Hey friend!
If you’re new here – my name is Carleigh, and I’m the founder of PlantYou.
This blog began as a dream to help people discover the power of adding more plants to their plates. There are countless reasons to embrace a plant-predominant lifestyle, from nurturing your health and boosting longevity to protecting animals and caring for our planet.
I founded PlantYou in 2016 to share the simple, accessible, and delicious recipes that helped me transition to plant-based living. Fast forward to today, and we’re a community of over 11 million, with two New York Times Bestselling cookbooks!
I’m so glad you’ve found your way here. If you’d like to explore more, here are some of our most popular resources and links to get started.
My Story
In 2015, when the World Health Organization announced that red and processed meats were linked to cancer risk, it hit close to home. I’d grown up on a traditional “meat and potatoes” diet, with family favorites like steak and pork chops on weekly rotation. The news took on even deeper meaning because my dad is a stage 2 colon cancer survivor.
With my background in media theory and journalism, I dove into the research, pouring over life-changing books like The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I even enrolled in a year-long holistic health course to expand my understanding of nutrition. The more I learned, the clearer it became: a whole-foods, plant-based lifestyle is one of the most powerful ways to protect our health and increase longevity.
I’d always loved animals, having grown up on a hobby farm with chickens, horses, and our many family pets. As I connected the dots between food, health, and the well-being of all living creatures…
The decision to go plant-based was an easy one. Figuring out what the heck to eat was not.
I had no real cooking skills and only a tiny bachelor apartment kitchen, so I began experimenting with simple plant-based meals, adapting my favorite childhood dishes with plant-based swaps. My very first recipe makeover? A comforting pasta with a rich, veggie-packed bolognese sauce.
And that’s how PlantYou was born.
I quickly realized there was a big need for straightforward, approachable recipes in the vegan space. The simple recipe infographics I shared on Instagram started going viral, and before I knew it, we had built an incredible online community.
In 2018, I launched the PlantYou Planner, our digital meal-planning program designed to make plant-based eating easy and enjoyable. And the journey has been a whirlwind! I’ve had the privilege of sharing the benefits of plant-based living on major TV networks, and I’m so grateful to have published two NYT bestselling cookbooks.
My goal is simple: to make plant-based eating accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Whether you’re looking to make a full transition or just want to add more plants to your plate, I’m here to make it easy, delicious, and empowering.
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You can also check out the Bold Bundle here, which I participate in every year!