Hi! I’m Wendy, and I’m so glad you came by.

Happy Apple Vegan is my comfort writing food and evolving recipe collection. I am a freelance writer, plant-based recipe developer, former Kindergarten teacher, most of all mama, dedicated runner/endurance athlete passionate about healthy living, not least in ways nurture our planet and all those who call it home.

In the past, I fell into a lonely power struggle with food. It was something I feared, obsessed over, and defined myself by via attempts to control my consumption of it. I lost my sense of self, and my health, relationships, and focus suffered. One day hitting rock bottom, it struck me with renewed clarity, it was time to let go.  I began a journey of voracious learning, cultivating renewed appreciation for food for what it is: fuel, sustenance, and a beautiful, powerful gift. It is communion and community. It a means to vibrant health, and it's meant to be shared. 

I’ve been vegan since 2013, converting from a flexitarian approach shortly after our miracle son was born. Intrigued by the testimonials of various ultra-athletes, and moved by books like The China Study and a plethora of moving documentaries, my husband and I originally embraced the plant-based experiment aiming to satisfy curiosity with fitness goals in mind. From the get-go, I experienced an immedate, marked impact on my health, but it wasn’t in the ways I expected, though those areas kept thriving. Even better, I bade goodbye to sinus infections. All my life, I’d suffered most seasons, to the point that I’d grown comfortable with round after gut-trampling round of strong antibiotics to treat them. Dropping dairy was the key. Since turning to plant milks nearly nine years ago, I’ve had but one short course of antibiotics, due to a case of the flu.

While our decision to embrace being plant-based began with diet and centered on personal health, each day has further cemented our commitment to a vegan lifestyle as a family for the big picture wellbeing of our planet. This is one, deliciously powerful way I can contribute to the future, protect the environment, and propel compassion. Bonus, I get to lick the bowl of cookie dough without fear. ;)

I love experimenting in the kitchen: the bright colors, varied textures, and crisp sounds of produce on the cutting board. I love to bake, gift from the heart, and explore ways of being healthfully creative and economical. I hope you find something helpful in this collection of plant-based dishes that nourish our active family, and that we can share our discoveries together, savoring the enjoyments of life less processed.

~Wendy