6 Vegan Filipinx Foodies to follow on Instagram
It’s still January aka Veganuary! For those of you who don’t know what veganuary is, it’s an annual challenge run by a nonprofit organization that educates and encourages people worldwide to follow a vegan lifestyle for the entire month. Making the decision to go vegan is very difficult, especially if you’re Filipino. When I was transitioning to being more plant-based, I would order meatless dishes at Filipino restaurants that would still come served with shrimp, little pieces of pork, or fish sauce. Even when I went home to visit my mom, she would make me torta talong, which is made with egg. The easiest way for me to explain what vegan is: I do not eat anything that has eyes or comes from a mother – that includes meat, seafood, eggs and milk.
Most take on the 31 day challenge to reset from the holiday gluttony and want to start the year off on the right foot. It’s also the time when most people make their new year’s resolutions and goals. Everyone has their own reasons on why they turn to veganism, the most common being, their love for animals, the environment, and their health.
Even though the year has started, it’s not too late to inform yourself of healthier options that you can start to incorporate into your lifestyle. You don’t have to go cold turkey and give up meat immediately. You can start slow and take baby steps like doing “meatless Mondays” or eating at least 1 vegan meal a day. Then you can try eating vegan during the week and eventually go full blown vegan! To start, having the knowledge is half the battle. So, here are a few noteworthy Instagram accounts that can help you learn more about what it means to be plant-based:
1. Jasmine Briones of Sweet Simple Vegan
Jasmine Briones is a first generation American from a Filipino and Ecuadorian household. She turned vegan in 2012 after searching for a diet to restore her health. After further research, she fully committed to the environmental and ethical reasons behind veganism. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science.
Sweet Simple Vegan is a platform where Jasmine and her partner, Chris, share their passion for cooking and helping others to live more compassionate lives. They share a ton of vegan recipes, lifestyle advice, and resources. You can easily search for “Filipino Vegan” recipes that you can try out. They also recently launched One and Done Vegan, their latest recipe book that requires just one pot, one bowl, or one pan!
Instagram: @sweetsimplevegan
2. Reina Montenegro
Reina Montenegro, a self-taught chef, was born and raised in Dumaguete City on the Philippine island of Negros. In 1997, she moved to the Bay Area, where she opened 3 Filipino vegan restaurants: Nick’s Kitchen, Nick’s on Grand, and Nick’s on Mission. In 2021, she pivoted to launching Chef Reina in Brisbane, California, and also ships frozen vegan meals: adobo, kaldereta, tocino, bulgogi, sisig and carnitas. Follow her to watch videos of her whipping up vegan versions of your favorite comfort foods like ube pancakes, katsu chicken, spam musubi, birria tacos, and more.
Instagram: @chef.reina
3. RG Enriquez-Diez of Astig Vegan
Richgail “RG” Enriquez-Diez is a vegan Filipina whose mission is to show the world that Filipino food can be vegan, healthy, and delicious without losing its soul. RG firmly believes that it is possible to make something completely plant-based and traditionally Filipino. On the Astig Vegan website, she shares vegan recipes for kare-kare, chicharon, laing, longganisa, and many more. She also has a cookbook, Filipino Vegan.
Instagram: @astigvegan
4. Keisha of Floured Frame
Keisha is a self-taught baker, cook, recipe developer, and food photographer based out of Texas. Floured Frame blog is a creative outlet where she shares plant-based recipes. Most recently, she has been dabbling in baking without eggs and dairy. I am most excited to try her mango float, ube cheese pandesal and Filipino spaghetti recipes! I can’t wait to make them and not tell my family that it’s “vegan”. I bet you, they won’t be able to tell the difference!
Instagram: @flouredframe
5. Meryll Montano of Vegan Vedas
Meryll Montano is a first generation Filipinx-American, certified Ayurveda Practitioner, yoga teacher, vegan chef, personal trainer, amongst many other things. Her life’s work is helping folx find resolve on their life path and experience more freedom + agency in their bodies through ayurvedic and lifestyle medicine. Through Vegan Vedas, she offers 1:1 ayurveda coaching, culinary medicine program, ayurveda therapies, vegan kamayan dinners, chef services, and private cooking classes. She is also the author of Stranded in Paradise e-cookbook.
Instagram: @veganvedas
6. Peter Simondac
Peter Simondac is a Filipino-American YouTuber. He is Patrick Starrr’s brother, and works behind the scenes. He also films, edits, and produces content such as his vegan #mukbangmonday videos. In 2018, Peter shared that he officially became a vegan on YouTube. Initially, Peter tried veganism primarily because he suffers from eczema, a condition that causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin. He also wanted to focus on himself and to be healthier. Follow him for his vegan adventures around Los Angeles and beyond.
Instagram: @heyitspeterrr_
My sincere hope, as a vegan, that these chefs shed light and resources so you are more informed about what it means to be plant based and may give it a try if you’ve ever been interested. Hopefully, you can try out some alternatives to incorporate into your lifestyle. It’s not easy, but overtime, you will reap the benefits of veganism. Research has shown that vegans suffer less from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Other benefits include lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, improved digestion, weight loss, better sleep, glowing skin, and more money in your pocket (since vegetarian dishes are usually less expensive than meat entrees). Veganism is a great alternative so that you can avoid taking medications for the ailments that plague the Filipino community: heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and gout! Start by educating yourself, and easing your way into it. Try it out and see what side effects come out being vegan. Let me know if you are up for the challenge. If so, let’s get glowing! Can’t wait to hear about your journey!
Written By Jennifer Redondo
Co-Founder and Co-Author of In Her Purpose
You may want to read more about
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is facing an ICC investigation for crimes against humanity—but what does this mean for democracy, sovereignty, and the Philippines' global standing? For Filipino Americans, this case is more than just politics—it’s about justice, accountability, and the future of the motherland. Here’s why it matters.