My Story
I was born and raised in rural Michigan, in the Midwest United States. I lived on a dairy farm with animals galore, surrounded by fields of corn, soybeans and wheat. My life was filled with lots of family time and chores - taking care of dogs, cats, cows and goats. All were considered pets and each one had a name and unique personality. My father was a veterinarian. This added even more animal interactions to my day.
As I grew older I took the experiences from my childhood and faced the world with empathy, resilience and respect for all living things. What I did not realize was that many people knew very little about animals - especially of how they are thoughtful, caring, kind and playful. Some have excellent memories, too.
After going to college and studying nutrition, I moved to Chicago, became a registered dietitian/nutritionist and found a job at a local hospital. I found that people oftentimes needed help to learn how to eat a balanced diet. Many were in poor health and needed a lot of assistance to heal.
I often wondered if what they were eating was making them sick. And could people really be healthy without eating animals and could this be better for them to stave off disease? Yes, not only could it be done, but sometimes a well-planned, and balanced, plant-based diet can be better. In fact, a plant-based, mediterranean-style diet with no animal products could be one of the best diets ever. Well planned is the key here.
I began to experiment in my kitchen. Testing out new recipes or upgrading old ones by replacing animal-sourced ingredients. What I found was that not only could I consume a balanced, healthy and delicious diet, but I could also find the energy to compete in half Ironman triathlons as a hobby on the side.
Today, I am proud to say I am living my life and enjoying what I eat with just plant-based meals. Although we do not live in a vegan world and animal parts seem to be in everything, I do my best to live without the use of products that contain animal ingredients or substances. If I claim to be an animal lover, then I believe I should concern myself with the welfare of all living creatures. Avoiding animals on my plate is a great way to begin.
If I can do it, maybe you can do it, too!
Much of what I write on this website is a reflection of research and science. I will reference where the information came from and where you can find further reading on the subject. I find interesting fun facts and I then share these valuable tidbits with my friends and family and now with a greater audience, you. This information is relevant to all healthy humans, however, everyone is an individual and has unique needs and health concerns. So please consult your personal doctor and/or dietitian when deciding to change your diet. This is the safest way to be sure you are doing the right thing for you.
Written By: Wendy Raymond, MS, RD,MAT
