Last year, I was struggling to be healthy. If you’ve ever tried to change your lifestyle, you know how tough it can be!

Being an optometrist with a full schedule and not much extra time in my day… I felt tired and frustrated.

I wanted to minimize the effects of my autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s. It was difficult for me to lose weight, I struggled with dry skin, and I was always cold.

I’d always be kind of tired like I never had much energy. I would just hit the snooze button and didn’t have the energy to work out.

I believed there must be a way to have more energy and a clearer complexion. Most of all, I just wanted to feel healthy, and I believed there had to be a better way to live. 

After learning more about the benefits of going vegan, my husband and I decided to try it out for ourselves. We initially loaded up on convenient options like plant-based meat alternatives.

A few months into it I became frustrated because I hadn’t lost weight or regained my energy. But I continued looking for answers.

Then I did two things:

1.) First, I discovered the teachings of Dr. Michael Greger, and his book, How Not to Die.

2.) Next, I learned about Dr. Barnard’s advice on eating a plant-based diet to reverse diabetes, a condition that I had been concerned about.

And then, things started to click! I knew where I wanted to go but was unsure how to get there.

I realized the importance of not just eating vegan, but that eating a nutrient-dense, unprocessed whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet is key for the best health. 

Those convenience foods I had tried were actually devoid of phytonutrients, the components in plants that could heal me and change my life. The added salt & fat in those processed products (to make them shelf-stable) didn’t help me either.

I was ready to make the switch! With newfound inspiration, my husband and I thoughtfully pre-planned our grocery shopping, loaded up on fruits and vegetables, and meal prepped twice a week.

I felt so much better. This wasn’t just a phase, but a lifestyle change. Little did I know, I would end up spending 4-6 hours meal prepping, and over 2-hours grocery shopping each week.

Food would go rotten before I could eat it. I would then try to buy less, but then I wouldn’t have enough food. Time I could have spent doing the things I love with my husband and dogs, was spent in the kitchen instead.

Then, I discovered the ONE thing that caused me to FINALLY both make the shift and stick with it. I found LeafSide, a game changing meal delivery service with Dr. Michael Greger’s whole food plant-based philosophy at its core. I was so relieved that I no longer had to drudge away in the kitchen for 6 hours.

After starting LeafSide, I saw huge changes. I was all in after that! It feels great to be able to make something that’s healthy and tastes delicious in just a few minutes.

It’s been more than a year since my switch. I was able to decrease the medication I take for my Hashimoto’s. Where I struggled to lose weight before, I’ve now lost 25 pounds, and my energy has improved by leaps and bounds. While I used to hit the snooze button every morning, today, I’m up at 4:30 am and ready to workout!

I stay full for longer on these meals than any other meal subscription. As far as the money, it’s definitely worth it. If I were to spend the same amount on another convenient option I would be hungry in like five minutes.

I like that I can take them with me to the office and can easily enjoy them with my husband when I don’t feel like cooking after a long day of work.

I have more time to relax, walk the dogs with my husband, and I can take up new activities like hiking and rock climbing. We actually have free time, rather than having to meal prep!

Finally, eating WFPB doesn’t feel like a chore. With LeafSide, we get to enjoy a variety of delicious meals whenever we want, without the work!

Do You Know someone who is struggling to make the switch?  

Tell them about LeafSide, it may just be the ONE thing they need to change their life…