As a coach and a vegan, I’ve spent a lot of time perfecting my approach—encouraging, motivating, and sometimes gently nudging my non-vegan clients toward the light (or at least toward a veggie stir-fry).
It’s always an adventure when a client looks at me like I’ve just announced I’m a professional kazoo player rather than a vegan. There’s this awkward pause, as and I’m generally met with a few responses. Folks think I’m either a whimsy hipster, a humorless killjoy, a militant extremist or someone who spends their days at Framers Markets and hours in the kitchen juicing veggies (ok I HAVE done that) and then proceed to ask me hundreds of questions about it.
But I’m ready. I take a deep breath and dive in, like a plant-based superhero:
"Yes, I’m vegan. No, I don’t miss cheese, but I admit the first time I tried vegan cheese I wanted to cry. It wasn’t the same. It’s like cheese went to therapy and became very different.” Side Note – vegan cheese has come a long way in the past 20 years – and some are very tasty!!!
Being a vegan is a massive part of my identity, but I am not consumed by being a vegan. I coach people who are carnivores and I respect that; that is how they choose to live their life. And I will coach them with love, curiosity and in the most professional way possible.
You might be thinking, “But wait, in past blog entries you mention grass fed, free range and organic animal choices?”
Why yes I did, thank you for reading my blog posts by the way, but here’s the thing—every person’s journey to veganism (or anything really) is unique. Some people dive in full-force, while others dip their toes in slowly.
As a coach, it’s not my job to be the food police; it’s my job to be a support system for people making healthier, more conscious choices. If eating plant-based 3 days a week helps someone feel better and supports their values, then that’s a win. If they occasionally have chicken because life happens, that's okay too.
I’ve always said that veganism should feel empowering, not restrictive. If someone is going to have a burger once in a while, I’m not going to shame them. Instead, I’ll help them find ways to balance that with plant-based meals that make them feel amazing. It’s about celebrating the little victories, not the occasional missteps.
In the end, my job is to help people build a healthier, more mindful relationship with food. How do I try to do that? In sessions I will say things like:
“I understand everyone has their own path when it comes to food choices. I’m really curious about what your experience with food has been like, and I’d love to hear more about what you enjoy most about your current lifestyle!”
"How about we try a ‘Meatless Monday’ together? It could be a fun experiment and see what we both enjoy."
Here’s where the magic happens—When the day comes for them to report back, the tone of their voice is always a mixture of wonder and, let’s be honest, a hint of regret:
"Okay... I tried the tofu stir-fry... and honestly, it was fine. Not great, but it didn’t make me want to run away screaming and go into hiding!"
This, my friends, is what I call a win.
I am a health coach who is a vegan; and it is about much so more than recipes and food swaps. It’s about finding common ground, having a laugh about the weirdness of it all, and making small healthy changes. It’s about laughing when the tofu tastes like cardboard but giving it another try because one day it might just be the best thing ever.