FEED THE DREAM: Content creator Olivia Viglatzis fights hunger one budget meal at a time
Content creator Olivia ‘Olive’ Viglatzis has turned budget cooking into a mission against hunger, sharing affordable recipes online while feeding vulnerable people in Cape Town.
Olivia "Olive" Viglatzis, known as olive_foodie on social media, has become a strong advocate against hunger by sharing budget-friendly recipes online. With over 100,000 followers on TikTok and 150,000 on Facebook, she has built a significant platform from her passion for affordable cooking. Her budget meal series highlights how to prepare nutritious meals using inexpensive ingredients like cabbage, rice, and protein sources such as eggs or meat.
Rather than focusing on her follower count, Olive emphasizes the importance of her message: "No one should go hungry."
Initially targeting mothers in their forties, Olive's content has attracted a diverse audience, including students who appreciate her practical advice for cooking on a tight budget. Through her videos, which are usually filmed in the evenings after work, Olive aims to demonstrate that it's possible to create satisfying meals even with limited resources.
Her commitment to giving back extends beyond her online presence; she and her wife, Veronica Bezuidenhout, distribute food parcels, or "charity meals," to those in need at least once a month in their community of Richwood, Cape Town. Olive encourages others to start small by feeding people in their immediate community and advises them to follow her financial philosophy of "taking your 10th and doing good for others."
While her ultimate goal is to open a soup kitchen and host a television series about budget meals, Olive remains content with spreading awareness about affordable meals and the possibility of feeding others without breaking the bank.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
