hey there!
Welcome, Friends!
At Our Plant-Based World (OPBW), we believe that the best ingredients for a thriving existence come from both the kitchen and your personal care routine.
Our blog is dedicated to exploring the diverse world of plant-based food, offering delicious recipes that nourish both body and soul.
Alongside our culinary creations, we’ll dive into the rich cultural and historical roots behind some ingredients (and recipes) exploring the traditions that shaped them and the nutritional benefits they offer.
Join us on a journey to discover how plant-based living, grounded in culture, wellness, and self-care, can transform your health and well-being, one recipe and ritual at a time.
Who Are We?
We're Natasha, Mitri (and little Zander) and we're thrilled to be your NEW culinary companions at OPBW! 👋 We’re a young, husband-and-wife duo, hailing from different continents, ( And boy do we have an interesting story about that, but will save it for another time😉 )
Our passion lies in exploring the synergy between delicious, wholesome food and natural, effective self-care.
Whether we’re experimenting in the kitchen, hunting down the best local eats, or savoring a quiet meal at home, our mission is to inspire you to savor each bite and beverage, and discover how popular recipes can be adapted to be vegan or utilized beyond the kitchen to enhance personal care routines.
Here's to expanding your palates with globally inspired plant-based dishes and embracing a world where culinary delight and personal wellness go hand in hand.
** PLEASE READ **
Meet the team
Natasha Gomez Akel
Content Creator and Photographer
The creative force behind OPBW, Natasha is a dedicated stay-at-home mom and passionate home chef. She infuses every recipe and personal care tip with love and practicality. Balancing family life with culinary adventures, she crafts wholesome, family-friendly dishes and effective, natural beauty solutions that are both approachable and inspiring. Her hands-on experience and personal touch make OPBW a go-to resource for delicious meals and self-care ideas that fit seamlessly into everyday life.
Mitri Akel
Co-content creator
With credentials as a certified nutritionist, former restaurant owner and personal trainer, Mitri, is able to integrate delectable recipes with nutritional value. Whether he’s crafting nourishing recipes alongside Natasha or sharing parenting responsibilities, he is committed to helping you and your loved ones achieve health and wellness with ease and inspiration.
Gustavo De Obaldia
Former-co-founder of Our Plant-Based World
Joaquin Marchueta
Former-co-founder of Our Plant-Based World
** Disclaimer **
We don't claim to be strictly vegans or vegetarians in our personal life and though we don't strictly adhere to an oil-free, WFPB (Whole Food, Plant-Based) diet either, we acknowledge its benefits.
Therefore, these guidelines are frequently incorporated into the recipes found in OPBW, ensuring they align with the dish's flavor profile but never compromising its taste.
Remember, everyone's nutritional journey is unique. It's all about finding what resonates with your body and taste buds. Dive into our philosophy below and join us in celebrating the wonders of plant-based cooking!
Our Philosophy
Each of our recipes represents one or more pillars of our ethos:
- Simplicity: Most of our recipes, have 10 ingredients or less.*
- Nourish from Within: What you eat impacts your skin and hair health, so we focus on incorporating nutrient-dense ingredients that support and rejuvenate from the inside out.
- Health & Balance: Our recipes are crafted to ensure every mouthful is as nutritious as it is flavorful. We carefully balance each dish to stand alone as a complete meal or to seamlessly integrate with suggested sides, creating a well-rounded meal that considers the right amount of protein, carbs, and fats.
- Embrace Natural Ingredients: We believe in the power of nature to enhance beauty. Our skincare and haircare practices emphasize using natural, non-toxic products and DIY remedies that are gentle yet effective, promoting overall well-being without harmful chemicals.
*In our ingredient count of 10, we don't include water, salt, pepper, or any ingredients listed as "optional."
We aim to dazzle you with every bite, prompting you to wonder:
How can something so delicious be completely plant-based?
Anticipate weekly additions to our recipe trove, featuring a delightful blend of both savory and sweet culinary creations and juicing recipes and tips. We've got everything from desserts and breakfast dishes to main courses, sides, snacks, and smoothies.
What We Offer
- Plant-Based Recipes: Delicious and nutritious recipes featuring diverse global cuisines, all crafted with plant-based ingredients to support a healthy lifestyle.
- High-Protein Vegan Recipes: These recipes are for people who have an active lifestyle and need protein-packed meals to support their fitness goals.
- Vegan Varieties: A spectrum of dishes, from quick-fix dinners to veganized, non-traditionally vegan dishes like risotto, curries, and pasta.
- Cooking Simplified: Our step-by-step guides offer essential resources for vegans, including tutorials on cooking tofu, making vegan Parmesan, replicating classic sauces like pesto in vegan form, and crafting plant-based milks such as almond and soy milk.
- Common Ingredients, Uncommon Delights: We use everyday items like rice and beans to create extraordinary dishes.
- Nourishing and Detoxing Juices and Smoothies: Explore our selection of juices and smoothies, masterfully mixed to invigorate and rejuvenate. Enjoy juices that celebrate flavor and wellness, detoxifying your body—ideal for a vibrant start to your day. Our smoothies are perfect as refreshing yet nutritious snacks, meal replacements, or as means to support your workouts.
In the Media
Our voices resonate beyond our blog, through prestigious platforms like El Mundo, Logos, and TV Malaga, as we advocate the joy and richness of plant-based living.
We were included in the TOP 50 VEGAN BLOGS OF 2023, by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN.
Additionally, we proudly announce our recent recognition as the Leading Pioneers in Culinary Diversity & Innovation 2023, an honor to us granted by LUXLife Magazine in their Food & Drink Awards 2023.
Recently, we hosted our friend Emily Harmon from the Juicy Wine Podcast (Instagram), during her Plant-Based Picnic Episode, to talk about our Sunny Winter Picnic Experience featuring Natural Wines Paired with a Green Mediterranean Food spread, in sunny Malaga, in Andalusian Spain, which we have been call home for the last couple of years. Dive into the full conversation and get a taste of our culinary adventure here.
Media Use
If you would like to use one of our photos for a recipe roundup on your website or any other media outlet, you have our permission with the following rules:
- Provide proper credit and link back to our site.
- Don’t include the entire recipe.
- Let us know when the recipe collection is live so we can share it with our audience.
Work with Us
We are excited to collaborate with like-minded brands that align with our values, especially those in the niches of organic food, kitchen utensils, photography, eco-friendly products, travel, and leisure.
While we're versatile in our collaboration approaches, we do not host guest posts.
If you represent a brand that shares our passion for plant-based living, sustainability, and travel, we'd love to discuss how we can work together to create engaging and informative content for our audience.