About

Hey there, I'm Jenna Urben!

I’m the recipe developer, photographer, and writer behind The Urben Life. My mission is to share allergy-friendly recipes the entire family will love.

Welcome to The Urben Life

The Urben Life was founded in 2016, inspired by cooking dairy-free and egg-free meals at home. My own food allergies and intolerances led me to learn my way around the kitchen and experiment with different ingredients.

As a former picky-eater and someone who manages multiple dietary restrictions, I understand the struggle of getting wholesome, satisfying meals on the table everyday. Join me as I share comfort food classics, vegan desserts, homemade cocktails, and more.

About the recipes

All of the recipes are dairy free and egg free, with lots of vegan and gluten free options! I have family and friends with special dietary needs, so I test allergy-friendly substitutions whenever possible.

The recipes you’ll find here at The Urben Life have been tested multiple times in my kitchen to ensure you can recreate them in yours!

You don’t need expert skills to make delicious dinners, fabulous cocktails, or impressive desserts. I will teach you kitchen tips and shortcuts for making mealtime a fun, stress-free experience.

What you'll find on The Urben Life

The recipes are simple yet delicious: I focus on using common ingredients and pantry staples. When a unique ingredient is used, I share a brief background to introduce you in an straightforward way.
The recipes are easy to adapt: Having food allergies myself, I understand which alternatives can be substituted and how they affect the overall recipe.
The recipes are flavorful: One of my biggest pet peeves is when food is under seasoned. You’ll find dishes that are full of flavor here!
The recipes are easy to follow: Over the years, I have updated how I write recipes to include relevant information, helpful cooking tips, simple ingredient substitutes, and step by step photos. I take great pride in publishing well-tested and reliable recipes!
The recipes are only part of my story: In addition to recipes, you can also browse my travel guides and life updates!

Connect with me

Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a post.
Join my Dairy Free and Egg Free Recipes Facebook Group!
When you make my recipes, tag me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Why we eat dairy free and egg free

My allergy-friendly journey began in high school when I developed an egg allergy. I went from enjoying scrambled eggs nearly every day to cutting them out completely. In college, I became lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of dairy made me sick, so I eliminated it entirely. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with endometriosis and experimented with eating gluten-free and plant-based. Ultimately, I discovered that my body feels best with well-balanced, plant-forward meals. That’s why this website offers a mix of meat-based and meatless recipes, along with plenty of allergy-friendly options!

Fun facts about Jenna

When I’m not chasing my toddler around, enjoying cocktails on the patio with my husband, cuddling with our greyhound-great dane mix, or working, you can’t find me bingewatching reality tv.

I graduated with a BA in Emerging Media and Communication from UT Dallas. Throughout college and after graduating, I worked on the agency side of digital marketing and social media. Eventually I started freelancing, launched this blog, and the rest is history.

Texas is home but we love traveling! Some of our favorite destinations are Sonoma County, Hawaii, Universal Orlando, and Walt Disney World. I would love to explore Sedona, Leavenworth, and San Diego.

My favorite foods, in no particular order are tacos, pizza, tofu scramble, avocado toast (yes, I’m a millennial), banana bread, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Brand work

I have worked with over 100 brands to create content including recipe development, food photography, branded videos, and sponsored posts. Current and past clients include Sprouts Farmers Market, Kroger, Walmart, Quaker, Google, and more. See my Work with Me page for more details.

Blogger resources

I share tips for creators on Bloggerbytes and The Bloggerbytes Podcast. If you’re craving community, I invite you to join the Content Creators Collective.

Press

I write and develop recipes for leading food publications like Taste of Home and Allrecipes. You can also find my recipes linked on VegNews, Huffpost, Parade, MSN, and more. Here's a taste of where I've been featured: