Success Recipes

Nutritional chef Mikaela Reuben has guided celebrities such as Woody Harrelson and Blake Lively in highlighting fruits and vegetables in their meals. With the release of her new cookbook, you have the opportunity to enjoy the same plant-based culinary approach at home, enhancing your family’s health.

Sowing the Inspiration

From an early age, Reuben has celebrated the wonder of food. “I was captivated by the transformation that occurs when you place something in the oven,” she shares.

Her adolescent perspective on nutrition shifted significantly when she witnessed her father altering his eating habits after a heart attack. “He truly utilized food to heal himself,” Reuben recalls. This experience spurred her to explore kinesiology, even though she felt there was still a missing link.

“In our studies, we approached food primarily as fuel,” Reuben explains, “but when discussing human performance, shouldn’t we also consider a holistic view of food?”

After graduating and facing a pivotal juncture, Reuben and a friend borrowed a neighbor’s kitchen to experiment with recipes for a heart-healthy cookbook inspired by her father’s journey. However, a mix-up led to the unexpected return of both the neighbor—a well-known actor—and his private chef, catching Reuben in the act of cooking.

While she felt embarrassed by the culinary chaos (admitting to covering nearly every surface with almond butter), the chef not only tasted her creations but also served them to guests for lunch, paving the way for her new career.

Though Reuben had long desired to fuse her passions for food and nutrition, she hadn’t yet found a suitable path. “Then I encountered a nutritional chef who toured with rock bands and cooked on film sets,” she reflects on meeting Wayne Forman, the owner of Wayno’s Catering.

After several years of mentorship with Forman, she has forged her own path as a celebrity chef. Her impressive roster of clients includes Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Brie Larson, Olympic athletes, and even the Dalai Lama.

The Benefits of Plant-Based Eating

Whether catering to Hollywood stars, preparing meals for friends and family, or simply cooking for herself, there’s one aspect of Reuben’s culinary approach that remains consistent—plants take center stage.

“I identify as plant-forward because, after working with a diverse clientele that includes individuals with various dietary needs, focusing on vegetables allowed me to create the healthiest version of any dish,” she explains. “Throughout my 15 years in the kitchen, adhering to a plant-focused cuisine has ensured that everyone flourished, regardless of their dietary restrictions.”
She has just released her cookbook, Eat to Love: Where Health Meets Flavor (Appetite by Random House, 2025), which provides detailed nutritional information for each recipe tailored to specific dietary needs, along with convenient methods for adding sauces and proteins, appealing to both experienced cooks and those just exploring plant-based options.

Reuben aims to demonstrate that healthy plant-based cooking can be as delightful and enticing as any traditional meat-based meal. “When I prepare a variety of vegetables for guests, showcasing the range and flexibility of ingredients, I notice a significant impact on their overall well-being,” she asserts.

This enthusiasm for plant-based cuisine has seen a surge in popularity; a study showed a 500 percent increase in veganism in the United States between 2014 and 2018. Additionally, around 40 percent of surveyed individuals indicated a desire to cut back on animal protein consumption. Like Reuben’s father, many are now recognizing the health benefits of plants, including reduced risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

While promoting the health benefits of a plant-based diet may motivate even the most discerning adults, Reuben acknowledges that one challenge remains particularly tough—dinnertime with families.

Family Connections

No one understands the challenge of preparing balanced meals better than parents. Encouraging kids to consume a varied diet, especially when it comes to vegetables, often feels like a daunting task, turning mealtime into a battlefield instead of a chance to bond together.

As someone who cooks for many families, Reuben offers a relatable perspective on the mealtime struggles parents face. “At the end of the day, if you’re cooking for your kids, you are doing an amazing job,” she states. “Parenting involves a lot of juggling, and if you’re managing to feed your children, you deserve recognition.”

The ongoing struggle between children and vegetables has plagued parents for generations. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that only 60 percent of children eat enough fruit, while a staggering 93 percent fail to consume adequate vegetables. Although it might be tempting to compromise to avoid mealtime meltdowns, it’s crucial that parents work on helping their children develop a taste for green foods.

Research supports that diets abundant in fruits and vegetables can significantly lower children’s risks of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Nutrients found in fruits and vegetables—such as fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and K—are vital for development, particularly in the first five years of life, and often set the stage for lifelong eating habits.

Expert Tips

Drawing from her extensive experience as a chef, Reuben shares some effective strategies to encourage children to eat their vegetables. She suggests using neutral-flavored veggies. “When cooking for families,” she explains, “I integrate steamed zucchini into smoothies, add handfuls of spinach to berry recipes, or mix dark beans and avocado into chocolate mousse.”

Experts recommend engaging children in a hands-on approach, which involves allowing them to assist with meal selection and preparation, playing with fun colors and shapes, and giving foods playful names.

Reuben has witnessed the success of these methods firsthand. “The more colorful, the better!” she remarks. “It’s rare to see a child pick up a whole cauliflower, but when we introduce cauliflower sushi rice, they’re thrilled. Encourage them to get creative!”

With recipes ranging from healthy dips and crispy tacos to versatile sauces like her ginger tahini, Reuben’s creations nourish both the body and the spirit. Ultimately, while not everyone can be an A-lister, every family member can still enjoy gourmet meals.

This article was first published in the September 2025 issue of Intomodel magazine.