Taryn's Story

I am an animal loving, veggie eating, big kid for life, living in the PNW with my fiancé, Alex, our boston terrier, Cudi, and rescue pig, Penny.

Growing up, I've always had an affinity for food, often opting for unhealthy choices like McDonald's, In N' Out and Taco Bell. When I would eat at Chipotle I would order double meat burritos. At In N Out, I would regularly order 2 double-double cheeseburgers. Yes, that's 4 hamburger patties & 2 buns...WITH a side of animal style french fries. I was able to eat like this because I was a competitive cheerleader in high school and working out 30+ hours/week.

As you can see in the picture below, since day one, I have always loved to eat. (Please excuse the creepy doll #photobomb).

When I got to college, I stopped exercising, started drinking, and continued my unhealthy eating habits. It wasn’t until I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain that I started to take the time to think before I ate. In Spain, Jamón (jam) hangs from the ceilings in many restaurants & shops, it grossed me out - especially when a pig's thigh was hanging right above my head with the most foul smell. This led me to eat many vegetarian meals during my time in Europe.

When I returned from Barcelona, I was eager and excited to get back to my “normal” foods: Taco Bell, In N Out, Chipotle, etc. However, once I started eating all these foods again I started feeling really sick and getting horrible stomach aches. Surely enough, I got sick of feeling sick, I started learning about food and making conscious decisions about what I was eating. I began to eat only whole, plant-based foods. The outcome was incredible and extremely unexpected. Not only did I feel better and get rid of my stomach aches, all of the sudden, my eczema went away & my asthma disappeared! It was “normal” for me to carry an inhaler with me everywhere I went, now I don’t even own an inhaler. Additionally, my acne was no longer an issue for me and I even lost 20 pounds. I didn’t mean to lose weight, nor did I ever think I was overweight; my body just became healthier overall. Now, every time I eat I am not just eating for myself, I know I am helping animals and the environment too. I feel as though each time I sit down at the table, my choices have a greater impact on the world. The pictures below clearly show you the difference the role my eating habits played on me:

*Please Note - I never thought and still don't think I was overweight, my body just became healthier overall. I use these pictures to show you the changes I personally experienced.

I completed my undergraduate education at Arizona State University, graduating with a BA in Communications and a Minor in Family & Human Development. With a yearning to learn more about nutrition, I decided to further my education by obtaining a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. It was then that my passion to spread the vegan message began to take shape. I channeled my energy and new-found appreciation for a plant-based diet into creating Vegetaryn. As Vegetaryn has grown, I have continued to create merchandise that helps raise awareness about the vegan lifestyle, all while being able to give back to organizations like Kindred Spirits Care Farm, Mercy For Animals, PETA, and Rancho Relaxo, who help save animals. 

Vegetaryn has taken me all around the US and even to London. I pop up at many of the vegan festivals like Vegandale, Vegan Street Fair, Vevolution, etc. and sell shirts that spread the vegan message in a funny and punny way!

 

I share my story with hopes that you can learn a little about me, understand where I am coming from, and why I hope to inspire others to make healthier food choices while still experiencing full satisfaction and enjoyment out of life!

Let's change the world one shirt at a time!

Peas Out!

-Taryn