The adage “put good in, get good out” doesn’t just apply to the food you put in your body — it’s true for what you take in on social media, too.
Just like eating nutrient-rich foods yields positive physical results, a “diet” of social accounts that inspire and encourage can move you forward in your journey toward a healthier life.
That said, social media is famous for showcasing unrealistic images of health.
Whether it’s images of unattainable bodies or no-leaf-out-of-place salads, many social media accounts can make you feel like a healthy lifestyle is only for a select few.
However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Instead of following accounts that leave you feeling discouraged, you can choose to subscribe to folks who demonstrate real-world ways to eat well while having honest conversations about the challenges of doing so.
Want to craft a feed that nourishes your body and mind?
Here are 11 inspiring healthy eating social media accounts worth following.
(Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter)
Stephen and Elise Compston aren’t just a married couple who likes to cook together — they’re also registered dietitians.
Their hashtag, #upgradedeverydayeats, tells you all you need to know about their relatable approach to healthy, tasty everyday food.
Combining their mutual expertise with the real-life challenges of parenting young kids, they provide fun, relatable posts for getting meals on the table in a flash.
In particular, recipes with just a few ingredients are their strong suit. Don’t miss their 4-ingredient tofu sheet-pan meal or 5-ingredient barbecue egg and cheese quesadillas.
Also, be sure to check out their blog for even more quick and easy meal ideas.
(Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter)
Some foodie social media accounts feature gorgeous recipe photos, but a closer look reveals that their ingredient lists cost a pretty penny (ahem… truffle oil everything).
Not so with Budget Bytes! As its name suggests, this food blog’s social pages are dedicated to straightforward, healthy recipes that won’t break the bank.
As a recent college grad struggling to make ends meet, founder Beth Moncel started her blog in 2009 as a way to document her experiments in creating low cost recipes.
Now, with over 400,000 Instagram followers and an app that gives you her recipes all in one place, Budget Bytes is an excellent resource for anyone who’d like to eat well for less.
Check out Moncel’s catalog of content for everything from comfort-food classics to vegan desserts to meal prep ideas.
As a dietitian with a physical disability, Jackie Silver knows firsthand that wellness isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor.
Her helpful Instagram page offers simple recipes, practical tips on repurposing leftovers, and tons of 2-minute healthy snack ideas for people with or without disabilities — yep, they literally take just 2 minutes to make!
She also provides info on nutritional therapy for various disabilities and chronic conditions.
In addition to being a dietitian, Silver is a Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness practitioner, which is evident in her posts about eating with intention and shifting your mindset around food and body image.
When your day could use a bit of extra cheer, head to YouTube and step into Natasha’s Kitchen. In her hundreds of videos, home chef Natasha Kravchuk’s goofy, upbeat personality and funny visual gags are sure to make you smile.
In addition to numerous simple and delicious recipes, Natasha’s videos include step-by-step techniques for more challenging preparations, such as ratatouille and macarons.
While not all of Natasha’s recipes
are 100% healthy (hellooo, glazed donuts), her overall approach to food as a source of joy is contagious. If you’re looking to boost your cooking skills, you couldn’t ask for a more fun teacher.
Sure, you want to eat healthier, but what about the kiddos in your life?
As many parents know, having picky eaters can throw a wrench in even the best-laid mealtime plans.
Fortunately, dietitian Jennifer Anderson has your back.
As a mom to two young boys, she’s well versed in helping parents of selective eaters find their way to eating healthy as a family.
With a touch of humor, Anderson separates fact from fiction about nutritional needs for kids. Follow her for kid-friendly snack ideas, info on realistic toddler portion sizes, and what to do with all that leftover Halloween candy.
(Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter)
Sometimes it seems like being female is a prerequisite for becoming a healthy eating social media guru. Yet, men want to eat well, too!
With 1.6 million Instagram followers, Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook is an inspiration to people from all over the world for his down-to-earth social content.
On his feed, you’ll find a range of delicious-yet-doable recipes.
For breakfast, try Curry’s easy, lightly sweetened peach oat skillet cobbler, or for dinner, his Cajun red pepper pasta with shrimp and mushrooms.
Curry also shares his own fitness accomplishments, such as triathlon training, and even failures, like the time he attempted aerial yoga. His encouraging, can-do attitude is sure to inspire you to get more active.
(Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube)
For international recipe inspiration with a dose of mindfulness, check out Shahzadi Devje of Desilicious RD.
A Canadian nutritionist with South Asian heritage, Devje’s feed is packed with globally inspired recipes, proving that eating healthier doesn’t have to be boring or flavorless.
For example, Indian carrot halwa, Lebanese fattoush, and South-Asian-style vegan shepherd’s pie are just a few of her mouthwatering creations.
Though some recipes are somewhat involved, others, such as her DIY salad dressings and energy bites, are blissfully simple.
Through it all, Devje’s gentle tips steer readers toward mindful eating and environmentally friendly food choices.
Ever wish you had a dietitian friend to provide straightforward nutritional advice? Real Life Nutritionist Miranda Galati is the virtual pal you’ve been looking for.
Galati’s posts set the record straight on hot-button topics like detoxes, gluten, carbs, and refined sugar — and her expert answers may surprise you!
Plus, with the motto “All Foods Fit,” Galati’s food philosophy is the epitome of inclusion.
Her feed includes novel ways to make meals from basic, healthy ingredients. She also frequently features “things I ate this week” posts — because who doesn’t want to know what dietitians actually eat?
(Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube)
The Mediterranean diet is beloved by many health experts — and for good reason. However, truly following this anti-inflammatory eating plan involves more than just cooking everything in olive oil.
Born and raised in Egypt, Suzy Karadsheh grew up cooking Mediterranean dishes in her mother’s kitchen.
Now based in North America, Karadsheh shows what a Mediterranean diet actually looks like in real life through wholesome recipes featured on her blog and social media accounts.
While her recipes hail from across the globe, most of them are beginner-friendly and made with easy-to-find pantry staples.
For example, the no-cook herbed Med chicken salad is ideal for busy weeknights, while her easy pesto eggs make for a quick-yet-filling breakfast.
Need a little extra help in the kitchen? Tune into Karadsheh’s live cook-alongs on Instagram.
Teacher-turned-dietitian Maria Sylvester Terry is the first to acknowledge how unrealistic social media can be.
Vitamin RI, her Instagram page, aims to help people unravel damaging beliefs, which are often fueled by social media, and instead foster a positive approach to food.
Her tagline “helping you ditch your black-and-white thinking and live in the gray area” is a testament to her encouraging philosophy.
Through her posts and videos, Maria encourages you to be kinder to yourself by not comparing your health journey to others’ and understanding that your weight doesn’t determine your worth.
For those looking to eat more intuitively, Vitamin RI is a welcoming place to start.
(Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube)
Curious about what it actually means to be healthy at every size? Looking for info on intuitive eating? Craving a killer slice of zucchini bread? Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones — registered dietitians, diabetes educators, and best friends — have you covered.
Their social media channels focus on inclusivity for all body types and cultural backgrounds.
Meanwhile, with the help of other food and nutritional experts, their podcast tackles issues like whether body mass index (BMI) is a legitimate measure of health, whether you should eat organic or non-GMO foods, and how to eat right on a budget.
If you’re going to spend time on social media, it’s worth making it a positive and inspiring experience.
Rather than following influencers that promote unrealistic expectations or feed you “junk” science, it’s important to follow accounts that make healthier habits feel achievable.
While scrolling through your feed won’t turn you into a healthy eating guru overnight, exposing yourself to real (not perfect) people may be just the inspiration you need to take the next step in your health journey.