Eat Well, Stay Well | Sharon McRae | Plant-Based Certified Health Coach | Columbia, MD

Loved your 2 night class! I’ve heard so many good comments from our participants! It was an eye awakening for many, that a plant based diet can be so delicious! Thank you very much!

Best organization I had ever joined for in less than 3 months, I changed my prediabetes to normal. Sharon is an excellent teacher and skilled in interactive cooking classes, but more than that, explains each step she takes in creating foods and recipes which we all can do, and is on hand to answer questions with solutions as we move our health challenges to healthier lives. I am so glad I took the risk to move myself to making these new steps, and seeing the results and weight come off is a miracle for me. Her enthusiasm and passion comes into play and between she and her tips and her dad Carl’s story, both saved me for if her dad took courage to admit his bluff, I can do exactly as he changed his ways. Me too!

I contacted Sharon not long after I adopted a mostly plant-based diet, looking for nutritional advice, as well as ways to incorporate my new diet into my family’s meals. Sharon gave me clear, sound and practical input on dietary needs, meal planning, food shopping and cooking techniques. She also helped me create an exercise routine and encouraged me to explore meditation and other forms of stress relief. When I first changed my diet, I was making the usual, standard American meals for my family (such as chicken, a green veggie and potatoes), while eating whatever parts of the meal was vegan. Thanks to Sharon, I completely changed my notion of what a dinner had to look like, and now (at home, at least) my whole family eats a vegan diet almost exclusively, and without any complaints! The health benefits of this way of eating have been great. I stopped taking daily allergy medications, my joints aren’t aching, and I effortlessly lost 10 pounds. Despite all that, I don’t think I could have stayed on this path had I not had Sharon’s support and encouragement!

I recently had an opportunity to work with Sharon McRae one on one with regard to managing my health. When I began with Sharon I truly thought I had no options that appealed to me with respect to healthy food choices. Sharon taught me that my food options are endless. I have an issue with gluten so my main problem was finding meals that were satisfying without using the many products that contain gluten. I love to cook so Sharon would frequently email me recipes to try. Sharon is so easy to talk to and does not force any diet on you. Sharon has a wealth of resources she uses to show the many areas of being healthy – not only in my gut but also in my brain. Using the many food options I have been able to change my eating habits as well as my exercise habits. Sharon talked about her love of yoga and how it has helped bring balance to her very hectic life. Soon after I met with Sharon I too began doing yoga – and love it!!! I always knew that I had a supporter AND a cheerleader on my side with Sharon as she was always available for a little pep talk or some new product or recipe to try.

One of the main reasons I sought Sharon’s services was because I felt that food was controlling me rather than the other way around. I felt addicted to junk snack foods, particularly carbohydrates. This was of concern to me since my blood sugars run in the high, normal range and I have high triglycerides. Eating too many carbohydrates can aggravate both of these problems. Sharon explained to me the concept of “crowding” out the bad foods and replacing them with healthy choices, which eventually gives our bodies more of the nutrients it needs and, thereby, reduces unhealthy food addictions. Well, Sharon’s words were just that – words. However, within several weeks of making healthier food choices, I no longer felt addicted to carbs, and it wasn’t a painful withdrawal like I had anticipated!

I thought I had a decent baseline knowledge of what it means to eat fairly healthy. But I have been quite amazed at how much Sharon has taught me. She is a wealth of knowledge! She has truly opened up my eyes so that instead of resenting eating healthier, I prefer it. I still have a ways to go in terms of eating healthier on a more consistent basis. But Sharon is wonderfully supportive and nonjudgmental about what change I’m capable of at a given point in time, and she is flexible in her approach/recommendations when I hit a roadblock. Sharon’s passion about eating healthy is infectious – and that’s one “disease” I don’t mind catching.