
Mother Essentials: Jenné Claiborne of Sweet Potato Soul
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Plant life is a way of life for Jenné Claiborne and her 6-year-old daughter Jorji. Lucky for us, the certified health coach and vegan recipe developer (known around the web as @sweetpotatosoul) is generous with her knowledge, filling her website and Instagram feed with countless delicious, vibrant recipes that offer healthy meals with a hearty dose of Southern Soul. Her latest cookbook—over two years in the making—is Sweet Potato Soul Vegan Vibes: 100 Soulful Plant-Based Recipes for Healthy Everyday Meals, and it features a variety of recipes that are mom-, kid-, and grandma-approved (Jenné’s daughter and mother serve as key taste-testers). Below, Jenné shares her current Mother Essentials list, which includes her vegan go-to’s, and other must-haves for a healthy, balanced life.
Sweet Potato Soul Vegan Vibes. “For busy moms, I recommend the sweet potato lentil salad in my new book. It is filling, colorful, delicious, and nutritious. My daughter loves it too! And the spelt biscuits with sweet potato butter are so good for weekend breakfasts. Kids can even help you make them.” Sweet Potato Soul Vegan Vibes, $26, Bookshop and Amazon.
My New Roots by Sarah Britton. “You must try the lentil salad recipe in My New Roots. I make it—or the sweet potato lentil salad in Vegan Vibes—every week.” My New Roots: Inspired Plant-Based Recipes for Every Season, $26.69, Amazon.
Sweet Potato Pie Spice. “I use this for topping my daily oat milk latte. This recipe is in Vegan Vibes. I also use it in oatmeal, overnight oats, and on pancakes.” Sweet Potato Soul Vegan Vibes, $26, Bookshop and Amazon.
Hippeas Snacks. “My daughter loves them. Because they are made with chickpeas they have a little more fiber and protein than regular cheese puffs. And of course, they are vegan.” Hippeas Chickpea Puffs, $4.99, Amazon.
Vegan Gyoza from TJs. “Trader Joe’s vegan gyoza are a must. I send my daughter to school with lunch everyday, and she loves when I pack these.” Vegetable Gyoza, $4.79, Trader Joe’s.
Books by Abraham Verghese. “I love Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water.” Cutting for Stone, $17.67, Bookshop. The Covenant of Water, $20.46, Bookshop.
Bitzee. “My daughter’s favorite toy is the Bitzee. It’s a great electronic toy, especially if you are like us and restrict tablets to car rides.” Bitzee Digital Pet, $24.99, Amazon.
Lotus Moon Skin + Hair Care. “I love Lotus Moon’s B Vitamin Moisturizer and Amaranth Cleanser.” Vitamin B Hydrating Gel, $46, Lotus Moon Skincare. Amaranth Gentle Cleanse, $48, Lotus Moon Skincare.
Castor Oil. “I also swear by castor oil for nail and hair health.” RejuveNaturals Castor Oil, $35.99, Amazon.
What Now? Podcast. “I’m obsessed with the podcast ‘What Now? with Trevor Noah.’” What Now? With Trevor Noah via ApplePodcasts.
Moana Tunes. “My daughter and I have very different tastes in music, but we can both agree on Disney soundtracks: Moana 1 & Moana 2.”
Yoga. “I practice yoga at least 5x a week. I go to Highland Yoga in Atlanta.” Highland-Yoga.com.
Outdoor Time. “Spending time outdoors is one of my top priorities for overall wellbeing and health: to me, sunlight and fresh air are medicine.”
An Indie Bookstore Fave. “My favorite bookstore in Atlanta is Virginia Highland Books.” VahiBooks.com.
Go-To Nutrition Website. “The main publication I frequent is NutritionFacts.org. I love the articles and videos for clear nutrition science.” NutritionFacts.org.
CRZ Yoga Gear. “I swear by CRZ Yoga for my athletic wear. Their products are of the highest quality (and I would know because I have been comparing yoga brands for well over a decade), and super affordable. I also think their tennis skirts are top notch.” Us.CrzYoga.com.
Sonos Speakers. “Sonos speakers throughout the house are a must!” Sonos Era 100, $199, Amazon.
For more MOTHER ESSENTIALS, peep our recent features on Neha Ruch of Mother Untitled, model, writer, and activist Cameron Russell, author Nasozi Kakembo, kid-lit talent Bo Lu, artist Suzy Ultman, Super Smalls founder Maria Duenas Jacob, Lanee Slaughter of MAMA & OG, the mamas behind MAJO IDEAS, HAWKS founder Emma Flanders, celebrity hairstylist Kylee Heath, APRIL SHOWERS of Afro Unicorn, crafty mamas ERIN BOYLE AND ROSE PEARLMAN, writers CLEO WADE and ALEX ELLE, comedian JENNY SLATE, poet MAGGIE SMITH, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream co-founder LAURA O’NEILL, author and doula BRANDI SELLERZ-JACKSON, and designer CLARE VIVIER.
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