Change Today, Change Tomorrow is a nonprofit organization focused on addressing food justice and social inequities in Louisville.
On Saturday, September 21 the organization will present its fifth annual Vegan Cookoff (“the ultimate plant-based showdown”) from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Logan Street Market, located at 1001 Logan St.
While the Vegan Cookoff is free, more information is available at Eventbrite. Cash prizes for competitors include Best Edible Art, Best Zero-Waste Dish, and 
Surprisingly Vegan, with a $500 grand prize for the Chopped Style Competition.
There’ll also be vendors who specialize in art, hand-crafted products, vegan supplements and community services.
Taylor Ryan is the Executive Director and Founder of Change Today, Change Tomorrow, and she submits this op-ed, which explains her organization’s motivation for the Vegan Cookoff, and the community’s stake in healthier eating.
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Why Vegan Dish Exposure is Crucial for Black Families
For many Black families, the journey toward healthier eating can feel like an uphill battle. It’s not just about wanting to be healthier; it’s about navigating a system that often makes it incredibly difficult to access the resources needed to make that change. The idea of trying a vegan diet, for instance, sounds appealing in theory—more energy, fewer health issues, a better relationship with food—but the reality is far more complicated.
Imagine this: You’ve decided it’s time to eat healthier. You start by looking up recipes, excited about the possibilities of plant-based meals that could benefit your whole family. You find a recipe that looks promising, but then comes the hassle of coordinating a trip to the grocery store. For many Black families, especially those in underserved communities, this means dealing with a lack of transportation and a lack of access to nearby grocery stores.
If you manage to get to the store, shopping becomes another challenge. You might have multiple kids in tow, and while you’re trying to find the ingredients for that quinoa salad, you’re also juggling the demands of your children, the time it’s taking, and the cost of healthier food options. Once you finally make it home, the next hurdle is preparing and cooking the dish. After all that effort, you might take one bite and realize…you don’t even like quinoa. Now you’ve got a dish you don’t want to eat, food that might go to waste, and a sense of defeat that makes you less likely to try something new and healthy again.
This cycle is not uncommon. When trying to make healthier choices feels like more trouble than it’s worth, it’s easy to fall back into old habits. And that’s where Change Today, Change Tomorrow’s annual vegan cookoff comes in. We’re breaking down barriers and making healthier eating more accessible for Black families in Louisville, KY, and beyond.
Our free vegan cookoff isn’t just about promoting plant-based eating; it’s about creating a space where Black families can explore healthier food options without the barriers that often stand in the way. We bring the food to the community, showcasing local Black cooks and chefs who understand the flavors and cultural significance of the dishes they’re preparing. There’s no need to struggle with transportation, no grocery lists to stress over, and no kids to wrangle in a crowded store. All you need to do is show up, taste the dishes, and see what plant-based eating can offer you.
By making healthy food accessible, enjoyable, and culturally relevant, we’re helping to shift the narrative around what it means to eat well. We’re proving that vegan food isn’t just a trend—it’s a viable, delicious option that can fit into the lives of Black families. And when you try a dish you actually like, you’re more likely to incorporate it into your routine, making healthy eating a sustainable part of your life.
So, let’s keep pushing for more events like our vegan cookoff. Let’s continue to uplift local Black chefs, support our communities, and make it easier for Black families to embrace healthier eating. After all, we all deserve access to good food, and with the right support, we can make that a reality for everyone.
