Whether it’s dandelions blooming in your backyard or purslane sprouting from the sidewalk, vegan forager Alexis Nikole Nelson is on a mission to show how freely growing flora could make its way to your plate. With contagious enthusiasm and a live cooking demo, she explains the benefits of expanding your palate to include “wild” foods that are delicious, nutritious and planet-friendly — and gives three tips for helping others go from skeptical to confident in their own food adventures.
If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:
Follow TED!
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
Watch more: go.ted.com/alexisnikolenelson
TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
Gaasuba Meskhenet
May 26, 2022 at 9:51 pm
So excited to see her here! I love her channels!! She’s taught me so much! Bless herrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!
Gaasuba Meskhenet
May 26, 2022 at 9:53 pm
so ready for next months food stamps to come in so I can get some sea weed treats….. nnnnn so sick of spoonfulls of peanut butter and meals of rice with pickles…….
Troy
May 26, 2022 at 10:34 pm
Not exactly the model of health I want to take advice from
Annaliese Saint-Val
May 26, 2022 at 11:44 pm
What model of health? You don’t really know anything about her health since you don’t have access to her medical charts lmao
Mica Bryt
May 26, 2022 at 11:29 pm
“We don’t get to choose the pace at which people change—if they choose to change at all, but… some people will be sweet and appreciate you for meeting them where they are.” ????????????
Classically Mish
May 26, 2022 at 11:34 pm
Congratulations Alexis
Classically Mish
May 26, 2022 at 11:34 pm
Great opener
Classically Mish
May 26, 2022 at 11:46 pm
Happy Snacking; Don’t die. Lol
Hi Giang
May 26, 2022 at 11:56 pm
I’ve never watched a ted talk like yours. You’re full of life!
Abelle
May 27, 2022 at 12:09 am
Best Ted talk I have ever seen in my life
Dis Corp
May 27, 2022 at 12:25 am
TELL ME HOOOOW!!! xD
Ariel Frias
May 27, 2022 at 12:41 am
We love Alexis!!!
Brian Doyle
May 27, 2022 at 12:44 am
The TED talk we all needed! Thank you.
Ink & Caffeine
May 27, 2022 at 12:50 am
I RAN AS FAST AS I COULD WHEN I GOT THE NEWS
Heather Hedera
May 27, 2022 at 12:55 am
I’m so proud of Alexis!!!! My favorite content creator!!!! Our foraging queen!!!! ????????????????????
Giulia B
May 27, 2022 at 12:56 am
I LOVE YOU THANK YOU
deeznutz757
May 27, 2022 at 12:59 am
Owned that stage!!!
We so love you!!
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????☺️
Door To The River
May 27, 2022 at 1:00 am
I’m 100% anti-vegan diets, but I LOVE Alexis and think she’s absolutely marvelous and brilliant at what she does ❤️
You Dont Understand
May 27, 2022 at 1:01 am
This whole comment section looks like bots
Maria B
May 27, 2022 at 1:02 am
YOU GO GIRL!!!!! Huge fan ????????????????????????
You Dont Understand
May 27, 2022 at 1:03 am
i can see why shes so excited about food lmao
Chelsea Shurmantine
May 27, 2022 at 1:14 am
I feel like she got a mediocre audience lol. Like they almost got there lol
Naes Topaz
May 27, 2022 at 1:20 am
????????????????????????????????????
Cravenn5
May 27, 2022 at 1:20 am
Congratulations ???????????? loved you from day one???????? enjoyed your Ted talk so much!
Blueberry muffins Kids
May 27, 2022 at 1:21 am
I should really try this
Brett
May 27, 2022 at 1:23 am
Sorry, but I just can’t imagine an overweight black woman out in the woods…
Brett
May 27, 2022 at 1:35 am
Annoying and not funny at all!
dark_neverland
May 27, 2022 at 1:54 am
She is such a wonderful Instagram follow
Samantha Richardson
May 27, 2022 at 2:56 am
She is so delightful and I love her content so much ❤
Gyalene Torres
May 27, 2022 at 3:13 am
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeed it ????????????
Rachel Sauvé
May 27, 2022 at 3:21 am
One of my favourite Instagram accounts to follow. Congratulations Alexis!
Sammi’s Snakes
May 27, 2022 at 3:40 am
YES ALEXIS OUR QUEEN!! Happy birthday to her ????????
LDF Hollister
May 27, 2022 at 3:57 am
Congratulations Alexis! Great to see you on TED
Regal Sound Productions
May 27, 2022 at 4:19 am
She looks pretty unhealthy to me, nothing a little bacon couldn’t fix!
flish0
May 27, 2022 at 6:05 am
she’s the cutest and so engaging!!
ItzMoChi25
May 27, 2022 at 6:14 am
ITS ALEXISSSS
Oak Aitken
May 27, 2022 at 9:14 am
Alexis is soooo funny, completely fills the room with her personality.
Joshua W
May 27, 2022 at 9:49 am
I will try not to die, but you never know
Emily Weber
May 27, 2022 at 11:03 am
So great and wise!
Chelsea
May 27, 2022 at 11:40 am
The audience was so lukewarm…
Bobbie Dodds
May 27, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Omg!! Its Alexis!!!!!
Landon Kamps
May 27, 2022 at 12:24 pm
I think this is the most enjoyable presentation I’ve ever seen. I love this person.
Hannah ????
May 27, 2022 at 1:41 pm
I love her so much! This was great!
Destiny
May 27, 2022 at 2:21 pm
Love love love ????????????????
Dawn
May 27, 2022 at 3:31 pm
I stopped this video halfway through to look up edible weeds in my area.
Torterrapin
May 27, 2022 at 5:05 pm
I had no idea she was anything besides a tiktok creator. How cool to see her in a Ted stage!
Bri Bernhardt
May 27, 2022 at 5:14 pm
I really liked her because I’m also black and love foraging, have been doing it for a couple years now, and excited to learn more. but she heavily claims to be vegan and then has bashed us vegans on her tiktoks….sooo…. that’s where I draw the line. I don’t associate with people who lie for monetary value.
May Moreshet
May 27, 2022 at 5:21 pm
instagram star fails to tell followers they have a TED talk, followers surprised and delighted to find it in youtube feed…
NurseJuicy McFatt
May 27, 2022 at 9:58 pm
I… love… her!
Tayla Hartemink
May 28, 2022 at 1:26 am
Omg she is so funny, intelligent and outstanding woman I love how she delivered her speech ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
byn.frnknstn
May 28, 2022 at 5:09 am
I follow her on fb! So happy for her! ????
New Step
May 28, 2022 at 6:06 am
Love her!❤️❤️❤️❤️ She needs to be on PBS! But I guess Tik Tok has greater reach audience-wise. Her pointers can save many lives during a famine.
Mortessa
May 28, 2022 at 1:47 pm
I love her on TikTok!
Stevie Sosa
May 28, 2022 at 4:09 pm
✨Mirabelle Madrigal✨ in the flesh. ????????
Zoe Dion
May 28, 2022 at 4:33 pm
YES!!!!!!!! The actual love of my life getting the attention and platform she deserves ????????????????????????????????????
A B
May 29, 2022 at 5:43 am
Loved this, glad to see her here.
Mac
May 29, 2022 at 9:20 pm
She’s a natural born educator and entertainer.
Jess Henderson
May 30, 2022 at 12:47 am
I’m so proud of her omg
Chels Lee
May 30, 2022 at 1:09 am
She’s so wonderful!!! Love her and her views!!!
Canned peaches
May 30, 2022 at 12:40 pm
????????????????