one green planet
one green planet

No matter where you go, there are signs, sanitizing stations, and warnings to keep your hands clean in order to avoid transmitting any illnesses.

While this is an incredibly important guideline to follow — for your safety and the safety of those around you — it also means you’ll be waging a continuous war against the healthy bacteria on your skin. It’s common knowledge that our bodies are teeming with bacteria, both good and bad, that keeps our bodies healthy — this is called our microbiome — yet not everyone is aware that our skin is also crawling with bacteria.

Yes, some of this bacteria is not necessarily good — picked up from the playground, grocery store, or your office — on the other hand, some of the bacteria actually keeps our skin balanced, healthy, and irritation-free.

The wonderful thing about soap is its effectiveness at killing bacteria. The not so wonderful thing about soap is its effectiveness at killing bacteria.

During this time of super-sensitivity to washing hands, it’s more important than ever to take care of your skin! This includes investing in some high-quality, nourishing, vegan, and cruelty-free balms, salves, and lotions. It also means nourishing your skin from the inside out.

There are a host of plant-based foods that help keep our skin healthy and now is the time to make sure you’re getting enough of them! These plant-based compounds include foods rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, healthy fats, — especially omega-3 fatty acids — zinc, vitamin C, beta-carotene, — such as vitamin A and lutein — sulforaphane, and isoflavones.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Whole Foods Archives!

1. “Everything” Avocado on Sweet Potato Toasts

“Everything” Avocado on Sweet Potato Toasts/One Green Planet

This “Everything” Avocado on Sweet Potato Toasts recipe by Kris Dee not only loads you up on those avocado-sourced healthy fats, vitamin E, and vitamin C, but it’s also a great source of skin-nourishing beta-carotene from those vibrantly orange sweet potatoes.

2. Chick’n Apple Walnut Bites

Chick’n Apple Walnut Bites/One Green Planet

Walnuts are one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids in the nut world! This Chick’n Apple Walnut Bites recipe by Deena Mehta is a super creative way to make walnuts the centerpiece of the dish, while also boosting the health and immune defenses of your skin.

3. Sunflower Butter Dressing

Sunflower Butter Dressing/One Green Planet

Along with nuts, seeds are an excellent source of skin-boosting vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. This Sunflower Butter Dressing recipe by Natalie Martin MS, RD and Lexie Staten MS, RD is not only easy to make and store in the fridge, but it also gives you the option of incorporating these skin-nourishing agents throughout the day and in a variety of ways from dipping to drizzling and more!

4. Mediterranean Lentil Veggie Wraps

Mediterranean Lentil Veggie Wraps/One Green Planet

Along with a healthy dose of protein (also a great for boosting the collagen of your skin!), this Mediterranean Lentil Veggie Wraps recipe by Allie Penner makes beta-carotene-rich sweet potato the central the star!

5. Italian Fried Potatoes With Peppers

Italian Fried Potatoes With Peppers/One Green Planet

Like most other vibrantly colored veggies, red bell peppers are an excellent source of beta-carotene, as well as a rich source of skin-boosting and immune-enhancing vitamin C. This Italian Fried Potatoes With Peppers recipe by Pavani Nandula is a great recipe that will provide satiety, while also incorporating those nourishing red peppers.

6. Broccoli Veggie Dippers

Broccoli Veggie Dippers/One Green Planet

Even though broccoli is one of the most powerful superfoods you can incorporate into your diet — along with being a huge ally to healthy and resilient skin — it’s also one of those foods that may be a little difficult on your digestive system. This Broccoli Veggie Dippers recipe by Ginny McMeans takes the hardiness of broccoli and cooks it down to a soft agent for your stomach. Plus, these dippers may even get your kiddo into the habit of eating broccoli!  

7. Creamy Lentil Tomato Soup

Creamy Lentil Tomato Soup/One Green Planet

Did I mention that vibrant veggies also make your skin vibrant? Tomatoes absolutely fall into this category with their high content of both vitamin C and vitamin E. This Creamy Lentil Tomato Soup recipe by Tara Sunshine is a great prep meal to store in the freezer and have on hand throughout the tumultuous spring weather months.

8. Easy Sheet Pan Fried Rice and Tofu

Easy Sheet Pan Fried Rice and Tofu/One Green Planet

Soy-based foods are rich in isoflavones — an antioxidant known for its many health benefits including protecting your skin and boosting immunity. This Easy Sheet Pan Fried Rice and Tofu recipe by Robin Runner uses an ample amount of tofu, as well as immune-boosting garlic, ginger, and your choice of veggies (choose some red and yellow veggies to get more skin-nourishing agents!)

9. Garam Masala Chocolate Oat Cookies

Garam Masala Chocolate Oat Cookies/One Green Planet

Dark chocolate is super rich in antioxidants lending to its incredible skin tightening, moisturizing, and nourishing qualities. This Garam Masala Chocolate Oat Cookies recipe by Claire Ragozzino is a great way to get way more bang for your buck with dark chocolate, fiber-rich oats, and a slew of immune-boosting, heart warming spices including cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.

10. Matcha Lemon Muffins

Matcha Lemon Muffins/One Green Planet

If it’s not technically already labeled as such, green tea should make the superfood list! Luckily, the potent version of crushed, dried green tea leaves does make the superfood list. When it comes to boosting that immunity and nourishing the skin you can thank a powerful antioxidant called catechin. This Matcha Lemon Muffins recipe by Clara Macleod may seem like a luxury, yet it’s rich in matcha powder meaning you’ll get a bit o’ luxury and a bit o’ nourishing power!

11. Southwest Salad

Southwest Salad/One Green Planet

Looking for a super simple, super light, yet super nourishing meal to whip up for lunch or dinner? This Southwest Salad recipe by Jackie Sobon is the perfect mix of all three elements! Plus, when it comes to boosting and caring for your skin, this salad incorporates avocado, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, and protein-rich black beans!

12. Butternut Squash Tacos With Tempeh Chorizo

Butternut Squash Tacos With Tempeh Chorizo/One Green Planet

This Butternut Squash Tacos With Tempeh Chorizo recipe by Christy Morgan truly has it all! Butternut squash is rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as beta-carotene. Tempeh is a great source of those isoflavone antioxidants. Avocado will give you a dose of healthy fat. This recipe is a one-stop-shop to boost your immunity and help nourish overwashed, dry, and irritated skin.

13. Avocado Chocolate Cream Bars

Avocado Chocolate Cream Bars/One Green Planet

This Avocado Chocolate Cream Bars recipe by Tiffany Kinson is a great healthy alternative for that sweet treat you’re craving! Along with nourishing avocado, this recipe calls for chocolate. Opt for cocoa powder for even more nourishing qualities!  

14. Chinese Walnut Cookies

Chinese Walnut Cookies/One Green Planet

Another sweet treat that also treats your skin well! This Chinese Walnut Cookies recipe by Daphne Goh sources healthy fat-filled walnuts as a base, as well as chia seeds, which are an excellent source of protein and calcium.

15. Sweet Potato Ravioli With Creamy White Sauce

Sweet Potato Ravioli With Creamy White Sauce/One Green Planet

We end with yet another vitamin-rich, mineral-filled, and beta-carotene-packed, sweet potato recipe! This Sweet Potato Ravioli With Creamy White Sauce recipe by Taavi Moore is not only a super comforting recipe to have on hand, but it’s also a great way to naturally boost your immunity and nourish your skin.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Chocolate Banana Avocado Pudding/One Green Planet

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!