We are very sad to share the news that Elana passed away on February 8, 2025. It is a traumatic and tragic loss for her family, friends, and the entire Elana’s Pantry community.
Elana was a creative beacon who was constantly looking for ways to help people and make the world a better place. She founded two companies that were the definition of doing well by doing good.
Ecosav started in 1993, was a leader in bringing recycling programs to New York City commercial establishments and helping them reduce their waste bills in the process. She was named one of the city’s 40 under 40 for her work.
Elana’s Pantry, founded in 2006, brought simple, healthy, gluten free, and grain free recipes and extensive health and wellness advice to millions of people. She was also the author of three cookbooks, including a New York Times bestseller, and an investor in numerous cutting-edge companies bringing healthy products to people, like Primal Kitchen, LMNT, Kettle & Fire, Wellnesse, Magic Spoon, SteadyMD, Serenity Kids, and Beekeeper’s Naturals.
Elana was committed to giving back with charities such as Pesticide Action Network, Not Putting on a Shirt, Tulane Medical School, Boulder Community Hospital, Baby2Baby, Castleman’s Disease Collaborative Network, and The Anti-Recidivism Fund, and was a co-founder of the Katz Amsterdam Foundation.
Elana was also a fierce advocate for women’s health and eliminating biases through systemic change in the medical system.
Elana had a number of challenges in her life but always found a way to connect and help people, never wavering from her goal to “save the world”, a goal she told her parents about when she was 22.
She will be deeply missed.
Elana is survived by her husband and two sons as well as her parents and sister. We ask for privacy for her family during this very tough time.
Toni says
This is such sad news.
I haven’t visited her blog much in a while. But I was just speaking of it within the last few weeks. It might even have been on Feb 8, because on that day I was on a long car ride with my son. I frequently go into little tirades about how yucky the internet is now.
But I said “I still remember finding this one great blog back in the 2000s, before the entire web had been taken over by them. By a lady who had a ton of GF recipes back when Uncle Marc found out he had celiac.”
I just wanted to share that. Peace.
karen daws says
I am shocked and so very sorry. She was and is a true inspiration. Blessings to her spirit and her family x
Suzanne says
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve been following Elana’s Pantry for many, many years now and found her recipes to be very useful to this day, many of them are go-to recipes for me. I’m really shocked and sad about this news. Much love to her friends and family.
Karen Tintori Katz says
I am a writer bereft of words. May Elana’s memory forever be a blessing. She had such a beautiful neshama, and did help repair the world. May she rest beneath the sheltering wings of the shekinah.
Dana Gerard says
Elana, We will continue to be inspired by your wisdom, your research, your incredible recipes, your love for your family and for trying to heal the world and make the world a better place. May your memory be a blessing. I will never forget you.
Nancy says
So sorry to hear. Sending empathy and support to her family and friends All of her giving, her work, will be cherished forever. May she rest in peace
Heidi Seidman says
Elana you will be deeply missed. May your memory be for a blessing and may you finally rest in peace. Sending love and light and strength in the coming days for your beloved family.
Bridget says
Elana was such an inspiration to me. I found her website when I became gluten free years ago. My prayers are with the family during this difficult time.
Diane says
I found Elana in the early 2000’s through my journey to better health through Paleo protocols. Over the years I made many of her wonderful recipes and was inspired by her style, positivity and creative expression through food. I’m so sorry to learn of her passing. May her family and friends find peace in joyful and heartwarming memories.
Jennifer Pratt says
I’m so sorry for this heartache your family is experiencing right now. I have followed Elana for years and have felt very blessed to have her recipes when I didn’t know how to eat to help my body. If I think of something that Elana cared so much about, I would say her boys. She was a blessing to me in the digital world.