Hi, I’m Kim-Julie!

I’m the founder and creative director of the vegan food and lifestyle brands Best of Vegan and Vegan Reset, as well as the author of the books Vegan Reset: The 28-Day Plan to Kickstart Your Healthy Lifestyle, its U.K. counterpart The 28-Day Vegan Plan, and the new Best of Vegan Cookbook

Before going vegan (somewhat accidentally and overnight) in 2011, I was the furthest thing from a vegan you could possibly imagine. I LOVED meat, fish, eggs, cheese, and honey. That’s why I know how overwhelming it can seem to change your lifestyle and eating habits. On this blog, I teach you how to do it one step at a time, with lots of delicious, quick and easy recipes. 

Outside of veganism, I’m passionate about social justice, art, history, and my friends and family. You can check out my personal blog here.

As seen in:
my story

In April of 2010, my father died of a heart attack at age 53. He had been leading a life full of stress, smoking, overeating, and never prioritizing his health and wellbeing. But even though his lifestyle was far from ideal, his passing came as a shock to everyone. For over a year after his death, I was in complete denial over my own grief and how much I had started following in his footsteps. I was a chainsmoker, I hated fruits and veggies, ate mostly processed foods, and frequently went out drinking. On the surface, it looked like I was just outgoing and enjoying life, but on the inside, I was deeply unhappy and struggling to process the loss. About a year after he died, I went vegan overnight after reading a few books about animal agriculture. I had zero intention of going vegan or even vegetarian when I started reading those books, but once I finished, I just knew something had to change. I’m not an animal person and I had always loved eating meat, dairy, and eggs, so I was prepared to never enjoy food ever again. I didn’t know anyone who was vegan and thought that being vegan myself meant eating nothing but rice crackers and nut butters for the rest of my life. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the world of vegan burgers, pizza, and ice cream. I was in vegan comfort food heaven and remained there for a long time. About 1 and a half years later, I started reading about the benefits of plant-based diets and became curious. My only problem? I still hated fruits, veggies, salads, and anything else “healthy”. One step at a time, I started eating tiny bits of the foods I’d once hated. I would pick 2 to 3 foods at a time and would try them again every day. I was stunned to realize that after a couple of weeks, I not only started liking, but actually loving them. Some of those foods, like tomatoes, cucumbers, dried figs, and miso soup, are now among my favorites. And while I do actually love salads and most healthy foods these days, I also still enjoy comfort food. It’s all about balance!

After a few years of experimenting and discovering, I started sharing my newfound passion for both the ethical side of veganism and the health benefits of a plant-based diet online. I never had any intention of reaching many people, but I thought that if I could inspire even just a single person who felt the way I used to or who was on the same path as my father had been, it would be worth it.

Over the last decade, I’ve hosted countless online challenges, 28-day resets (which are now meal plan eBooks), and have published two cookbooks (Vegan Reset & Best of Vegan). I feel incredibly fortunate to be doing what I do and I’m eternally grateful for everyone who’s been a part of this journey thus far. If you ever have suggestions, recipe requests, or simply want to say hi, don’t hesitate to email me at kimjulie@veganreset.com;)

Love,

Kim-Julie

Fun Facts About Me

I’d rather be

at home

Listening to

jazz music

grateful for

my friends

Favorite place

New York city

my weekends

cooking & exploring

secret talent

drawing