Meet Trailblazer Stephanie Sunshine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Sunshine.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Stephanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am the founder of Vegan By Nature Holistic Health company. As a plant-based chef, cookbook author, and yoga teacher, I help individuals transition to and maintain a natural lifestyle.

What’s interesting about my story is the fact that I am a vegan yogi today, but I spent most of my life eating bologna sandwiches and plates piled high with bacon. I ate fast food twice a day. T.V. dinners were second in command! Needless to say, I was highly processed and toxic.

Fortunately, in my 20s, college, pregnancy, and a close friend’s battle with breast cancer set me on a completely different path. Once I made my own lifestyle changes, I quickly became the go-to person for all things healthy at my job. I was that person who brought almond milk to work for her granola cereal, sat at her desk and sliced an avocado for her salad, and drank herbal tea in between phone calls. I could only tolerate the disharmony between what my heart was telling me and what my daily routine was demanding.

So, after 7 years of showing up to a dull, uninspiring corporate job, I took a huge leap and quit! In 2016, I officially decided to do my own thing and embrace my purpose as a healer full time.

My brand represents a return to the basic values of caring for self. Many people know that they need to do better but they don’t know how to or they need support. There is nothing I enjoy more than helping others live life more abundantly, so now I choose to show up for that role every day.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Believe it or not, changing my diet was not a struggle for me. Some may say that I have tremendous willpower and discipline, but I say that you can accomplish anything that you really want to do. Most people say that they want to do something but they are just flirting with ideals; they do not have a true desire.

Your life choices always reflect your greatest desires. I will give you a great example of what I mean by this. If I consider my journey to veganism overall, the one area I could say that I “struggled” with is letting go of cheese. However, in reality, I didn’t struggle with eating cheese – I simply did not truly desire to stop eating it. I wanted to eat cheese more than I wanted to stop eating it, so I continued until it was important enough for me to stop.

As far as advice, I suggest that you remain true to self – whether we are talking about dietary changes, fitness plans, entrepreneurial endeavors or anything else. If you are struggling with something, you need to have an honest conversation with yourself about your goals. Go beyond surface level and ask yourself why you are doing what you’re doing. Once you get to the root of something you want to achieve, you will have a strong enough “why” to either keep pushing despite challenges or to regroup and change your behavior based on what you truly want.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Vegan By Nature – what should we know?
In this digital age, people often tell me that they can’t find any local vegan friends who are into the same things they are into. I ran into this same problem when I started on my journey, so now, I am happy to be part of the solution. My company offers monthly group experiences which not only provide the opportunity to learn tons of information but to also find your tribe!

I am proud to serve as a resource to my community through:

– Weekly blog posts and Instagram Live Sunday Sunshine sessions
– My books: “The Vegan By Nature Cookbook”, “Vegan Gains”, and “Chakras 101”
– Monthly group cooking classes
– Private cooking classes and premium chef/meal prep services
– My new annual wellness retreat – Authentic Truths in Montego Bay, Jamaica
– Customized health coaching programs

What sets me apart from others in my field is my multiple areas of expertise. I have studied, taught, and lived this lifestyle for the past 6 years, which allows me to provide a unique experience for my clients. I have completed training in matters of the body (plant-based nutrition); the mind (yoga); and the spirit (reiki energy healing). Because my services address mind, body, and spirit, it inevitably leads to lasting transformation.

So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I think that the very challenges that women face are areas of opportunity for change. There is a certain beauty that a woman brings to any environment. We have a tendency to consider the good of the group ahead of our own needs, which makes us well positioned for leadership. Women are inherently adaptable, but we must realize that we have the power to create opportunities that play to our strengths instead of focusing solely on masculine traits. We can position ourselves to achieve anything we want as long as we do not try to compete with men or each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.veganbynature.com
• Email: mailto:veganbynature@veganbynature.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniesunshine_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniesunshineonline/

Image Credit:
Project Vision Photography, Rehobath Media

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