Welcome!

Hey yall, I’m so glad you’re here. 

I am Jenny Kate, and this is the story behind Plant-Based Southerner.

I grew up in the South, where food meant comfort, family, and a seat at the table. It was biscuits on the counter, pots simmering on the stove, and recipes passed down by watching—not measuring. Food wasn’t fancy, but it mattered. It told stories. It brought people together. And it was always made with love.

Years later, my life looks a little different—but that love for Southern food never left.

After spending more than two decades serving in the Air Force in public affairs and communications, I found myself craving a different kind of mission: helping people feel good in their bodies without giving up the foods they love. Along the way, I earned a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell, enrolled in professional culinary training, and quietly started re-working the Southern recipes I grew up with—making them plant-based, oil-free, and deeply satisfying.

What I discovered surprised me.

Plant-based cooking didn’t mean giving things up. It meant learning how to build flavor differently. It meant understanding ingredients instead of masking them. And it meant realizing that the food I’d always loved—beans, greens, grains, vegetables, spices—was already doing most of the heavy lifting.

Plant-Based Southerner exists for one simple reason:
I want you to cook healthy food you actually want to eat again.

Not “diet food.”  Not complicated food. Not food that looks pretty but tastes disappointing.

Real food. Weeknight food. Sunday supper food. The kind of food that makes you say, Oh… this is good.

Here you’ll find plant-based versions of Southern classics—drop biscuits, gumbo, casseroles, desserts, and everyday meals—alongside practical tips, culinary lessons, and a whole lot of encouragement. I focus on whole foods, simple techniques, and flavors that feel familiar, even if you’re brand new to plant-based eating.

I’m not here to convince you to be perfect. I’m here to help you be consistent.

If you’re curious about eating more plants…
If you’re cooking for someone you love…
If you want food that supports your health and your heritage…

You’re in the right place.

Pull up a chair.
There’s always room at this table. 🌻

 The Mission of Plant-Based Southerner

At the heart of Plant-Based Southerner is a deep respect for food as nourishment, not just fuel or rules to follow.

Whole-food, plant-based eating is supported by decades of nutritional research showing benefits for heart health, metabolic health, digestion, inflammation, and long-term wellness. Meals built around vegetables, beans, whole grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds naturally deliver fiber, complex carbohydrates, plant protein, and protective phytonutrients—often with fewer calories and less saturated fat than traditional Western diets.

But knowledge without application doesn’t help anyone.

That’s why I focus on how this actually works in a real kitchen.

I hold a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University, where I studied the science behind plant-forward eating, chronic disease prevention, and nutrient density. I’m also completing professional culinary training, which allows me to bridge the gap between nutrition theory and food that people genuinely enjoy eating.

Just as important, I bring more than two decades of experience in communications and education—translating complex information into practical, approachable guidance. I’m careful about what I claim, clear about what the science supports, and honest about what’s still evolving.

You won’t find extreme rules here.
You won’t find fear-based messaging.
And you won’t find perfectionism masquerading as health.

What you will find is food that supports your body, respects your culture, and fits into everyday life—because sustainable health starts with meals you actually want to make and eat.

Meet Our Cheerful Guide – Sunnie!

To help me on this mission, I have a cheerful sidekick I’d love for you to meet: Sunnie!

Sunnie represents the bright, positive, and sunny side of Southern cooking. When you see Sunnie peeking around the corner of a page, think of it as a little ray of encouragement.

Sunnie is our official mascot, here to remind us that healthy eating should be a joyful and uplifting experience. Sunnie is also the inspiration for our community members, who we lovingly call our ‘Sunnies’!