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Supermodels like Lily Aldridge and Chrissy Teigen tote it. It girls like Lena Dunham cart it. And the offices of high-fashion brands like Alexander Wang and runway retailer Moda Operandi also follow suit.
We're referring to the minimalist black bags signature of Sakara Life, a plant-based, nutrient-rich meal delivery service started by onetime Wall Streeter Whitney Tingle and former model/actress Danielle DuBoise.
This month, the health gurus to the fashion elite launched Sakara Life beyond their New York City and Los Angeles customers to everyone nationwide, making staples like their roasted butternut squash and kale salad (see the recipe) available to all.
"This is one of our biggest dreams come to life, and we couldn't be more excited about spreading love and changing lives across the entire country through plant-based food," Tingle says. "We believe food is the foundation for all kinds of radical change."
The two have come a long way since launching their business four years ago, when they cooked the meals out of their teensy Brooklyn kitchens and delivered them to clients by bicycle. Tingle and DuBoise bonded over trying to find the right healthy regimen for themselves back then, Tingle consulting every acupuncturist and dermatologist in town for her cystic acne and DuBoise struggling with body-image issues and weight fluctuation for which she eventually ended up creating her own meal program. And, presto, the first runs of Sakara Life.
Sanskrit for "with form," Sakara Life isn't just about Instagram-worthy macro bowls or even those now cult-worthy black totes. Tingle and DuBoise have turned their company into a lifestyle brand (and recently a magazine), where food nourishes not only the body but the soul.
"Just like everything you put into your body affects what you get out of life, so does everything you think and do," DuBoise explains. "So one of the most important things you can do is to accompany every bite of food you take with loving, grateful thoughts."
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So that's why we asked the Sakara gals for their picks that help them maintain a healthier—and much more stylish—way of living (browse their favorite products below).
It's what keeps them sane as their company continues to grow from two employees to now about 80, overseeing more than 8,000 meal deliveries a week to thousands of customers across the country. And even though the founders are flying to and from their coastal offices, you can't take them out of the kitchen.
"We don't stick to one way of cooking vegetables—we use every style in the book—and that variety helps keep your taste buds entertained," Tingle says. "The one thing we do with all our ingredients is make sure to add some love. We swear you can taste it."
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