11 Years of VegInspired: Returning to our Roots

Eleven years ago today, I hit “publish” for the very first post on www.veginspired.com. I didn’t start VegInspired just to document my own life or share recipes; I started it with a mission to help others realize they have the power to live a long, healthy, and vibrant life. In that first post, I promised to share stories, recipes, health tips, experiences, and inspirations to help you live your most inspired life. 

But somewhere along the way, a shift happened without me even realizing it. On the surface, I became a “food blog.” 

While I am incredibly proud of helping thousands of people eat more plants and publishing three cookbooks, I realized recently that I had narrowed the mission on this site (and with my work). While I was coaching clients on mindset, plant-based living, and healthy habits behind the scenes, VegInspired.com drifted into mostly being about the plate. 

Today, I’m inviting you to join me as I anchor the full lifestyle back where it belongs. 

 

Beyond the Plate: Building a Holistic Environment

Food is a massive piece of the puzzle, but it isn’t the only piece. Eleven years of exploring what it means to be truly healthy have taught me that vibrancy requires more than just a good recipe; it requires a complete environment that supports your goals. 

As an entrepreneur, author, and coach, I’ve spent years balancing the “hustle” of building a brand with the desire for a peaceful, healthy life. In recent years, I felt a subtle shift. It wasn’t a dramatic, “stop everything” moment; in fact, on the outside, everything looked fine because I truly loved what I was doing. But internally, the “always-on” nature of the digital world was starting to feel like too much. The constant pressure to produce more, faster, and better was quietly draining the very vibrancy I was trying to share. 

I realized that my mindset alone wasn’t enough if I wasn’t supporting it with a physical and mental environment that allowed for rest and true clarity. 

The Work of Alignment

Finding this clarity required me to go deeper than just changing my recipes or adding a daily walk. I’ve spent the last few years doing the heavy lifting of alignment (even weaving aspects of it into my coaching and social posts). This is the kind of work that teaches you to tap into what you really want, rather than just following what the books or people tell you.

And while I’ve shared some of that with you as “healthy habits” it’s the implementation and the evolution of me that demonstrates the outcome. For me that work has looked like: 

• Intentional Journaling: Moving beyond “to-do” lists to deep, spiritual grounding and reflections
• Deep Study: Diving into personal-growth books and mindset shifts  to find my own truth
• Investing in Growth: I’ve hired my own coaches to help me navigate my goals and stay aligned with my inner compass 
• Tapping in: taking the time to silence the noise, stop the “shoulds,” and get honest with what an inspired life looks like for me.

 

In 2026, VegInspired is returning to its original mission. Along with the plant-based recipes you love, I’ll be sharing these lifestyle pillars and habits I’ve implemented for myself and taught for years. 

The Journey So Far: 11 Years of Evidence-Based Success

While I’m not a doctor or fitness professional, I am a dedicated practitioner of this lifestyle. I have lived the ebbs and flows of this journey, and it is through those experiences that I’ve learned the true meaning of taking personal responsibility for my health and vibrant life. 

• Navigating the Path: I’ve lived the success of a 50+ pound weight loss and, like many of us, I’ve navigated the seasons of life where some of that weight returns. Today I am back in the process of reclaiming that health — not from a place of restriction, but from a place of alignment and responsibility. And it feels awesome! 
• Reversing Dis-ease: I successfully reversed the symptoms of pre-Type II diabetes through whole-food, plant-based eating, proving the power of what we put on our plates. 
• The VegInspired Library: I’ve published three cookbooks and shared recipes with a community of over 13,000 friends – AKA VegInspired Foodies. 
• Guiding Others: I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside many of you as a coach or mentor, helping you transition to plant-based living by focusing on mindset and the foods! 

Finding a New Rhythm: What to Expect Moving Forward

To lead by example and protect the integrity of the help I provide, I am committing to a consistent bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) schedule. 

Rather than chasing the “noise” of constant posting, I am choosing a pace that allows for high-value, intentional storytelling. This is about establishing a rhythm that truly serves your goals and mine. True health isn’t a 30 day sprint. It’s the grace of choosing intentionality over perfection, day after day. You can expect a new deep dive into recipes, mindset, and lifestyle every other week. 

Base Camp South Florida: Training for What’s to Come

We are currently “wintering” in South Florida, using this time as a “Base Camp” to optimize my personal engine. Getting my mind and body in shape for what’s to come is the focus for 2026. I’m hitting the trails five (or more) mornings a week and fueling with starch-based meals (like the veggie sushi below). We have some rugged hikes on the docket for 2026 and I want to be in peak physical fitness to tackle those peaks! ⛰️

Lifestyle Pillars

My goal is to provide you with a window into my (veg)Inspired life: a plant-based life that is healthy, long, and vibrant. You’ll still find the recipes that have been our backbone for a decade, but we will also be going deeper and adding:

• My Personal Journey: Glimpses into my training, sleep habits, and mindset shifts as I prep for the mountain hikes coming soon.
• Vetted Resources: I’ll be sharing partnerships with experts, brands, products, and gear I trust. From my SOS-free favorites like The Jaroudi Family to the products I use in my life like Soom Foods, Foods Alive, and Osea Malibu to support my Inspired life, I only share what I truly use to build my vibrant environment. 

Join the Conversation

I am so much more than a collection of recipes, and so are you! I want to help you take back personal responsibility for your own health so you can live your most inspired life, whatever your personal “peaks” may be. 

Let’s chat: Come find me on Instagram, @veginspired . I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes of my training and alignment work in my stories. Send me a DM and let me know: Where do you want to find more “harmony” this year?

 

Until next time, stay aligned & VegInspired!