My Plant-Based Friend began as an Instagram page when I went vegan in 2016, where I shared simple plant-based meal ideas and mouthwatering food pictures. Here, I still enjoy sharing tasty yet balanced (and usually macro friendly) vegan recipes, helpful vegan lifestyle tips, and my experiences of being a vegan competitive bodybuilder. Whether you’re an omnivore, completely vegan, or somewhere in between, the content on this vegan blog is sure to stimulate your taste buds and mind. If you love nourishing your body and soul through positivity and delicious food, you’ll feel right at home here!
So what can you expect from this blog? Firstly, you will receive guidance in the form of enticing recipes, and inspiration in embodying your healthiest self. In addition, you will learn helpful lifestyle tips for thriving as a vegan. For example, you might be wondering how to create balanced vegan meals of healthy proteins, carbs, and fats that still taste delicious. Maybe you’re one of the only plant-based people in your family and you need a friendly reminder that you’re not alone in your experiences and struggles.
Maybe you aren’t vegan, but you’re looking for delicious plant-based versions of your favorite foods. From innovative recipes, vegan product recommendations, tips for traveling as a vegan, and so much more, I’ve certainly got you covered! Above all, I’m here to provide uplifting encouragement as you pursue optimal health, wellbeing, and purpose. I cannot wait to connect with you on this journey toward a more nourishing life.
Who’s Behind This Vegan Blog?
Hi! I’m Melissa, and I’m from the Tampa, Florida area. I love being outdoors, training as an NPC bikini competitor, cooking mouthwatering vegan foods, making gourmet desserts for my business, Mindful Vegan Co., and sharing the benefits of mindful and healthy living as a certified holistic life coach and healer.
I blog about the benefits of living a healthy and balanced vegan lifestyle honestly and comprehensively to help you live a more wholesome, fulfilling life. In short, I’m happy to connect with you, and I’m honored to be your plant-based friend!
From McDonalds Fanatic to Vegan Bodybuilder
Growing up, McDonalds double cheeseburgers and Kraft Mac n Cheese were staples in my diet. I used to envision vegans as people who ate nothing but spinach and had superhuman abilities to resist delicious food. In the past, I always said to myself, “I could never be vegan, I love _________ too much” (Fill in the blank with anything from pizza, burgers, cheese, desserts… you name it.)
As a result, I constantly felt weak, tired, and self-conscious about how my body was putting on unhealthy weight. Subsequently, for the New Year 2016, I made the decision to get my health in check. I longed to feel healthy, full of energy, and to be the best version of myself. While I had no intentions of becoming vegan, I had serious intentions of bettering my health.
Within one week of healthy eating, exercising, and researching the effects of consuming animal products, I lost the desire to eat meat. After three months, I became aware of and deeply saddened by the ethical dissonance of consuming animal products, which sealed the deal for me in going completely vegan. Now over six years later, I now can’t imagine living my life any other way.
Once I got the hang of the changes that came with this lifestyle and diet overhaul, I dove even deeper into learning how to take care of my holistic wellbeing: my mind, body, emotions, and spirit. I fell in love with gaining strength and building muscle through weight training, and with creating delicious yet balanced vegan recipes. I consider my fulfillment of these passions as part of my bigger purpose: to encourage, uplift, and inspire those around me to live optimally and consciously.
Sharing my experiences about how eating more plants was the catalyst to greater health and a more enjoyable life also lights me up. I love showing others that vegan food is tasty, abundant, and nourishing- not boring or restrictive.
As a competitive vegan bodybuilder and professional vegan baker, I’m most passionate about creating content around the food aspect of my journey through @myplantbasedfriend and @mindfulveganco. As a certified holistic life coach and healer, I also enjoy sharing my passion for holistic wellness, intuitive living, and words of encouragement through @bymelissadonovan.
And yes, I still enjoy vegan pizza, burgers, mac n cheese, desserts, and any other treats I like every now and then 😉
How This Vegan Blog Can Help You Achieve More Health Today
Firstly, don’t feel pressured to go vegan overnight, or at all. Replacing just your butter and milk with plant-based alternatives is a healthy and commendable change.
Next, know that you can enjoy cruelty-free versions of all the flavors you love by opting for meat and dairy replacements in your favorite recipes. For instance, Gardein, Field Roast, Tofurky, and Sweet Earth are just a few of the many companies that make delicious plant-based meat alternatives.
Follow Your Heart, Miyokos, So Delicious, Kite Hill, Violife, and nutpods make some of the best dairy-free products, too.
If you’re looking for the best vegan protein bars for a convenient on-the-go snack, my absolute favorite are the real Dark chocolate NuGo bars. They’re also non-gmo, gluten-free, and taste like eating a legit candy bar while packing a moderate amount of plant-based protein and fiber. I highly recommend the variety pack so you can discover your favorite flavor, every single one is so good! My top picks are the dark chocolate almond with sea salt and the chocolate pretzel with sea salt- the perfect trios of flavors!
Although you may not like every single vegan product you try, don’t lose hope! As a vegan myself for over 6 years, I certainly haven’t liked everything I’ve tried. My best piece of advice is to stay open-minded and keep trying new things until you find what best suits your taste buds.
Finally, don’t go at these changes alone or feel down on yourself for not being perfect. The process of making changes to your diet and lifestyle may seem daunting at first. Learning about all of the options available to you and feeling deeply connected to your reason for wanting to make these shifts helps to reduce the overwhelm that can come with such a big transition. I’m here to show you that the process can be an exciting one, with so much health and happiness in store.
What You Visualize, Materializes
How would you feel if you could wake up energized and excited each morning? What about if you could still enjoy all of your favorite foods knowing that you aren’t contributing to animal suffering? How good would it feel to build strength, muscle, and embody your dream physique- defying the stereotype that vegans are weak?
My friend, you absolutely can experience all of these things. Take one minute to close your eyes and visualize yourself at your optimal health. What activities does your strength allow you to enjoy? How at peace and connected do you feel to yourself and the world around you? How does it feel to look in the mirror and love what you see? Who do you want to share this exceptional feeling with?
Above all, know that these experiences are not only possible, but they are already yours, ready to manifest. Every act of self-love you perform, through showing up for yourself, your goals, and your health and wellbeing, will allow you to experience more joy immediately, and more positively impact the collective.
Are We Friends Yet?
Let’s connect! I enjoy meeting like-minded people 🙂
Vegan food blog: @myplantbasedfriend
Holistic living: @bymelissadonovan
Vegan + gluten-free bakery business: @mindfulveganco
