About

half head shot of julie, the simple veganista, holding a pineapple

Welcome!

Hi, my name is Julie, and I am The Simple Veganista. I love creating healthy, accessible, and easy vegan recipes that everyone will love and that are worth repeating!

I began a vegan lifestyle in early 2011 and haven’t looked back. Since then, I’ve become passionate about creating healthy vegan recipes, some 100% raw vegan recipes, and sharing in hopes of inspiring others.

I started this vegan food blog in July 2012 to share my celebration of foods that are as clean and nutrient-dense as possible and to shift the focus away from animal products and processed foods.

Vegan food is not boring, complicated, or expensive. I share with you all the simple, beautiful plant foods there are to eat and the different ways to put them together that taste great!

Eating a whole-foods plant-based diet has truly become a joy. So whether you’re eating vegan for health, the animals, or just because, join me on this journey as I make my own creations as well as re-creating or veganizing worthwhile recipes!

top down view of bowl with healthy serving of chickpea orzo lemon soup with spoon.

What Kind Of Recipes Will I Find Here?

You’ll find all types of whole food, plant based recipes, from fan-favorite vegan meals to tasty desserts, made mostly simple, with everyday ingredients that are easy to find!

Nourish yourself and your family with some of these readers favorite recipes:

Recipe Post Layout

You’ll find (most of) the recipe posts to be structured in a way to hopefully answer as many questions as you have. Each includes:

  • Ingredients: The ingredients with ideas for substitutions.
  • How to: A quick rundown on how to make the recipe with process shots so you can see what it should look like.
  • Top tips: The top tips and important takeaways for you to create the recipe with success
  • Dietary: Adjusting for dietary restrictions – when applicable.
  • Store: How to store in the refrigerator, freezer, etc.
  • Serving options: Suggestions (when applicable) include ideas for toppings, side dishes, or anything that will enhance the finished recipe.
  • Recipe card: The recipe card with full printable instructions and nutrition information is at the bottom.
  • Affiliate links: Occasionally, you will see links to products in the post and recipe card; these are products I personally use and find convenient or trust and recommend. They are also there as a visual so you know what to look for when in the grocery store or searching on the web.

If I happen to miss something and you have a question about the recipe, you can always ask in the comments, and I will respond ASAP!

P.S. I love your comments! It helps me know if the recipe is good, great, or can be better. I’m always up for improving my recipes with more tips and variations, so please leave your feedback!

What Else Will I Find On TSV?

You’ll find plenty of categories to click through, which can be found in the menu at the top of each page.

Here are a few POPULAR categories:

If you’re new to eating a vegan, plant-based diet, you should definitely take a look at My Vegan Pantry & Kitchen Essentials. It’s a great list to get you started. And if you’ve been eating a plant-based diet for a while, you may still learn something new!

Looking for vegan recipes by ingredients? Take a look at this Vegan Recipes By Ingredient to help guide you.

top down view of ingredients for easy chana masala recipe

Commonly Asked Questions

Will I Get Enough Nutrition On A Vegan Diet?

Yes! By eating a wide variety of wholesome foods, you can get all the nutrients your body needs. Beans, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits are packed with nutrients. In fact, you will find complete nutrition labels on every recipe, showing you just how nutritionally beneficial a plant-based diet is!

What About Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin not found in plant foods, but it can be found in fortified plant milk, cereals, and other foods, such as nutritional yeast. Try to be conscientious about taking in the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), you may even want to take a high-quality B12 supplement just to be sure.

Will I Get Enough Protein On A Plant-Based Diet?

Absolutely! For some reason, we’ve been taught that meat is protein and beans, nuts, and seeds aren’t held to the same “all-star” status. In reality, almost all foods except oils have protein!

This means you can get protein from your fruit (i.e. an avocado) or from quinoa, black beans, tofu, and even broccoli! In fact, as long as you’re eating enough calories, getting enough protein shouldn’t be an issue!

Is Vegan Food More Expensive?

Plant foods are some of the most inexpensive foods in the world (rice, beans, legumes, bananas, etc.). Many cultures eat this way, and adapting to a whole-foods way of eating – as opposed to a diet rich in processed foods – will no doubt result in savings.

A few tips to keep a whole food, vegan diet budget-friendly:

  • Eat seasonally to get the seasonal produce at its best quality and often the most reasonable price.
  • Focus on purchasing dry bulk items that you can prepare from scratch rather than precooked or prepackaged items (pre-packaged wrapped-around processed foods come at a premium price).
  • Buy frozen produce when on sale and save it.
  • Opt for canned beans and legumes as a main protein source.
  • Meal prepping can also be a great way to save!
down view of a vegan peanut butter cookie with bite taken out resting on a glass of almond milk with things surrounding.

Stay In Touch

If you haven’t done so yet, be sure to sign up for the free Newsletter where you’ll get the newest recipes, tips, and other delicious updates directly to your inbox. Or catch me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook.

If you’d like to contact me via email, please fill out this contact form (or shoot an email to [email protected]).

Thank you for stopping by, may you and all that surrounds you be healthy & well!

Serving nothing but love from my kitchen to yours,

xo Julie | The Simple Veganista