About Terri Edwards & EatPlant-Based

My personal experience is that in 2012, at 45 years old, I was suffering from increasingly painful and swollen joints, as well as other health issues that had started around age 35 and were progressively worsening.

My mother has debilitating rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, vasculitis, neuropathy, and other health issues, and has been disabled since her 50s. I was terrified I was heading down that same path.

After numerous doctor visits and blood tests with no answers, I decided to investigate nutritional options. My daughter recommended the Forks Over Knives documentary, which my husband and I watched on February 15, 2013, and became instant plant-based, whole food consumers.

Since that time, I’ve resolved my inflamed and painful joints, lowered my cholesterol from 220 to 141, dropped over 50 lbs., resolved adult acne that previously required prescription medication, and recovered from sleeping issues.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe this is the same body I had just a few short years ago. Honestly feels like I traded the old one in for this newer model.

As exciting as the weight loss is, it pales in comparison to the health benefits I’ve experienced. The unseen is more powerful than the seen. This is freedom from sickness, and I’m so thankful!

terri edwards from eatplant-based before and after weight loss photos.

My personal mission now is to promote this way of health in my community (and beyond) and hopefully see some lives changed, just like mine. I live in North Carolina with my husband of 39 years. I have a degree in Business Administration, certification in Plant-Based Nutrition through eCornell/ Cornell University, T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, and am licensed as a Food for Lifeinstructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am also an author for the Center for Nutrition Studies.

Through the Physicians Committee’s Food for Life program, I have been able to teach plant-based nutrition classes in medical offices, hospitals, heart wellness centers, and cancer centers in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.

My other passions include my faith and family, daily hiking with my German Shepherd, and yoga. I used to be a federal and state-licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator.

Need to contact me? This is my Contact Information. Media Kit available upon request.

More inspiring plant-based stories can be found on my WFPB Success Stories page.

Important Pages

In 2026, I had the incredible honor of being interviewed by Rip Esselstyn on the PlantStrong Podcast. Rip, the son of renowned plant-based pioneer Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., and I discussed my health journey and shared some of our favorite beginner-friendly meals, including crispy tofu, chickpea burgers, vegan egg salad, barbecue soy curls, mashed potatoes, broccoli cheese soup, black bean brownies, carrot dogs, and more. You can watch the full interview below.

The infamous Chef AJ has interviewed me twice on her live shows. My first appearance on Chef AJ LIVE was to demo my plant-based black bean burgers and chocolate vegan mug cake. The second interview included a how-to for my tofu chocolate mousse.

About EatPlant-Based

EatPlant-Based.com was created in 2014 to be a local and online oasis for those exploring wellness and restoring health with an emphasis on plant-based nutrition. This site offers healthy plant-based recipes, handy kitchen tips, and the latest information on nutritional scientific research.

We have articles from plant-based experts, Plant-Based Doctors Guest Authors that provide important health and diet information from qualified professionals who are world-renowned in the whole food plant-based (WFPB) medical and scientific communities.

terri edwards displaying a vegan sweet potato chocolate cake in her kitchen. — Get the dairy-free chocolate cake recipe!

Faith & Purpose
Beginning in January 2025, I felt led to more openly share an important part of who I am—my Christian faith. It’s been a central source of strength, direction, and encouragement in my life, and little by little, I’ve begun to weave that into this website through the Morning Brew Reflections. In my newsletter’s Morning Brew section, I share short, heartfelt devotionals about my daily victories, struggles, and the lessons I’m learning along the way.

I want my readers to know that everyone is welcome here—whether you share my beliefs, are exploring your own path, or simply come for the plant-based recipes and resources. My heart is to encourage, uplift, and support anyone on a journey toward better health and a more compassionate lifestyle, no matter where you’re coming from.

In 2026, I had the privilege of joining Gigi Carter and Sersie Belue of Healthy for My Purpose for a wonderful conversation about my health transformation, faith, and the journey that led to the creation of EatPlant-Based.

In this deeply moving and power-packed conversation, we sit down with Terri Edwards, creator of EatPlant-Based.com, to explore her incredible journey from chronic pain, health struggles, and discouragement to renewed health, vibrant purpose, and bold faith. Terri shares how a plant-based lifestyle radically transformed her body, restored her vitality, strengthened her marriage, and ultimately led her into a God-given calling to serve others—through medical centers, classrooms, and now a thriving online food blog.

We dive into her healing journey, how God opened impossible doors, why she boldly integrated faith into her platform, the resistance she faced, and why she believes God is moving powerfully in this season to bring believers to better health so they can fully live out their purpose. Get ready for truth, inspiration, and holy goosebumps.

The Plant-Based Table Cookbook

One of the questions I get asked most often is, “When are you going to write a cookbook?” I’m excited to say that the answer is… I’m working on it!

My first cookbook, The Plant-Based Table, has truly become a labor of love. It will feature more than 100 of my family’s favorite whole food, plant-based recipes—the ones we make again and again because they’re simple, satisfying, and packed with flavor. Every recipe will be oil-free, with many gluten-free options, and designed to help make healthy eating feel easy and enjoyable. Many of the recipes are on this website, but the book will have many more that are not available anywhere else.

But this cookbook will be more than just a collection of recipes. Just like my Morning Brew reflections in the newsletter, each chapter will include encouraging messages about faith, gratitude, and finding joy in the everyday moments around the table. My hope is that it becomes a cookbook you’ll not only cook from but also leave out on your coffee table to read and share with family and friends.

The manuscript is mostly complete, and I’m currently working with a literary agent as we explore publishing opportunities. I’m trusting God with each step of the journey and look forward to sharing more updates as they unfold.

Thank you for being part of the EatPlant-Based family. Your encouragement over the years is one of the biggest reasons this cookbook is becoming a reality, and I can’t wait to place it in your hands!

BBB RATING: A+

Ways to Connect

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terri edwards with eatplantbased eating chocolate cake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all the recipes vegan?

YES! Every single recipe on EatPlant-Based is vegan. There are a handful of recipes that mention honey, but a bee-free honey option is also linked.

Are the recipes gluten-free?

Some recipes are gluten-free and some aren’t. If you are interested in only the GF recipes, you can find them here: Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes.

Do you use weird, hard-to-find ingredients?

I really try to make recipes using healthy ingredients that many grocery stores or Walmart carry. Personally, I rarely ever go into specialty stores to buy anything. People new to being plant-based may not have heard of a few products like bulgur and nutritional yeast, but they can usually be easily found in grocery stores.

How hard are the recipes to make?

Most of the recipes on my site are easy to make if you are used to cooking. For those who are not cooks at all but want to start eating healthier, I recommend checking out these 10 Super Simple Plant-Based Meals to get started. I even have a list of Lazy Vegan Meals that can be made in 15-30 minutes for anyone just not into spending time in the kitchen.

Will my family and friends eat these recipes?

I sure hope so! There is a special category on my site for Kid-Friendly Recipes that should help with those picky eaters. They are even great for hesitant adults as well!

Isn’t being vegan too expensive?

It doesn’t have to be. The expense comes from shopping at specialty stores and buying a lot of packaged and pre-made products. As Dr. Neal Barnard says, “Meat is expensive. Milk and cheese are expensive. Rice, beans, and vegetables…not so much.” My article, How to Eat Plant-Based on a Budget, gives lots of great ideas for shopping smart, and there are even recipes and a grocery list included.