Carleigh Bodrug is a prominent Canadian plant-based cookbook author, content creator, and founder of PlantYou, known for her simple, low-waste vegan recipes that promote affordable, healthy eating.
Through her social media platforms, bestselling books, and community-focused approach, she has built a large following by encouraging people to eat more plants, reduce food waste, and save money.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Carleigh Bodrug
- Born: May 16, 1992
- Age: 34 years old
- Birthplace: Canada
- Nationality: Canadian
- Ethnicity: Canadian
- Occupation: Plant-Based Cookbook Author, Content Creator, and Founder of PlantYou
- Height: Unknown
- Religion: Christianity
- Parents: Debbie Bodrug and Mr. Bodrug
- Siblings: Unknown
- Spouse: Unknown
- Children: Unknown
- Relationship: Unknown
- Net Worth: $4 million USD

Early Life and Education
Carleigh Bodrug was born on May 16, 1992, in Canada. Raised by her parents, Debbie Bodrug and Mr. Bodrug, on a small family farm in Ontario, she grew up in a humble environment with home-grown food and a standard diet that included meat and dairy.
She attended the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 2014 with a BA in Media, Theory & Production. During her studies, she majored in journalism and worked as a student health reporter for the campus news channel. Details about her siblings remain private. Her ethnicity is Canadian. Her religion is Christianity.
Career
Carleigh Bodrug first shifted to a plant-based lifestyle around 2015 after learning about the diet’s link to disease, particularly following health concerns in her family, including her father’s cancer diagnosis and later her mother’s battle with aggressive stage 4 cancer. This personal motivation led her to create PlantYou, starting as a blog and growing into a major platform with over 11 million social media followers.
She gained recognition for her scrappy cooking style, focusing on zero-waste, whole-food vegan recipes that use kitchen scraps, leftovers, and affordable ingredients. Her debut book, PlantYou, became a New York Times bestseller, followed by PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking, which expands on easy, approachable meals that are good for health, wallets, and the planet.
She shares daily recipes, meal plans, and tips on Instagram (@plantyou), TikTok, and her website, often featuring simple hacks like turning vegetable peels into stocks or vinegars. As a self-taught chef, she has appeared on podcasts and shows and in media outlets such as Good Morning America, promoting sustainable eating. Her work emphasizes reducing food waste while making plant-based living fun and accessible for everyone.
Awards and Nominations
- New York Times Bestselling Author (for PlantYou cookbooks)
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: @plantyou
- Facebook Handle: PlantYouBlog
- YouTube handle: PlantYou
- TikTok handle: @plantyou
Personal Life
Carleigh Bodrug is married to Jesse Dale, they decided to tie the knot in July 2023 and welcomed their first child in June 2025. She grew up close to her mother, Debbie Bodrug, who passed away from cancer in March 2024 and served as a major inspiration for her work.
Her father has also faced health challenges, influencing her dietary shift. Details about her current relationship status, spouse, or children are kept private, though she has referenced pregnancy in recent content.
Net Worth
Carleigh Bodrug’s net worth is estimated at $4 million USD. Her income primarily comes from book sales and royalties, social media sponsorships and partnerships, PlantYou memberships and merchandise, digital products like meal plans, speaking engagements, and brand collaborations in the plant-based and wellness space.
