For most of my life, vegetables were the enemy. Seriously, as a kid, if anything green landed on my dinner plate, I’d cry and immediately send it into hiding—straight into my napkin.

Fast forward to college, where being broke and working at an Italian restaurant changed the game. Free soup and salad during every shift taught me to tolerate, then actually enjoy, salad. Still, I didn’t stray far from my leafy comfort zone.

My real culinary expansion began with the Whole 30. Stuck in a food rut and running on carb-heavy meals like pasta, mac and cheese, and subs, I was drained. A friend, ever the health and fitness guru, suggested the Whole 30 to reset my habits and boost my energy.

So, I dove in. Meal planning was new (and challenging, because let’s face it—the world doesn’t revolve around your diet), but it was absolutely worth it. I started to really notice how food affected my body. Meat became chicken and fish; dairy gave way to coconut milk and non-dairy ice cream. Cheese and baked goods were my holdouts, but even they began to feel less essential.

Enter my partner, a vegan of six years, who nudged me further. At first, I was skeptical. Veggies all day? Isn’t that boring? Don’t you miss the good stuff? His response? “Nope! There are so many great options now—no compromise needed.” And he was right. With today’s quality meat substitutes, our dinners are delicious, easy, and surprisingly familiar.

The journey from hiding vegetables in napkins to embracing a plant-based lifestyle has been life-changing. We only get one body for this adventure, and the better the fuel, the better the journey.

My mission is simple: to help others make the leap to the plant-based lifestyle—whether you're starting as a veggie-dodging kid or a tired adult craving change, sustainable eating is within reach.