Sayuri Healing Food: A Journey into Plant-Based Healing Food and Conscious Living from Ubud
In a world where food often becomes just fuel, there are rare places that remind us of its true essence—joy, healing, connection. Sayuri Tanaka, the visionary behind Sayuri Healing Food in Ubud, Bali, is one of those rare souls who turned a deep love for nature, tradition, and conscious living into a thriving plant-based sanctuary.
But Sayuri’s story goes far beyond recipes. It’s a journey of spiritual exploration, ancient healing philosophies, and a mission to nourish not just the body, but the heart and soul. Whether you’re a passionate foodie, a wellness seeker, or simply curious about living more intentionally, this interview offers an inspiring dive into a life devoted to kindness, creativity, and connection—on the plate and beyond.
Ready to discover the magic behind the meals? Let’s begin.
1) Could you share your personal journey and what inspired you to adopt a plant-based lifestyle and establish Sayuri Healing Food?
My journey into plant-based living began with a deep curiosity about food—not just as nourishment, but as heart medicine and energy. After traveling and studying various healing food traditions such as raw food, macrobiotics, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, I came to realize that food holds the power to heal not only the body but also the heart and spirit.
Sayuri Healing Food was born from this passion—a space to share not only delicious plant-based cuisine but also the sense of joy, connection, and vibrant life energy that comes from eating this way.
2) What motivated you to open Sayuri Healing Food Café in Ubud, Bali, and how has the local community influenced its evolution?
Ubud has always felt like a heart-centered place—a gathering point for conscious travelers, creatives, and seekers from around the world. I opened Sayuri Healing Food Café in Ubud because I wanted to create a sanctuary where people could feel safe, nourished, and inspired.
Over time, the café naturally evolved into more than just a place to eat—it became a community hub, a living and breathing space where people connect deeply over food, music, yoga, and shared stories. The local community here has played a vital role in shaping Sayuri into what it is today—warm, soulful, and authentic.
3) Your offerings include both in-person and online plant-based chef training programs. What can participants expect from these courses, and how do they cater to different skill levels?
Our chef trainings are open to everyone—from beginners to professional chefs. The focus goes beyond just learning recipes; it’s about transforming your relationship with food. Participants gain skills in raw food preparation, vegan and gluten-free cooking, fermentation techniques, and more.
But just as importantly, they learn how to cook with mindfulness, creativity, and love. Whether it’s an immersive course in Bali or an online class, the experience is always centered on building confidence, connection, and joy in the kitchen.
4) As the author of several cookbooks, what themes do you explore in your writings, and how do they complement your mission of promoting plant-based cuisine?
My books are more than just collections of recipes—they’re love letters to nature, simplicity, and creativity. Each book explores different themes, from raw vegan desserts to café-style dishes and everyday healing meals.
The recipes are designed to be both nourishing and visually beautiful, offering flexibility so people can adapt them to their own lifestyles. Through my books, I hope to inspire greater freedom, playfulness, and self-expression in the plant-based kitchen.
5) Your culinary approach integrates elements from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Macrobiotics. How do these philosophies influence your recipe development and teaching methods?
These ancient food philosophies remind me that food is seasonal, personal, and deeply connected to nature. In my recipes and teaching, I always consider the balance of yin and yang, warming and cooling foods, digestive health, and the energetics of ingredients.
It’s about going beyond calories and nutrients—it’s about how food makes you feel, how it supports your body in its unique condition and environment. This approach adds depth, adaptability, and a deep respect for the wisdom of traditional cultures to modern plant-based cooking.
6) Beyond food, Sayuri Healing Food hosts events like yoga classes and live music. How do these activities align with your vision of holistic well-being?
To me, food is just one part of the healing process. True nourishment occurs when we feed not only the body but also the heart, mind, and spirit.
That’s why we host yoga, live music, kirtan, sound healing, and conscious community events—they create a high-vibration space where people can relax, express themselves, and connect with others. These experiences bring people together in a soulful way, transforming Sayuri Healing Food into a community—not just a café.
7) What challenges have you encountered in advocating for plant-based diets, and how have you addressed them through your various platforms?
One of the biggest challenges is shifting the perception that plant-based food is difficult, boring, or restrictive. I always aim to show that it’s quite the opposite—plant-based cuisine is colorful, joyful, creative, and deeply nourishing.
Through our café, academy, books, social media, and chef trainings, I work to make plant-based living feel approachable and exciting for everyone—rooted in pleasure rather than perfection.
8) Looking ahead, what are your future aspirations for Sayuri Healing Food and its role in the global plant-based movement?
My dream is for Sayuri Healing Food to continue growing as a global community of people passionate about conscious living, healing food, and heart-centered connection. I hope our academy can become a platform for emerging plant-based teachers and creators worldwide—empowering them to share their gifts both locally and globally.
Ultimately, I want Sayuri Healing Food to inspire more kindness, creativity, and connection—not just in what we eat, but in how we live and how we treat one another.
Thank You, Vania!
A big thank you to Sayuri, for sharing your time, your heart, and your vision with us. Your journey is a beautiful reminder that food can be a powerful path to healing, joy, and connection.
To keep being inspired by her world of vibrant plant-based cuisine, soulful living, and conscious community, follow Sayuri through her official channels:
🌿 Website: sayurihealingfood.com
🌿 Instagram: @sayuri_healing_food
🌿 Online Academy: https://www.sayurionlineacademy.com/
Let her story nourish your curiosity—and maybe even your next meal.
