Curated · Trusted · Practical
Resources for Plant-Based Living
Recipes•Community•Dining Out
A curated collection of recipes, programs, cookbooks, and tools for plant-based living — wherever you're starting from.
Start wherever you are. These resources span the spectrum — from strictly whole-food and evidence-based to simply plant-based and fun — so inclusion isn't a clinical endorsement. Restaurants and indulgent recipes are gateways, not prescriptions; the Lifestyle Medicine Program focuses on the whole-food end.
Rainbow Plant Life✦NutritionFacts.org✦Forks Over Knives✦Straight Up Food✦The McDougall Program✦Engine 2✦PCRM✦HappyCow✦Rainbow Plant Life✦NutritionFacts.org✦Forks Over Knives✦Straight Up Food✦The McDougall Program✦Engine 2✦PCRM✦HappyCow✦
Recipe Websites
Make any recipe healthier. Almost any dish can move toward the whole-food end of the spectrum: use less salt, oil, and sugar; sweeten with dates; bake or air-fry instead of frying; and swap processed vegan meats for whole foods like mushrooms, cauliflower, sweet potato, lentils, barley, or jackfruit.
Physician & Program Sites
The McDougall Program →
Dr. John McDougall
Starch-centered, low-fat, oil-free approach with free recipes and educational articles.
Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease →
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn
Very-low-fat, oil-free protocol backed by landmark coronary-disease reversal research.
Engine 2 / PLANTSTRONG →
Rip Esselstyn
Recipes, coaching, meal plans, and a vibrant Plant-Strong community.
PCRM →
Dr. Neal Barnard
Research, the free 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, and diabetes & heart-health resources.
Eat to Live →
Dr. Joel Fuhrman
The nutrient-density ("Nutritarian") framework, with recipes and structured meal plans.
Ornish Lifestyle Medicine →
Dr. Dean Ornish
The first lifestyle program scientifically proven to reverse heart disease.
Center for Nutrition Studies →
T. Colin Campbell
The China Study research, articles, and a plant-based nutrition certificate.
Blue Zones →
Dan Buettner
Longevity lessons and a deep recipe library drawn from the world's longest-lived communities.
The Brain Docs →
Drs. Dean & Ayesha Sherzai
Neurologists' brain-health and Alzheimer's-prevention program built on a plant-based "NEURO" approach.
Tracye McQuirter, MPH →
Nutritionist · Educator
Award-winning public-health nutritionist behind By Any Greens Necessary and the African American Vegan Starter Guide.
Family-Friendly & Everyday
Whole-family, real-life cooking — budget-friendly, weeknight-fast, and forgiving of picky eaters. No separate "kid food" required.
Cookbooks We Love
A starter shelf — beginning with regional Mexican, then a few favorites from authors featured above. Links open a search at Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores.
Vegan Mexico →
Jason Wyrick
Soul-satisfying regional Mexican cooking from Jason Wyrick, who reversed his own type 2 diabetes going plant-based.
↳ The Vegan Taste
Arizona · Meal Delivery
Jason Wyrick's award-winning vegan meal delivery — chef-crafted meals, Phoenix metro.
Big Vegan Flavor →
Nisha Vora
Techniques and 150+ recipes from Rainbow Plant Life — a comprehensive guide to cooking with bold flavor.
The How Not to Die Cookbook →
Michael Greger, MD
Whole-food recipes built on the same evidence base as NutritionFacts.org.
Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook →
Ann & Jane Esselstyn
Oil-free, plant-based recipes designed for the Esselstyn heart-health protocol.
The China Study Cookbook →
LeAnne Campbell, PhD
Whole-food, plant-based recipes inspired by the landmark research of T. Colin Campbell.
The Happy Herbivore →
Lindsay S. Nixon
175+ fat-free and low-fat vegan recipes from everyday ingredients — the cookbook behind the website above.
The Blue Zones Kitchen →
Dan Buettner
100 longevity recipes from the five Blue Zones, with lifestyle tips woven throughout.
The 30-Day Alzheimer's Solution →
Drs. Dean & Ayesha Sherzai
A neurologist-designed brain-health cookbook and nutrition program built on the "Neuro Nine" foods.
Peaceful Kitchen →
Catherine Perez, RD
100+ cozy, comforting plant-based recipes from The Plant-Based RD.
Caribbean Vegan →
Taymer Mason
200+ authentic, meat- and dairy-free island recipes for every occasion.
Island Vegan →
Lloyd Rose
75 fresh, bold Caribbean recipes — Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, the DR, and more.
Puerto Rican Vegan Cookbook →
Jacinia Perez
Traditional, everyday, and holiday Puerto Rican dishes — full of sabor.
Vegan Caribbean & Dominican →
Victoria Amador
100% vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free Dominican and Caribbean cooking.
It's All About Plantz & Mushroomz →
Turnip Vegan
Turnip Vegan's viral and favorite recipes (Collection 2) — bold, plant-forward comfort food.
Eat to Live →
Joel Fuhrman, MD
The nutrient-density ("Nutritarian") approach to eating for health and lasting weight loss.
The Healthiest Diet on the Planet →
Dr. John & Mary McDougall
Why the starchy foods you love are the solution to preventing disease and feeling your best.
Digestive Tune-Up →
Dr. John McDougall
A plant-based approach to relief from common digestive complaints, from GERD to IBS.
Clean Food →
Terry Walters
A seasonal guide to eating close to the source — 250+ whole-food, plant-forward recipes.
Appetite for Reduction →
Isa Chandra Moskowitz
125 fast, filling, low-fat vegan recipes from the Veganomicon author.
Chef Babette — Stuff I Eat →
Chef Babette Davis
Vegan soul food, cookbooks, and wellness from the plant-strong chef behind Stuff I Eat.
Documentaries & Films
Powerful watches for anyone exploring the case for plant-based living — from performance to policy to the planet.
Plant-Based Athletes & Fitness
Proof that plants build strength and stamina — fueling, training, and inspiration for active bodies at every age.
Find a Plant-Based Provider Near You
Wherever you are, these directories let you find a plant-based or lifestyle-medicine clinician near you or by telehealth. UCF Health is our local Orlando anchor.
Plant-Based Dietitians
A registered dietitian can tailor the whole-food approach to your labs, medications, and goals. Start local, or use a directory to find one near you or by telehealth.
Vegan Restaurant Finders
Handy for travel and eating out — but the same rule applies: these help you find plant-based options, not necessarily the healthiest ones. Think of them as a door in, not a meal plan.
Vegan Travel
For when plant-based living hits the road — curated trips, cruises, and retreats where the food is already handled.
Community Picks
A growing, curated collection of favorites gathered from our plant-based community. These are hand-selected over time — check back as new picks are added.
More coming soon
New community favorites will appear here as they're gathered.
Local Favorites — Orlando & Kissimmee
The cluster of fully-vegan kitchens sits in Orlando's Milk District & Mills 50 area, roughly 25–35 minutes from Kissimmee. Closer to home, Taste of Punjab and Bolay (Lake Nona) are dependable plant-forward stops. Dining out is a treat, not a template — these make plant-based easy, not necessarily optimal.
Earthy Picks Vegan Cafe →
Downtown Orlando
Whole-foods vegan with big flavor and allergy-aware staff — the area's 4.9 standout.
Market On South →
Milk District
All-vegan food hall — Latin/Cuban A Lo Vegano and Vegan Scoops desserts share the space.
Plantees →
Mills 50
All-vegan burgers, nuggets, and shakes. Casual, open late, outdoor seating.
Winter Park Biscuit Co. →
Audubon Park
Vegan Southern comfort — famous crispy chick'n tenders, biscuits, and gravy.
Veggie Garden →
Mills 50
Entirely plant-based Vietnamese — vermicelli bowls, spring rolls, soy "meats." Great value.
The Madras Cafe →
Restaurant Row
South Indian veg/vegan on Sand Lake Rd — dosas, thali, and filter coffee.
The Earthy Kitchen →
East Orlando
Puerto Rican vegan — jackfruit "pork," trifongo, and sweet plantains.
Taste of Punjab →
Kissimmee
Indian/Pakistani on Irlo Bronson with plentiful vegan options — they'll make vegan naan.
Bolay →
Lake Nona
Build-your-own bowls, gluten-free with clear vegan options — family-friendly, midway to Orlando.
Vegan Junction →
Orlando · OBT & Downtown
All-vegan Indo-Chinese fusion — cauliflower wings, dumplings, and coconut curries.
Education · Evidence · Empowerment
From Resources to Real Change
These tools are a beautiful place to begin. When you're ready for the science, structure, and personalized guidance that turn information into lasting change, the Integral Health Lifestyle Medicine Program walks the path alongside you.
Explore the Lifestyle Medicine Program →