About

EASY VEGAN RECIPES TO GET YOU STARTED ON A PLANT-BASED DIET

You’re interested adding more plant-based foods to your diet – whether it’s for health reasons, helping the environment, or because you love animals.
You’re not someone who wants to spend hours in the kitchen. You need food everyone will love but without too much hassle – you’ve got other stuff to do.
You want recipes the whole family will enjoy – heathlier versions of meals you enjoyed before going vegan that everyone will want second helping of.

I understand, I’ve been there too…and I’m here to help!

I believe you can create delicious plant-based meals even when you are short on time.

Hi I’m Mary Ellen, a Licensed Nutritionist helping people to get started on a delicious plant-based diet.

I started VNutrition to help others needing a little extra help with adopting a vegan lifestyle. I want to demonstrate that following a healthy plant-based diet can be tasty as well as good for you.

Maybe you’re:

interested in a plant-based meals and looking for guidance to get started
a seasoned vegan searching for healthier plant-based recipes
an omnivore wanting to add some plant-based meals into your week.

No problem, I’ve got you all covered! I love sharing helpful resources for those interested in forming better nutritional habits by adopting a diet full of veggies.

You don’t have to give up delicious food to go vegan. I can show you how to make tasty meals in no time!

Mary Ellen’s Nutrition Journey

Imagine not having to eat vegetables when you were a kid. Well, that’s exactly how I grew up. My mom didn’t like to cook and she definitely hated vegetables with a passion, so most of my diet was filled with processed foods, pasta, takeout, and soda (which was totally fine with me and my sister).

We’d have bowls of pasta with jarred tomato sauce or (my fav) mac & cheese and plop in front of the TV while we ate every night. The only time I ever had vegetables was when I went my Nana’s house or visited a friend for dinner (where I tried to feed the veggies to her dog).

None of that mattered at the time because I “seemed” to be healthy – I was an athlete growing up and was always on the move.

Things got a bit tough the summer before my junior year in college. I remember having such bad stomach aches that I couldn’t get out of bed for about a week. I had struggled with some digestion issues before but this experience was excruciating.

After lots of tests and trips to different specialists, the doctors were still confused with my symptoms and we never got to the root of the problem. Eventually, feeling bad every time I ate became the norm. My “tummy trouble” (as my family affectionately started calling it) continued on throughout college where I was eating a regular college student: ramen, fries, pizza, beer, and Philly cheesesteaks at 2am – you know the deal.

After years of constant struggling and feeling lost, my sister encouraged me to watch a documentary on the horrors of factory farming and dairy/egg production. Right then, something clicked for me. I’ve always felt uncomfortable eating meat because I love animals so much but this pushed me over the edge. After the film, I stopped consuming meat, cheese, milk and eggs and I immediately felt a weight lifted. I was finally eating the way my conscience always wanted me to.

And you know what? I started feeling better. Going plant-based made me focus on foods I have never thought about eating before – like vegetables! Who knew veggies could actually be tasty if they’re cooked the right way? I gradually lost the weight I put on after college with my new lifestyle and felt better than I had in years both mentally and physically. Eating whole foods also gave me much more energy and clarity.

After healing myself through plant-based foods, I discovered my passion to help others who are struggling as well. I earned my master’s Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. I am a Certified Nutrition Specialist ® (CNS), the gold standard for advanced nutrition professionals. I also completed a vigorous nutrition residency at the prestigious Sandy Hook Clinic with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, a leader in Integrative and Functional Medicine.

If you’re interested in working with me nutritonally, check out Mary Ellen Valverde Nutrition.

Education

Master of Science, Human Nutrition | University of Bridgeport

Certified Nutrition Specialist | Board of Certified Nutrition Specialists

Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist |Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice

Functional Nutrition Resident | Sandy Hook Clinic, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald

Certified Holistic Health Coach | Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Board Certified & Accredited Health Counselor | American Association of Drugless Practitioners

Here are a few more things about me so you get to know the kind of gal I am…

I am extremely passionate about helping people feel their best because I understand what it’s like to struggle with wellness (check out my website to work with me)
I consider myself a vegan mac & cheese connoisseur
I am obsessed with all animals, especially my two sweet angel-faced shih tzus, Firenze & Sophie
I’m not ashamed to say I love me some murder mysteries (Agatha Christie’s my girl)
Even when I’m on vacation, I’m planning my next vacation #wanderlust
I love all sparkly/shiny/glittery things. I wish nifflers were real because I think we’d get along well
The Miami Dolphins make me cry (Hootie knows)