The Vegan Spoon will provide you with quality plant-powered recipes to keep you strong and full.

Leslie’s Story

My vegan journey started when I was 28 years old. I always enjoyed plant-based foods and even tried going vegetarian when I was a child. Just like most other vegans, I never thought that I could actually do it and I didn’t even know where to start. At the beginning of 2021, my sister and I started getting more serious about our nutrition. We decided to do the Whole 30 which is essentially a 30-day elimination diet. What prompted that was the new year and more importantly, I was experiencing some digestive issues, joint pain, brain fog, and suffering from anxiety. These symptoms were creating a stumbling block in my fitness journey and negatively impacting my quality of life. I had considered going vegan in the past but I still had major doubts about whether or not I could do this.

In the following days, I was driving and listening to one of my favorite podcasts at the time, “The Black Health Academy”. In the episode, the host of the show, Lisa A. Smith, (who would later become my coach), said repeatedly, “you can do it!” That was the validation that I needed to stop eating animal products and switch to a plant-based diet. Yes, it literally happened that easily! That day in the car changed my life forever. I believed that Lisa was speaking directly to me. When I got home I told my sister that I planned to go vegan and without hesitation she agreed to join me. Crazy right!? Since then, my sister and I have been completely plant-based and haven’t looked back.

Some things that I’ve noticed since going vegan included the elimination of my pain and inflammation in my joints (knees specifically), better digestion and gut health, less anxiety with increased mental clarity, clearer skin, and a more joyful outlook on life. Some of the other things that have directly impacted my health and fitness include boosted immunity, less fatigue, better and more restful sleep, less pain and length of my menstrual cycle, and increased libido.