I recently found out I had been named Favorite Vegan Instagrammer in the 2026 VegNews Veggie Awards and honestly, I was very surprised. I was up against some incredible fellow creators with followings three times the size of mine, so winning this one felt like a long shot.
But what made the difference was community. Every follow, comment, share, and vote added up to this, and that is not lost on me.
Why I Started Big Box Vegan
When I launched Big Box Vegan in 2018, I just wanted to share my fun finds. It eventually morphed into covering new product launches, discontinued favorites, and accidentally vegan finds hiding in plain sight at mainstream grocery stores. That was the secret sauce that seemed to resonate with others, and becoming a news source of sorts was never the plan but it fit me well.
I have been vegan since 1996, long before vegan convenience foods became grocery store staples. Back then it meant getting creative with limited options and wishing for things that are now available in most grocery stores. My excitement is genuine for everything I share today, and making veganism feel practical and approachable rather than complicated or out of reach is always my goal.
A Full-Circle Moment
VegNews was one of the first major publications to amplify my work, back in 2019 when they featured Big Box Vegan in the magazine and then shared many of my finds with their online audience. That early support meant a lot and made a huge difference. Being recognized now as Favorite Vegan Instagrammer feels like a true full-circle moment, and one that reflects not just the work, but the community that has grown around it.
What’s Next?
More of the same, honestly. New and emerging products, store finds you might have walked past a dozen times, industry changes worth knowing about, and recipes that have been developed and tested with the same care I put into everything else here.
The Big Box Vegan website started as a recipe blog, and that foundation still matters to me. I’ve been baking since I was a kid, nearly pursued it professionally, and have been creating my own vegan recipes since 1996. Recipe development is something I take seriously. These aren’t thrown-together posts. They’re tested, refined, and built on a lifetime of experience in the kitchen.
This recognition just makes me want to keep doing all of it and doing it well.
Thank You
To everyone who has followed, shared, commented, and supported me and Big Box Vegan over the years, you voted for this and that means everything. I truly appreciate what this has become and am excited for what the future holds.
Kreg Sterns has been vegan since the mid-1990s and is the founder of Big Box Vegan, covering vegan grocery finds, original plant-based recipes, new product launches, and store news at major retailers.
