood in the kitchen!  No wonder his food has a lyrical, uplifting quality.

Also widely respected for his activism to create a healthy, sustainable food system, Terry has gone on to write several more books, including his latest, Vegetable Kingdom, the abundant world of vegan recipes. 

Check out: bryant-terry.com

Try this:  citrus-and-garlic-herb-braised-fennel

Kris Carr

When Kris Carr’s revolutionary movie Crazy Sexy Cancer hit the screen more than ten years ago, I was flat on my back, dealing with health challenges.

She was one of the first bloggers to start promoting a plant-based diet and spiritual health.

Her blog became my lifeline, and even today, I still read it for her best-friend advice mixed with a science-backed approach.

Check Out:  KrisCarr.com

Try this:  Kris’ vegan red velvet cheesecake recipe

Badass Vegan

I’m a sucker for a good affirmation, and John Lewis, also known as Badass Vegan, always has a quick quote ready to inspire or challenge his readers to think and do better.

A former Division 1 college basketball player, Lewis became a vegan after his mother was diagnosed with colon cancer.

His frank, in your face vibe, fills up his Instagram page, shining a light on issues such as the lack of plant-based foods in communities of color.

He’s currently working on his first full-length feature film,  Hungry for Justice, a joint project with the maker of the groundbreaking documentary What’s the Health.  

Check Out:  Badassvegan.com

The Plant Based MD

I just recently discovered The Plant Based MD, and I’m glad I did.

Dr. Judy Brangman, affectionately called The Plant Based MD, has an easy-going manner that makes it fun to learn about health and how to add more whole foods to your diet.

She is a board-certified internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician.  Her passion for nutrition and wellness makes her a standout in the pill-dispensing medical profession.

Click on her Facebook page, and you might catch her cooking and chatting it up with her followers, dispensing simple strategies for making plant-based foods a normal way of life.

Check Out: Theplantbasedmd.com

I hoped you’ve enjoyed my list of 6 plant-based all-stars.

Hopefully, they’ll help you realize that you don’t have to go on this journey alone.  And if there’s someone you follow, let me know in the comments below.

Cassandra

Meal prep even when you’re stuck inside. 

I see you with those yoga pants, t-shirt, and bushy eyebrows.

Yes, if you’re like me, all this self-isolation from COVID-19 has taken a toll on your appearance. I too have settled into a rhythm of what I call nouveau leisure.

That’s a fancy way of saying I sometimes have a snag or two in my pants and my faded t-shirts have moved to the front of my closet.

I know firsthand once a routine sets in, it can quickly become a habit.

If you’re looking to avoid the pitfalls of mindless eating that may come from what seems like an endless eternity of staying at home, read on my friend.

1. Begin your week, planning your meals

Even if you’re not going anywhere that’s exactly why you should plan ahead.

We’ve heard time and time again that eating primarily whole, plant-based foods can help you strengthen your immune system.  But it won’t work if you don’t do it.

First, think about what’s in your fridge now and what you need to buy for the upcoming week.  Write it down on paper or put the list in your notes app on your smartphone.

You’ll find that one of the best benefits of creating a meal schedule is that you’ll cut down on waste and save money.  Who doesn’t like that?

2. Start a meal calendar

A meal calendar is like having your own private secretary.  It lets you know ahead of time when to begin preparing your meals.

I like using Google calendar, but if putting down ideas for upcoming meals in a journal or a paper calendar floats your boat, then do it.  I use whatever inspires me.  Color, special fonts, and pictures are great tools to keep you motivated.

Next, while you’re putting your calendar together, write in the plant-based foods that you would like to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Make sure you don’t forget your snacks. 

Setting a time to eat healthy foods like an orange, an apple, or making a green smoothie can help you avoid scarfing down foods that may be higher in fat, sodium, and calories like a bag of potato chips.

 Even if you’re not 100% plant-based, setting daily goals can lead to small gains. 

Since I’m not vegan, my calendar sometimes includes a couple of animal products, like eggs and fish, but I keep the number low, below 10%. 

If you can fill out your calendar for the whole week, that’s great.  If a seven-day head start is too overwhelming, then fill it out every couple of days. Don’t make it complicated.

But what if you don’t like to write? There are other tools you can use, like using your phone’s voice recorder. It’s the perfect solution, especially if you normally talk faster than you write.

3. Look for inspiration

Sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to cook.  I get it.

Now’s the time to dig out some of your cookbooks.  Just looking at the pictures can inspire you to head to the stove or create a big ole salad.   

You can also start a Pinterest board, or cut out pictures from food magazines to help you visualize the perfect meal schedule for you.

4. Chop, slice and dice ahead of time

As soon as you come home from the store, cut up plenty of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage. I find they’re the easiest to organize. 

Next, I like to slice other vegetables, like carrots, squash, and zucchini.

Veggies like these are easy to place on my calendar, and I can always switch them out.

Also, my family has found that we cook less because we have more bright, abundant vegetables already prepped to throw in a salad or veggie bowl.

If you don’t like to pre-prep vegetables, your local grocery store has plenty of chopped vegetables that you can pick up.  Buying frozen vegetables can also help you get meals onto the table faster.

5. Review your calendar the day before and day of your meals

If you’re going to make your calendar work for you, check it throughout the day, at least a couple of hours before each meal, so you know what to eat next.

A food calendar is like a road map that can help you see where you’re going.  It helps you avoid getting off the wrong exit and landing somewhere that’s filled with sugar, processed food, and binge eating.

6. Go easy on yourself

Even if you don’t make everything on your calendar, just enjoy the fact that you attempted to create something on your list.

And don’t forget your leftovers.  A lot of times, I have leftovers from meals that I made on the first couple of days on my calendar, which ends up pushing my other meal ideas to the following week.

Finally, seeing your meals in print can also reinforce your commitment to staying on track.

Even though the rest of the world may hold a lot of uncertainty at this time, you can help your body feel calmer and secure, starting with your plate.

Getting a jump start on your weekly meals may be just what you need to magnify your well-being.  Something we could all use right about now. 

So what are you doing during this time to eat healthier, high-vibrational foods?  I want to hear all about it.  Let me know in the comments below.