About Sapana Chandra - Real and Vibrant

Sapana Chandra standing in front of urban buildings.

Hi there! I'm Sapana, and I share vegetarian recipes and cooking tips

Welcome to Real and Vibrant! I'm Sapana Chandra, a cookbook author, plant-based professional cook, and certified health coach. I create, take photos and videos of, write about, and eat all my recipes.

I'm here to inspire you and make cooking feel approachable, joyful, and fun. From easy weeknight dinners to freshly baked scones - and plenty of tips to help you grow as a home cook - you'll find it here.

Also, let me know when you try any of my recipes. It makes my day when you share them with me! If you're unsure about where to start, I recommend the Coconut Chickpea Curry or Pesto Pasta Salad. Hundreds of thousands of readers have made and love them.

About Sapana

I grew up in a small town in Kansas and moved to the East Coast for graduate school and the beginning of my career. Then, I moved to Seattle, where I left the corporate world, started Real and Vibrant, and met my husband.

In 2023, we moved to Kansas City to be closer to my family. We're loving life in the Midwest with our beautiful daughter. Outside of blogging, I love family time, outdoor adventures, traveling, piano, and fiction.

I started Real and Vibrant in 2016 as a way to share recipes and meal ideas with family and friends. I wanted others to experience the benefits and joys of home cooking as I did.

While I grew up helping my mom in the kitchen, the pressure of a demanding career led me to rely on convenient meals. I grabbed breakfast on the way to work, ate lunch out with my colleagues, and got takeout on the way home for dinner. On a rare occasion, I made a meal at home.

The years of eating out, processed foods, and frozen meals took a toll on my health. I suffered from chronic illness and migraines. As my quality of life deteriorated, I was desperate for relief. In my search, I learned about the power of real food. I kept it simple by eating the foods that were fresh and in season. This was the beginning of my falling in love with home cooking again.

Over time, my confidence grew in the kitchen, and my migraines disappeared. While I love eating real, whole foods that nourish the body, I also believe in balance. I enjoy an indulgence from time to time. It's why I share recipes that boost your health and others that satisfy your sweet tooth.

What began as a small project grew into a full-time career, and I'm grateful for every bit of it. In 2019, I published my debut cookbook, Plant Power Bowls.

My cookbook led to many new experiences. I had the opportunity to speak at the Tastemaker Conference (2019) and on a panel at Seattle Startup Week (2018). I also had interviews with Seattle Refined (KOMO News), New Day NW (KING 5), and Afternoon Live (KATU). I've also been featured by major media outlets and publications, including the following:

Forbes
Buzzfeed
Tasting Table
Taste of Home (Dec/Jan 2023)
Raise Vegan
PureWow
Southern Living
Clean Eating (Mar 2017, Aug 2017)
Par ade
Brides
Elite Daily
PureWow
The Spruce Eats
Greatist
Thrive (April/May/June 2017)
VegNews (Sep 2019)

My mission is to empower you in the kitchen with approachable and delicious recipes. I appreciate your trust in my recipes. It means the world to me to have you as a part of our community.

What you'll find on Real and Vibrant

Real and Vibrant is a food blog featuring tasty, wholesome vegetarian recipes. A vegetarian meal doesn't mean sacrificing great taste and joy. I have friends who are omnivores and pescetarians who enjoy eating my recipes.

On Real and Vibrant, you'll find everything you need to succeed as a home cook. Each recipe features detailed step-by-step photos, ingredients, and tips.

Before I publish a recipe, I put it through a thorough testing process. I make it several times until it's consistent, reliable, and perfect. When it's perfect, I make it a few more times to ensure you can replicate it at home. This means I can make a recipe up to 15 times before I'm confident you'll achieve delicious results.

Through the testing process, I find shortcuts, variations, and ingredient substitutions. My well-tested recipes make it easy for you to cook something special with whatever you have on hand. I also share helpful kitchen tips to help you become a better home cook.

Your confidence in my recipes means everything to me. That's why I create, test, and eat every recipe in my home kitchen in Kansas City. I don't outsource or use AI for any part of the job, not the writing, photography, or comment responses. Each recipe has an active comment section. You can ask me questions, and I'll be happy to answer, or share tweaks you made. I'd love for you to join the discussion.

My goal is to share delicious, easy-to-make recipes that nourish both body and soul. From savory to sweet to spicy, you'll find it all on Real and Vibrant.

My favorite recipes

Coconut Chickpea Curry (30 Minutes)

A bowl and two plates filled with pasta salad.

Pesto Pasta Salad (30 Minutes)

Sweet Potato Soup (35 Minutes)

Chocolate chip banana bars sliced and placed on marble platter.

Banana Chocolate Chip Bars (30 Minutes)

Education and Professional Background

Sapana Chandra sitting on a bench swing.

I'm so grateful to be a full-time foodie, and I can't thank you enough for making this possible. Before founding Real and Vibrant in 2016, I worked in the corporate world for more than a decade. I was a product and project manager at Amazon, WeddingWire, Orbitz, and Deloitte.

I earned my Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science from Pittsburg State University and a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

I also became a certified yoga teacher (RYT200) with the Yoga Alliance through Corepower, a Rouxbe plant-based cook, and a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

In 2020, I launched Real and Vibrant Home, an Etsy shop specializing in home organization labels. I've achieved over 30,000 sales and earned 6,100 5-star reviews. Major publishers, including Buzzfeed, also featured my labels.

My diverse background has fueled my creativity and skills, enabling me to develop, photograph, film, and write about every recipe I share.

FAQs

How do you pronounce Sapana?

My name is pronounced "Sup-nah," like "What's up?"

Can I republish your photos or recipes on my website?

You may share one photo with a prominent link back to my original post and photo credit to "Real and Vibrant". All other uses aren't allowed. Republishing my recipes without permission is strictly prohibited. Thank you for promoting my work.

Do you update older recipes?

Yes, I update older recipes to make them tastier. I also refresh them with new photos and may also tweak the directions to make them easier to follow.

What inspires your recipe ideas?

I develop my recipes and rigorously test them to perfection in my home kitchen. At times, I get inspiration from restaurants, my cookbook, and my mom.

How to connect

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my story and mission with Real and Vibrant. I hope my approachable recipes inspire you to cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients. My goal is for you to enjoy the process of making delicious meals for yourself and those you love.

Get a free 21-recipe plant-based ebook by subscribing to email updates.
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for recipes and tutorials.
Buy my debut cookbook, Plant Power Bowls. It's packed with nourishing seasonal meals so you can eat fresh throughout the year.
Browse thoroughly tested recipes developed in my kitchen and save your favorites.
Say hi! I'd love to hear from you. Drop me an email at hello at realandvibrant.com.

Whether you're here for bowls, salads, soups, or cookies, thank you for being a part of our home cook community.

Real + Vibrant® is a registered trademark of Sapana Chandra.

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