Welcome to Plant-Forward Family
(or PFF as we call it around here), your go-to for easy, plant-forward recipes that make it simpler and more enjoyable to eat more plants, without feeling like you’re giving anything up.
Whether you’re trying to eat less meat, want more variety at dinnertime, or are just tired of rotating the same few meals every week, you’re in the right place.
I’m Elle Penner, a registered dietitian and mom of two who really loves good food. Plant-Forward Family is where I share the meals I make for my own family—recipes you can count on to be easy, nutrient-dense, obsessively tested, and most importantly, delicious.
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About our recipes
Plant-forward recipes for everyone
You don’t have to eat strictly plant-based to see the benefits of eating more fruits, vegetables, and plant-based foods. (My own family is a perfect example of that!) That’s exactly why I create plant-forward recipes everyone can enjoy.
Here you’ll find everything from veggie-packed flexitarian meals made with less meat to satisfying vegetarian and vegan dishes full of plant-based protein. No matter where you are on your plant-forward journey, I’m confident there’s something here you’ll love.
Recipes that work harder, so you don’t have to
As a busy mom of two, I have no patience for complicated meals—or worse—recipes that don’t work.
My recipes prioritize simple ingredients, streamlined steps, fewer dishes, extra portions, and smart shortcuts—so you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying meals with your family (or lets be honest, just sitting down).
What you can expect from our recipes
How PFF Began
Once upon a mealtime a few years ago, my husband casually mentioned that he was thinking about cutting meat out of his diet.
Mic drop. 🎤
As a dietitian, I know the health benefits of eating more plants. But as a mom of young kids—and the head chef in our house—the idea of completely overhauling our family’s diet felt… like a lot.
We didn’t ditch meat entirely. But my love for cooking (and my husband) pushed me to add more plants into the meals we were already making. I started small: replacing about half of the meat in our favorite recipes with plant-based protein.
That one simple change cut our family’s meat consumption in half and more than doubled our veggie intake—all without dramatically changing what was on our plates.
And the best part? Your family can too.
About me
Hi! I’m Elle Penner—a registered dietitian, mom of two, and the voice, creator, and recipe developer behind Plant-Forward Family.
I hold a master’s degree in nutrition and began my career as the lead dietitian at MyFitnessPal. I’ve been blogging and photographing my food since 2010, and after a few years working in tech, I transitioned to freelance food content creation, which I’ve been doing ever since. Plant-Forward Family is where my personal passions and professional expertise come together.
I’m based in Bend, Oregon, where I live with my husband and two kids (8 and 10) and spend my days cooking, creating, and keeping active. My favorite things include a big bowl of pasta, taking pictures of food, and adventuring with the fam. 🤍
Elle Penner, MPH RD