What inspired me to become a Dietitian & Plant-Based
I discovered my passion for nutrition in the 1980s, when I learned how deeply food can influence our health and how it can help treat and prevent disease. That realization sparked a lifelong interest in nutrition and wellness. I knew I wanted to become a nutritionist so I could make a meaningful impact, educate others, and help people experience how eating more plants and choosing nourishing foods can support their energy, balance, and overall well-being. Nutrition gave me the perfect way to unite my love for food, science, and helping people achieve their goals.
I follow a plant-based lifestyle for three reasons: my health, the animals, and the planet. Eating plant-based food helps me feel my best, show compassion to all living beings, and do my part to protect the environment. Knowing that every meal can make a difference keeps me inspired and motivated. Cooking has been a passion of mine since childhood, which made becoming a nutritionist feel natural and purposeful.
My mission is to promote health and wellness in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community through accessible plant-based nutrition. I believe food is powerful medicine. Plant-powered meals include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds. I personally avoid meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, but plant-based eating can be flexible depending on each person’s goals and comfort level.
I often share the 80/20 concept. It isn’t an absolute rule, but an idea: when you focus on your nutrition about 80% of the time and stay active the other 20%, you can create sustainable habits that support long-term health. My goal is to guide others toward a lifestyle that feels balanced, enjoyable, and nourishing from the inside out.
How did I decide to follow a 100% plant-based diet?
How did I decide to follow a 100% plant-based diet?
How did I decide to follow a 100% plant-based diet?
In 1980, in my 20s, I joined the Food Buyer Club in Charlotte, NC; I learned more about health and nutrition from the vegetarian members. During my second pregnancy, I decided to become a vegetarian for four years. While we had our baby son, it was hard for me to cook two meals separately for my Lebanese ex-husband, who was a meat eater except for pork because of his Muslim religion, and me, as a vegetarian. So, I returned to eating a small amount of lean white meat, including chicken and fish, as a semi-vegetarian for 27 years while I still ate a heavily plant-based diet. I haven’t eaten red meat since 1980.
As a dietetic student, I watched the Earthlings documentary; it blew my mind and made me quit white meat overnight. I read the book “Becoming Vegan” by Brenda Davis, RD. Brenda and I studied in the same program under the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). They are the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of nutrition and dietetics through research, education, and advocacy. Brenda is intelligent, knowledgeable about plant-based education, and shows how to eat a balanced diet. I have never looked back at my old diet since 2010 and have been living a plant-based lifestyle. I feel a lot better, am highly energetic, have no constipation problem, sleep better, and have lifted my brain fog.
My weight has been average, and I have stayed healthy whole life. I haven’t been overweight because I have been vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and vegan/plant-based ever since. The turning point was that I grew up eating traditional Southern food, mostly fried food, where I grew up in Chattanooga, TN.
Therefore, my parents had heart disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension. They took heavy medicines. My grandfather (father’s side) passed away at 60 from a heart attack. I didn't want it to happen to me in the future. I didn’t believe in family genetics because we can control it by eating healthy. I learned that all the chronic diseases we fear are PREVENTABLE with our food!
I was a youth swimmer, track team athlete, and cheerleader. I enjoy staying active, cooking, gardening, camping, traveling, reading, sewing, making movie projects, creative design, and spending time with family, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren.
Inspired by my journey
How did I decide to follow a 100% plant-based diet?
How did I decide to follow a 100% plant-based diet?
I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to my role as a plant-based nutrition coach. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Madonna University, with minors in chemistry and biology. I honed my skills through the accredited dietetic internship program at the Hurley Medical Center. I worked as a Community Nutrition Instructor at the Michigan State University Extension for over 11 years.
My qualifications and experience testify to my commitment to helping you on your plant-based journey. I continue to study doctors and other plant-based professionals who are spreading the truth about health and diet - Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Neil Barnard, Dr. Dean Ornish, Brenda Davis, RD, Julieanne Hever, RDN, and many others.
I founded and administered a “Deaf and ASL Vegan Unity” group on Facebook in 2010. I opened my Facebook business, "ASL Vegan Nutrition," to share my knowledge and help educate the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community. I understand the confusion that can come from the abundance of conflicting nutritional information. I have been in your shoes and know how challenging it can be initially. That's why I am here to provide a plan you can start without feeling overwhelmed by someone you can trust.
I’ll listen and understand why you want to learn about a healthy lifestyle. I can take you through a process that will make the transition easier and exhilarating. You’ll know where food comes from and what happens in the process. You’ll wonder why you didn’t see this before. You’ll learn how to transition to a healthy plant-based diet with the right dietary requirements and supplements. So, you may feel full, satisfied, and energetic. Your body will heal, save the planet, and become a true animal lover in every sense of the word.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE PLANT-BASED TO WORK WITH ME? We will work together at your own pace. While plant-based nutrition is a specialty and interest of mine, I’m not here to tell anyone how to eat. That choice is entirely up to you!