A vegetarian diet is rich in nutrients, but in the demanding world we live in, we could all benefit from some expert nutritional advice. To balance ourselves, we look at the Instagram accounts and websites of vegan nutritionists and registered dietitians. These people inspire us to stay on track with their informative posts, satisfying recipes and relatable captions. Here are eight vegan nutrition experts to start following today.
What does a vegetarian nutritionist do?
Like most nutritionists and dietitians, vegan nutritionists work with people to better understand the link between food and health. But in the case of vegan nutritionists, they focus exclusively on the benefits of a plant-based diet. Many embrace a holistic approach to nutrition, and much of the anti-diet culture, which means they reject the idea that we need to limit certain foods and categorize them into “good” and “bad” groups in order to be healthy. Instead, they promote long-term, sustainable healthy eating habits.
Vegan nutritionist
To learn more and discover which method works for you, check out the list below.
Tracy McQuitter
1 Tracy McQuitter, MPH
“I truly believe that being vegan is about practicing love, freedom, and joy—not deprivation,” says Tracy McQuitter. Her work as a public health nutritionist and a proud vegan trailblazer clearly reflects that belief. A vegan for more than 30 years, McQuitter has dedicated herself to making the movement a positive and inclusive one for communities of color. Empowering and supporting the black community to adopt a healthy vegan lifestyle is central to her mission, which is why she started the 10,000 Black Vegan Women movement, a program equipped with nutritious meal-prep tips, healthy recipes and grocery shopping lists. Follow him on Instagram to keep up with his latest endeavors.
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@TaylorWolframard/Instagram
2 Taylor Wolfram, MS, RDN, LDN
Taylor Wolfram is an inspiring embodiment of ethics, not only a vegan dietitian, but also anti-diet and anti-racist. Her work focuses on distancing herself from food culture, combating toxic narratives that perpetuate fatphobia and unhealthy relationships with food, and educating the public about misconceptions about veganism and eating disorders. Wolfram’s core message? Advocacy and activism require us to have a healthy relationship with ourselves so that we can give our best to the causes we are fighting for. Her Instagram combines positive affirmations with photos of tempting food while her website offers in-depth education on anti-racism, anti-diet and body liberation resources.
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@radhidevlukia/Instagram
3Radhi Devalukia-Shetty, AHC
If you follow Radhi Devalukia-Shetty on Instagram, you know that her bubbly personality and fun dances in her kitchen are bound to brighten up your days. While she had a degree in nutrition and dietetics, she explored a more holistic approach to wellness and later earned a degree in Ayurvedic health counseling. The Instagrammer uses the sacred wisdom of Ayurveda and her love of Indian cuisine to create recipes that bring together Western and Eastern cuisines into one harmonious, mouthwatering meal. In addition to food, her content includes words of wisdom on mindful, conscious living.
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@babychickpeas/Instagram
4 Grace Pascal, MS, RDN
Grace Pascal is about living with purpose. She focuses her work on encouraging a healthy attitude toward one’s body image, debunking “good and bad food” labels, and communicating evidence-based nutrition science in a way that is easily accessible to all. If you enjoy “what do I eat in a day” videos for endless recipe ideas, her YouTube channel has plenty of them. On Instagram, expect day-in-the-life style photos, including food, home life and her adorable vegan daughter.
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@marriedtohealth/Instagram
5 Dahlia Marin, RDN and James Marin, RDN, EN
This dynamic duo specializes in plant-based integrative medical nutrition. They co-founded the Institute of Plant Based Medicine (IOBPM)—an organization that applies a multi-specialty approach combining evidence-based medicine with plant-based nutrition to prevent, treat and/or reverse disease. Follow this vegan power couple on Instagram for vegan nutrition tips, recipes for kids and adults, safe DIY household cleaning products and sustainable home hacks.
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@plantbasedrd/Instagram
6 Catherine Perez, MS, RD
Catherine Perez will get anyone on the bowl diet bandwagon. Her satisfying vegan recipes are packed with delicious lentil stew, beans, whole grains and good-for-you greens. She offers mouth-watering food photos as well as wellness tips, cooking classes and accessible vegan grocery lists on her website and Instagram account. Perez’s mission is to demonstrate joyful ways to live as a vegetarian and educate those around her to make their own decisions at their own pace. If you need to take baby steps toward healthy eating, Perez will hold your hand the entire time.
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@plantbasedjuniors/Instagram
7 Alexandra Caspero, MA, RDN and Whitney English, MS, RD
These powerful moms are helping fellow parents navigate the misinformation about raising vegan kids. Backed by scientific research, their plant-based junior company offers a positive, inclusive and open-minded space for parents with diverse dietary preferences. Their website and Instagram have resources for pregnant moms and new moms with picky eaters. Follow them for healthy recipes, supplement advice, feeding tips, easy swaps, and tons of advice that will make you feel less overwhelmed as a parent and more comfortable with your growing baby’s health.
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@desireenielsenrd/Instagram
8 Desiree Nielsen
If you want to learn more about gut health, Desiree Nielsen, RD is a great person to follow on social media. She is the author of Digestive Health Cookbooks Good for your gut, and his approach focuses mainly on chronic digestive issues as well as inflammatory diseases You can also listen to her podcast The Allsorts Podcast, which is about healthy plant-based eating, and includes interviews with influential figures such as athlete Dotsy Bausch and influencer and vegan chef Joan Molinaro (aka The Korean Vegan).
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