About

After more than a decade of being vegan, I truly believe that vegan cooking doesn't have to be complicated.

You don't have to reach the skill level of a vegan celebrity chef to cook delicious vegan food.

You don't need to drive to a fancy store an hour away to get a hard-to-find ingredient for a recipe you want to make.

You don't need to spend hours and hours in the kitchen just to make a single meal that your family will scarf down in no time.

My hope is that Vegan Runner Eats helps you become more confident in the kitchen so you can fit vegan cooking into your busy life - and actually enjoy it!

Take a look around, find something delicious to make, and come back for more inspiration whenever you need it!

I'm glad you're here ❤️

I've been cooking at home for most of my life - ever since my mom was confident that I could turn on the stove without burning down the house 😄

When I went vegan in 2013, I discovered a whole new dimension in the world of cooking. I  started learning about making plant-based food delicious without leaning on non-vegan "crutches" like bacon, butter, or parmesan cheese.

As a result, I've spent years developing vegan recipes, experimenting with ingredients and cooking methods, finding shortcuts that make plant-based cooking easier, and sharing it all here on Vegan Runner Eats and on my YouTube channel, Adventures in Vegan Living.

I also experienced quite a few different stages of vegan life: going vegan as an adult, being a vegan athlete, navigating pregnancy as a vegan, and now raising a vegan child. During each stage, I shared my experience and lessons I learned here on the blog.

Along the way, my recipes and cooking tutorials have helped thousands of people become more confident in the kitchen and discover that vegan food doesn't have to be complicated.

My story has been featured on Forks Over Knives, and I've been interviewed about my experience as a vegan athlete by Leigh-Chantelle.com and about vegan motherhood on The Everyday Vegan Mum podcast.

I've also contributed articles to No Meat Athlete, MoneySavingMom.com, One Green Planet, and FatFreeVegan.com, among others.

That said, I'm not a doctor or dietitian. When I write about nutrition, vegan parenting, and lifestyle, I share what I've learned through my own experience and research. If you're looking for medical or nutritional expertise, I strongly recommend consulting qualified professionals.

⭐ I was born and raised in ex-USSR. When I was 21, I moved to the United States by myself - my whole family stayed behind.

⭐ I had a number of unusual jobs in my first years of living in the US. I worked as an airbrush tattoo artist, gelato factory attendant, adult novelty store salesperson, and a fast food hamburger maker.

⭐ My husband and I met on a dating website all the way back in 2010. That's before dating apps were created, so you had to go on the actual website on your computer! 😄

⭐ Our family has lived in Florida, Alabama, Washington state, Virginia, and now we're back in Florida. (No, my husband isn't in the military 😄)

⭐ I've been baking sourdough bread every week since March of 2022. I usually make it on Tuesdays or Wednesdays when we have a "soup and bread day".

⭐ I've run 3 marathons and 7 half-marathons over the years. Today I don't run as much but regularly lift weights.

⭐ I love gardening but constantly fight with deer because they eat all of my roses and most of the vegetables 🤦‍♀️

⭐ My favorite flowers to grow are zinnias. I've tried so many varieties and learned so much that I could probably start a dedicated Instagram account to share my knowledge!

➡️ Easy, Family-Friendly Vegan Recipes

My recipes focus on approachable, flavorful, family-friendly vegan meals made with simple, easy to find ingredients. These recipes are perfect for quick weeknight dinners or special occasions.

Most of my recipes work for busy families and mixed households so you can share meals confidently even if not everyone eating it is vegan.

You'll find easy vegan breakfasts, main dishes, soups and stews, pasta, sandwiches, tacos and wraps, side dishes, desserts, and more.

➡️ Vegan Cooking Tips & Tutorials

I believe that a big part of success as a vegan cook is knowing how to make something work.

That's why you'll find plenty of practical vegan kitchen-related advice here, too: what to keep in a vegan pantry, how to cook without oil, how to easily cook tofu or tempeh, how to put together quick meals when you're short on time, how to be vegan on a budget, and lots more.

➡️ Vegan Parenthood

My husband and I have been raising our daughter vegan since birth, so I also write about what vegan parenthood looks like for our family.

I believe that there isn't only one "right" way to raise vegan kids. That's why my vegan parenting posts are meant to inspire you rather than insist that you do things my way.

Read about my experiences with vegan pregnancy, breastfeeding, feeding a vegan baby and toddler, school lunches, kid-friendly meals, and the everyday questions that come up when you're raising a vegan child in a mostly non-vegan world.

➡️ Navigating Life as a Vegan

Living as a vegan goes beyond food! Aside from recipes and cooking tips, I've shared my knowledge and advice to help people who are just beginning their vegan journey or want to know more about some aspects of life as a vegan.

You'll find posts about going and staying vegan, traveling as a vegan, vegan cookbook and product reviews, opinion pieces, vegan running and fitness-related posts from my early days of blogging, etc.

FAQ

If you're hungry, start with my Recipe Index, where you can browse all of my vegan recipes by category.

Still getting comfortable with vegan cooking? Check out Vegan Kitchen Basics for practical how-to's, shortcuts, and cooking tips.

And if you're feeding little vegans of your own, head over to Feeding Vegan Kids and Vegan Parenthood for recipes, ideas, and stories from my family's experience.

Stick Around!