We’ve carefully selected these blogs because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information. If you would like to tell us about a blog, nominate them by emailing us at bestblogs@healthline.com!
Veganism is a growing trend in the United States. Approximately 3.7 million U.S. adults follow a vegan diet, according to a 2016 poll by the Vegetarian Resource Group. Many assume being vegan is being a more “extreme” vegetarian. But being vegan means more than cutting out animal products like meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and honey from your diet. It means committing to a cruelty-free lifestyle.
The American Vegan Society explains fully embracing veganism involves making ethical choices about clothes, like not wearing fur, leather, or silk. It means forgoing animal-tested household products and cosmetics. It’s choosing biodegradable products over those that pollute landfills and water sources. And being vegan means working to protect animal and environmental rights.
Following a vegan lifestyle is also not without its perks. Research suggests a balanced vegan diet is associated with many health benefits, such as reduced blood pressure, risk of certain cancers, and incidence of stroke. But as with any diet, balance is key. Vegans may be particularly susceptible to nutritional deficiencies if they don’t balance their diets.
There are many shades of vegan though. The best way to be vegan is the way that works for you. Many of our favorite vegan bloggers have found their own paths to veganism. They practice vegan lifestyles for many reasons, be it allergies, a commitment to animal rights, or just because they don’t like meat. They offer their best recipes, favorite products, and inspirational tips on going vegan.
Check out our picks for the best vegan blogs of the year.
Vegan and cruelty-free for 17 years, blogger Sunny Subramanian runs the beauty guide Vegan Beauty Review. Sunny’s space is bursting with tips. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to take veganism beyond diet or to make more informed choices about makeup.
Check out her lists of vegan and cruelty-free companies to see if your favorite foundation is hiding more than your blemishes. Or scroll through the archives for master posts like this guide to vegan shampoo.
Recipes for both edible vegan goodies (like these baked donuts) and homemade beauty treats are sprinkled in, as are video reviews of vegan beauty services. Sunny practices what she preaches (just take a peek inside her purse). Her bright take on vegan beauty proves that beauty doesn’t have to be painful.
Since 2008, this San Francisco-based lifestyle guide has had its finger on the vegan pulse. Led by Laura Hooper Beck, the Vegansaurus team reviews restaurants, vegan products, and keeps tabs on vegan news across the country.
Look for restaurant reviews by location, especially if you’re in the Bay Area. Neighborhood-specific guides give you the inside scoop on the best vegan spots, whether you’re in Alameda or the Upper Haight. If activism is more your speed, check out the latest edition of Animal News You Can Use. It’s a newsletter rounding up nationwide developments in animal rights.
Founded in 2008, Chic Vegan is the place to be to keep up with cruelty-free fashion. Dianne Wenz is the current editor.
The blog has expanded beyond its fashion focus to cover everything you need to live a fully cruelty-free and vegan life. Posts range from delectable dictums, like 10 reasons to eat more chocolate, to more sobering thought pieces on animal cruelty in entertainment. If fashion is what you’re looking for, you’ll find reviews of the latest in stylish bucket bags alongside tips for recognizing quality in clothing.
You’ll also find interviews with other vegan bloggers, including Sunny from Vegan Beauty Review. Chic Vegan is a great space to explore what it means to live fully vegan. If you’re just starting out, stop by the Why Vegan? page for their take on the lifestyle.
KD Angle-Traegner started Your Daily Vegan back in 2009, though she’s been vegan for more than 12 years. Her love of animals inspired her to adopt a vegan lifestyle and make animals her life. She’s also the founder of nonprofit Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. A believer in the idea that blogging is activism, KD’s space is a mix of recipes, personal posts, and guides on all things vegan (including how to start your own vegan blog).
Recipes include tasty bites like savory tomato rosemary scones. There are also guides to walk you through fundamentals like vegan protein sources. KD also includes recommendations for books and movies for furthering your vegan education. Whatever your vegan needs, Your Daily Vegan is sure to have something you’ll love.
Run by Canadian couple Lauren and John, Hot for Food is the place to be for cool, “I can’t believe it’s vegan!” fare. Vegan for more than 10 years, collectively, Lauren and John create fantastic recipes that range from fast food mimics, like In-N-Out animal-style fries, to elegant entrees, like oyster mushroom scallops with spaghetti, kale, and pomegranate.
Mostly a food blog, Hot for Food also includes home and beauty recipes. Some options for pampering yourself include a DIY floral bath soak while enjoying cheesy Brussels sprout tater tots (I swear they’re vegan). This blog is a must visit for anyone looking to shake up their food routines. And it’s a great resource for anyone finding it difficult to give up their favorite meaty treats.
Just like the name says, Go Dairy Free is all about dairy-free living. Founder Alisa Fleming started the blog in 2005 as a way to share insights from her own journey to a dairy-free diet. Go Dairy Free features tons of recipes, product reviews (Ever wondered if those supermarket boxed cake mixes are vegan?), and guides to dairy-free-friendly restaurant and fast food options.
Although dairy-free and vegan diets often overlap, they don’t always align. But not to worry. Alisa includes both a vegan recipe index and dietary notes with every recipe so you can be absolutely sure. Vegan recipes range from appetizers to desserts and everything in between. Check out tempting summer sweets like black grape sorbet or heartier fare like roasted beet sandwiches with garlic herb spread.
When naturally curious Jackie Sobon started reading about chemical use in food and consumer goods production, it wasn’t long before she committed to a vegetarian, and then a vegan, diet.
Vegan Yack Attack is an account of her journey trying new recipes and working through what being vegan looks like for her. The result is a treasure trove of vegan (and some raw) recipes sure to make your mouth water. Try her tofu Benedict filo pockets for your next brunch, or daydream about making chipotle white bean salad sandwiches until you can get to the grocery store. Also a photographer, Jackie includes stunning pictures with all her recipes, making them simple to follow.
After struggling with eating disorders for years, Gena found that veganism helped her see eating as a way of doing good in the world rather than as something she had to control. Now a certified nutritionist, Gena shares her penchant for compassionate eating through The Full Helping.
She mixes recipes with weekend reading posts and roundups of interesting articles that cover topics like health and animal rights. Gena also designs her recipes to be comforting, nourishing, and just plain delicious. Try her chai spiced carrot almond muffins, or celebrate spring with a simple lemon orzo pasta salad. You won’t find nutritional information included with the recipes. But Gena does offer nutrition counseling sessions if you’d like to know more about balancing your plate.
Inspired to experiment with dairy-free baking due to lactose intolerance, Dana started Minimalist Baker in 2012. Now, with a little help from husband John, Dana writes minimalist dairy-free and vegan recipes. All recipes have 10 or fewer ingredients, use one bowl, or take 30 minutes or less to make.
A fantastic resource for those who don’t have time on their side or for those days when you just don’t feel like cooking, Minimalist Baker’s recipe repository goes beyond sweets and covers savory bites too. Try quick and easy desserts like four-ingredient peanut butter fudge, or snacks like vegan and gluten-free crackers. Dana also includes handy how-to guides for basics like making cauliflower rice and your own curry powder.
When vegetarian Kristy wanted to try going vegan, husband Chris was immediately on board. Now the couple runs Keepin’ it Kind as a record of their vegan adventures. Kristy writes recipes and blog posts while Chris takes the pictures.
Try their favorite recipes, banh mi-less banh mi bowls and buffalo cauliflower wing pizza, or browse categories like kid-tested and gluten-free recipes. Kristy and Chris also track their travels and post city and restaurant guides to eating vegan on-the-go. If you’re still on the fence or curious about how others found veganism, check out the My Vegan Story section for tales from readers, chefs, and others in the vegan community.
Healthy Happy Life features recipes from cookbook author Kathy Patalsky. Kathy became vegan more than 13 years ago, partly due to her love of animals. Since then, she’s written about the personal benefits of being vegan, produced a plethora of delectable recipes, and curated guides on everything from cacao to vegan cheese. Her most popular recipe is a sweet potato veggie burger. But be sure to check out spring favorites like easy asparagus soup and smoky avocado toast.
Based on her experiences with food allergies, blogger Cara wanted to create a space for others with dietary restrictions. The result? Fork and Beans, a haven of gluten-, egg-, and dairy-free recipes.
In addition to recipes like gluten-free pita bread and Italian quinoa bites, Cara posts tons of handy guides under her Baking 101 tab. Master posts on navigating gluten-free flours and egg replacers are invaluable for anyone who wants to cook allergen-free, explore vegan substitutes, or better understand how to get the most bang for their buckwheat. Fork and Beans also features a fantastic Play with Your Food section with fun, kid-friendly projects and treats that’s well worth a look.
Run by crafty blogger Hannah Kaminsky, Bittersweet is a repository for creative cooking and much more. Hannah is a hobby photographer and a talented knitter and crocheter. And she shares her passions in this space.
Those interested in photography will enjoy her Silent Sunday photo essays, while those looking for new knitting patterns will be tickled by food-themed projects like knit hot dogs. (Be sure to use acrylic yarn to make them truly vegan!)
Recipe posts always pair food with stories, and range from sweet (like quadruple chocolate honeycomb) to savory (like four-layer garden party dip). Of course, Hannah has published four cookbooks on vegan desserts, so you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not scrolling through the dessert section and drooling over sweets like Tex-Mex ice cream sandwiches (jalapeno chocolate ice cream with cornmeal chocolate chunk blondies).
Kristen Barta is a doctoral candidate in Communication at the University of Washington, where she researches the intersections of technology, social support, and sexual assault disclosure. Prior to graduate school, she worked as an educator and activist in the movement to end violence against women. She currently lives in the Bay Area and enjoys gardening and cooking elaborate vegetarian meals in her spare time.
