My Story

I discovered the healing power of plant-based nutrition in 2011 after watching the documentary, Forks Over Knives. In my former career as a corporate trainer, we'd say when the learner is ready, the teacher appears. My family was severely impacted by potentially preventable diseases; this learner was beyond ready.  

Inherited Disease Risk

Both my grandfathers died of heart disease before I was born. Of my grandmothers, I only knew Inez, whom I adored. Unfortunately she died of leukemia when I was eleven. My other grandmother died of pancreatic cancer when I was six, and I can't remember her well.

In the early 2000s, cancer came for my family again, this time all at once. My mom and I were diagnosed 6 weeks apart. My mother's battle with pancreatic cancer was brief; and a few years later my father soon died of the same disease, along with an aunt and uncle. Raising two young sons while processing that much grief, and vulnerability about my own mortality, was its own kind of trial.

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My family's story may be extreme, but it's not unusual. Most families have been touched by preventable disease. The Standard American Diet, heavy in meat, dairy, and processed food, is a major driver of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, and premature aging. And as that diet spreads globally, so does the disease.

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Seeking the Facts​

My genetic history and a desire to alter my own fate sent me back to school. I wanted to meet the Doctors in Forks Over Knives. In 2013, I enrolled in T. Colin Campbell's Certificate Program in Plant-Based Nutrition through Cornell University. In the following years, I curated family meals and shared that knowledge in cooking classes and community dinners. 

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After Covid, I became a Certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator through the Main Street Vegan Academy and a Licensed Food for Life Educator with the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

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Unexpected Health Challenge

In 2024, my family moved to South Carolina to chase warmer winters and a coastal life. Delayed-treatment for a parasite led to a serious C. diff infection that went undiagnosed for several months. I credit my full (and unusually swift) recovery to the power of a plant-based diet. That experience only sharpened my conviction. I moved back to Northern Virginia determined to speak louder about plant based nutrition, and the urgency for ethical and environmental stewardship.

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Currently

Since summer, '25, I've taught Food for Life classes for Wellness Loudoun, Erickson Senior Living, and other local groups. I've also hosted community potlucks to support people making this shift. Recently, I became a PCRM Building Healthy Communities Leader to provide support for people seeking this lifestyle choice. (see Events page)

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Pilates/Exercise

Movement matters too. I'm a former ballet dancer and since 2017, a pilates instructor. Exercise improves your overall health, boosts metabolism and keeps you strong, mobile, and able to continue doing the things you love. While it's optimal to include cardiovascular, strength and balance training, the best exercise is the one you enjoy and can sustain over time.

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Mission

My hope is that this site gives you both the information and the inspiration to bring more plant foods and movement into your days. I also hope to inspire awareness about how our lifestyle habits impact our health, our fellow beings, and the planet. 

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