The beginning
Six years ago, my major food groups were: Sour Patch Kids, Diet Coke, and Whatever Lean Cuisine Had The Most Cheese. After years of unsuccessful diets and self-help books that didn’t work, I felt pretty low and not so good about myself. I didn’t think it was possible for me to have the willpower to become a truly healthy person. Maybe I also didn’t think I deserved it. 

I was also really sick. My endometriosis had gotten so severe that most days I could barely make it out of bed. I tried everything I knew to get better. I had multiple surgeries, tried conventional pain-killers (and less-conventional, leafy ones), fancy yoga and not-so-fancy-yoga, and even therapy to help with the depression caused by the pain. Nothing worked. My doctors gave me one final solution – a hysterectomy.

But then I got an email from a friend that changed my life forever. She sent me a link that outlined a diet plan designed to help with endometriosis pain. No meat. No dairy. No gluten. No sugar. No packaged foods. No alcohol. No fun. 

I was desperate and maybe a bit of a people pleaser, so I decided to try it. I really had nothing to lose. My inaugural meal on my new eating plan was a salsa taco. Literally, a corn tortilla topped with salsa. I didn’t cook, but I was really determined to try this new lifestyle. And after a few weeks, my eyes started to open a little wider. The pain started to fade. I wasn’t sad. And I could sleep after years of insomnia. My husband said that I had “my sparkle back.” I never had to get that hysterectomy and have never looked back.

And now
After I started feeling better, I decided to learn as much as I could about how good food can change lives. In 2012, I received a certification in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. And after years of being scared of the kitchen, I even started cooking.

And after all my studies and personal gains, what have I learned? That change doesn’t have to be all or nothing…it’s about working through things one part at a time. Change can be really f’n hard. It was for me. I cried, and I got angry. Sometimes wondered if it was worth it. But it gets easier and easier every single day. Until one day you wake up and it’s no longer something that you’re “trying,” it’s just something that you are. 

Since launching this site, some pretty cool opportunities have come my way. I’ve written a cookbook, spoken at Apple, started a podcast, and worked with some of my favorite chefs. I truly believe that I owe it all to the plants. Good food and good thinking changed my life. I’m hoping it can change yours, too. 

Love, 
Jessica