Incredible 14-Year-Old Girl Started an Organization to Transform Kids’ Health With Plant-Based Food

There are some people in the world who are destined for great things, and it’s even more apparent when their talents result in helping others.

This is the case for 14-year-old vegan chef, Halie Thomas. Having always loved cooking, Thomas took a particular interest in healthy food after her father was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes, when she was just seven years old. She learned more about the disease and the fact that that more and more children her age were being diagnosed with Diabetes and heart disease. Having experienced the challenges of Diabetes first hand, the young student dove into researching how she could help others avoid potentially debilitating health conditions.

“I learned that for the first time in two centuries, children were predicted to live shorter lifespans than the adults in our lives,” Thomas wrote on her website. Now, Thomas is the founder and executive director of the non-profit HAPPY (Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth) Organization, Inc.

The organization’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of children by implementing programs that teach kids how to cook healthy meals with plant-based nutrition, and encourage fun, physical activity.

Thomas’ activism has helped this young chef gain quite the impressive résumé. In addition to hosting her online show, “Plant-Powered Halie” which teaches kids how to prepare nourishing meals for themselves using simple ingredients, Thomas travels across the nation speaking to children about healthy eating practices. So far, she has spoken at two TEDx events, was featured on “Rachael vs. Guy Kid’s Cook Off” show, met Chelsea Clinton and Deepak Chopra.

Her big moment came when she was invited to the First Lady’s Box at the 2013 State of the Union Address, representing Let’s Move.  

It’s incredible that from one simple idea – using vegetables to help people live healthier – this young teen is helping to improve the health of not only her family and community, but the nation! We can’t help but be inspired by this talented young chef. Click here to learn more about the benefits of choosing more plant-based foods, and here to learn more about Halie’s work.

All image source: Haile Thomas/Facebook