Today on March 18 2026 I became a full fledged vegan! 🌱

Okay, so I’ve learned one of the fun parts about nourishing my body with plants is finding new ones to try and learn about! It’s more fun to share that knowledge with others who might find it helpful and interesting so here’s some “fig”onometry for yall🌿😃 I had fig newtons growing up but had no idea that the “fig” part was a real actual thing lol! I had a former client ask if I wanted some freshies from her tree and I couldn’t wait yo experience them in their beautiful whole form!( I never thought to purchase them before this because I didn’t know what to do with them 🙃) First of all, THEY ARE AMAZING! Creamy and almost a caramel with a slight tang! Second of all, they have so many health benefits!: 🌿Why Fresh Figs Are Friggin First Class!🌿 🧡Ficin enzyme — rare natural enzyme that aids protein digestion and reduces gut inflammation 🧡Bidirectional motility — keeps you regular and helps with constipation & consistency (I know first figgy hand😅) 🧡Prebiotic powerhouse — feeds beneficial gut bacteria strains 🧡Highest fruit calcium source — GREAT for bone support! Even over milk because its bioavailability AND contains cofactors like magnesium, vitamin K & boron for depositing the calcium directly. 🧡Ayurvedic superfood — one of the most grounding and nourishing foods for Vata dosha (if yall ain’t into Ayurveda yet… get into it) 🧡Mood support — B6 and tryptophan feed serotonin production from the inside out 🍃 It’s fig season where I am so take advantage of that …. Especially because it’s so much better to eat what’s in season! I actually put mine in a protein smoothie! If you do, don’t mix with sour fruits (citrus) or sub acidic fruit like berrries or apples because the digestion rates are so different and could cause a bit of fermentation leading to bloat or tummy trouble💩

I am Eleanor, and I joined because I basically have zero vegan friends. Eating and shopping vegan isn’t hard. It’s just social situations and living in a non vegan world. I’m looking to build more community around my moral and ethical values to avoid burnout. I love hiking, reading, going to the gym, and social and environmental advocacy. I am about to go into my second year of school at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, but I am from Maryland. I think I might major in International studies, anthropology, or French, or maybe an amalgamation of the three, and want to have a career participating in anything that can change the world for the good.

How do y’all deal with non vegans? I’ve dealt with them since 2014( I was merely vegetarian back then but the struggle wasn’t all that different) and at this point I’m really losing all my patience. I’ve had the same conversations a million times, had to explain myself again and again, and of course the worst part sitting there and having to watch them eat animal products even though you have given every reason under the sun why they don’t need them. Dating is one thing- I simply can’t date someone long term who isn’t vegan; exceptionally would be someone who I can get to make the switch. This is not an unreasonable expectation but it’s beginning to stem into all of my relationships. It’s pushing into my friendships now. No one is willing to even go to a vegan restaurant or they act like babies at the idea of even eating a vegan meal. I’m lucky at least that it is possible to eat vegan at most places but my desire to eat out with them is diminishing and sometimes I genuinely just want to call quits and find new people altogether. Family is not as big a deal since I don’t have much family anyway but get togethers just suck. Everyone is so picky about their food unwilling to eat anything that’s vegan cuz of their bias and eating together isn’t even an enjoyable experience anymore. Would appreciate any input or advice. 🙌🏽

LOOK WHAT I MADE ALL BY MYSELF (and I only stained one article of clothing!) This was good af so I wanted to share it because I feel like nowadays it’s hard to navigate the workout fuel scene because there’s so much out there and it gets overwhelming when all you want to do is eat clean, feel good, and have a happy exercise or training session without feeling too full, feeling sluggish or depleted, or crapping your pants! 💩 I used to be scared of fruit before workouts for these reasons. Turns out it wasn’t the fruit, but HOW and WHEN I was eating it. Get the pairing and timing right, and that natural fruit sugar (glucose) becomes quick, clean energy your muscles actually want before you train. Once I figured that out, I turned into a little Vegan scientist! 🧪 Here’s what i maded and why 💁🏼‍♀️ 🥣 BOTTOMS UP! Unsweetened plant-based yogurt — Forager brand is the best in my opinion*. Starting unsweetened means YOU control the flavor and the nutrition. Add what your body actually needs that day: a drizzle of maple syrup, honey, date paste, stevia, or allulose. *using a plant based yogurt with fruit makes it easily digestible without upset because dairy and fruit don’t mix well together. ☝️ 🌈FUN COLOR & FLAVORS • Butterfly pea flower + chlorella → this cool ocean blue color • Beetroot powder → blood red👹 plus nitric oxide support for blood flow • Turmeric + black pepper → anti-inflammatory and goldfish orange • Cacao → magnesium + antioxidants but not as pretty • Maca or lucuma → natural sweetness + energy support but boring color • Baobab → vitamin C (it’s tangy!) • Cinnamon or a splash of clean vanilla extract → warming and good for gut! Side note: if you’re not someone who keeps a ton of fresh fruit around, many shelf-stable fruit powders are actually great — they’re typically just dried and ground fruit, which counts as minimally processed. Be sure to check for added sugars or fillers. 🍓THE FRUIT — paired the Ayurvedic way I went with a “sweet” fruit family that digests well together (aka at the same rate): guava, blueberry, and cactus pear (dragon fruit’s tiny cousin!). Ayurveda groups fruits by taste and energetic quality, and sweet fruits generally pair well with each other.