Food activist Vani Hari has become a major force in the food world. Hari’s writings on her blog, Food Babe (foodbabe.com), of her investigations into the products and practices of U.S. food giants have drawn a million followers on Facebook. Her work mobilizes followers, dubbed the Food Babe Army, to pressure companies into adopting more healthful policies, and she has been named one of the Most Influential People on the Internet by Time Magazine. Her work promotes non-GMO and organic foods, a healthful lifestyle and making informed food purchases. Hari is also author of the best-seller, “The Food Babe Way.”

Hari will be in town Sept. 15 to speak at a panel discussion at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on the topic of true food markets and the ethics of eating. In anticipation of her visit, she answered a few questions about her work, via email.

QUESTION: What inspired you to do the work you’re doing?

ANSWER: I used to be very sick and on several prescription drugs, and I was able to figure out that all of my symptoms were caused by the food I was eating. During my healing journey, I decided to investigate the food I was eating. The information I uncovered was so important that I had to speak out.

I’m a consumer advocate and have made it my mission to give the public critical and truthful health and food information, which isn’t driven by the economic policy of food chemical or pharmaceutical industries, so they can make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

I am inspired by the work of great activists that have come before me and … by the ability that everyone has to be an activist. Every time you purchase food, tell a friend something new you learned about food, sign a petition, read an ingredient list or contact a company directly, you are taking an act which makes you an activist. Together, with the power of our collective voices we are shaping the marketplace and creating a bigger demand for real, organic and non-GMO food.

Q: How did you build your army?

A: It’s crazy to think that someone who had no experience with social platforms now has over a million fans on Facebook and over 100,000 on other platforms like Twitter and Instagram — but it can all happen when you hit a nerve and share your passion with the world.

When consumers learn the truth, they want to share this information with those around them and thus become powerful teachers and activists in their homes, workplaces and communities. One individual consumer can be a catalyst for a lot of change by just sharing what they have learned. When consumers begin to notice where their health is being compromised they can begin to make better choices.

It is through the help of the entire Food Babe Army that the investigations and petitions on FoodBabe.com have been able to force some of the largest food corporations to change, including Kraft, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Subway, General Mills, Panera Bread, Anheuser-Busch and Starbucks.

Q: How does someone begin to navigate making good choices about what they consume?

A: The best advice I can give anyone trying to get healthier and learn more about their food is to start reading ingredient labels and stop looking at the front of packaging for information about the product and its health benefits. Read labels and start to research.

I believe that choosing certified organic food is better for our health, the environment and the farmers who grow our food. Organic crops cannot be grown with synthetic pesticides as organic regulations prohibit certain toxic pesticides from being used. Many food chemicals can make you tired, wreak havoc on your skin, make you feel miserable, even if you’ve been dieting and exercising like crazy. Even worse — they may put you at risk for scary, life-shortening diseases like cancer.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: I love kale, pizza, homemade desserts and Indian food like masala dosa! I love food in general — as long as it’s real and made from whole foods!

Q: Do you cook? If so, what is your favorite style of cooking? Why? If not, how do you ensure a healthy diet, especially when traveling to do the work you do?

A: Oh yes, I prepare the majority of food at home. Many people have grown accustomed to outsourcing the majority of their meals and are no longer eating from our own kitchens. Instead they are eating in restaurants, on the go, and consuming food prepared by someone else with a list of ingredients chosen by someone else. People who eat more food prepared in their homes avoid thousands of unnecessary food additives that they would otherwise be exposed to.

When I make food at my house it is far more nutritious and tastes way better than anything I can find at a restaurant, and I eat at least 15-17 homemade meals a week. I created “The Food Babe Eating Guide” (available on my website) for this reason.

For years, I traveled for work, all over the United States, going from city to city. I didn’t know anything about the food I was eating and felt terrible about myself — I was overweight, felt tired all of the time, my skin was a mess, and I was generally less productive. … I learned how to always be prepared while traveling so that I no longer had to eat nutritionally dead food. For instance, I always bring along my own healthy food for flights, and pack my bag with daily essentials. I map out my destination with organic and farm-to-table restaurants — as well as natural food markets where I can pick up something healthy in a pinch. I even make my own organic coffee in my hotel room.