Have you ever wondered what changing your diet could do for your life? Maybe you have tried a few fad diets that gave you short term results but not a lifestyle change that worked for you. A plant-based diet is not a new concept, but is gaining traction in many diverse groups of people. Activist, actress, and documentary filmmaker, Jasmine Leyva, gives you a deeper look at African American culture in terms of diet and how making the switch to plant-based eating, while positive health wise, can have negative connotations in the black culture, which she hopes to change.
Disclaimer: Strength 4 Spouses was given early access to this documentary in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis
The Invisible Vegan documentary takes you on a journey of one woman’s quest to not only change her diet to a plant-based eating approach, but to also empower others to do the same. In addition, Jasmine Leyva outlines the history of plant-based eating and the health benefits. She also discusses how being vegan is viewed in the black community and the lack of access to healthy choices. Jasmine offers real solutions for change, including interviews with others vegans, activists, and health experts.
Strengths
- Authenticity-I appreciate honesty, when it is presented in a tasteful manner. This film is brutally honest on all accounts about food, culture, disparities in the black community, and more. Be prepared for some honest language and discussions about plant-based eating-especially as an African American woman.
- Health benefits-The Invisible Vegan outlines all of the amazing benefits that plant-based eating provides. It affects fertility and virility, can reverse the effects of diabetes, and so much more.
- Plant-based eating can be delicious-This documentary gives you a look at some amazing recipes. If you love to cook, eating a vegan diet “challenges you in the kitchen and makes you retrain your taste buds.” As an experienced southern cook, I love a challenge in the kitchen. Plant-based eating will provide that for my cooking skills and force me to get creative with food, something I enjoy doing.
- Food and culture-The deep dive into food as it relates to culture is very interesting. It makes you think about your own upbringing, how food has played a part in your life, and which foods are a staple in your culture.
My Final Thoughts
Watching The Invisible Vegan was eye opening. It came at a great time, as I had just watched What the Health on Netflix and been completely convinced to try a plant-based diet. Then, after watching Jasmine Leyva’s journey to eating a plant-based diet, I was further on board to giving this diet a try. This film does a great job showing how culture influences our diet. In addition, Jasmine’s journey as a black woman becoming a vegan was mind-boggling. I love how she hopes to change the attitudes towards a plant-based diet within her community and offers real solutions to normalize a healthier way of eating. Jasmine Leyva approaches some important narratives and is starting tough conversations in the film, The Invisible Vegan.
© Strength 4 Spouses LLC, 2021.
The Invisible Vegan is available to watch now on TubiTV and stream on Amazon Prime.
To see more reviews and information about this documentary, stop by any of the blogs below during this WOW: Women on Writing Blog Tour.
About the Author
Jasmine Leyva is an activist, actress, and documentary filmmaker, Jasmine is passionate about veganism, social justice, and telling her own stories. With a Bachelor of Arts in TV, Film and Media and a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting, Jasmine is unapologetically an artist. She has worked as an associate producer on a NAACP winning docuseries entitled Unsung and has written and produced for Being, a docuseries highlighting dynamic entertainers in film and music. Jasmine ultimately decided to let go of her nine-to-five and focus on her goals with no boss except for her own creativity. She went on to produce her own feature length documentary, The Invisible Vegan, a film that chronicles her personal experience with plant-based eating. The film also explains how plant-based eating is directly linked to African roots and how African-American eating habits have been debased by a chain of oppression. Jasmine’s recently appeared on the Vegan Women Summit, The Sarah Scoop Show, and the Soul On Fire podcast.
Connect with Jasmine at:
Website: https://jasmineleyva.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmine_c_leyva
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUmSXRtjPgc_JQ4N-h67VUg
