Stuck indoors on a winter day, my husband begrudgingly agreed to watch the Netflix documentary with me What the Health.  Halfway through the documentary my husband looked at me and said, “I’m never eating bacon again.”  With surprise and a few sarcastic giggles, I said, “I can do this, but I don’t think that you can (knowing how he ate a pound of bacon a week and had tried unsuccessfully once before to break the bacon habit).  But he assured me that he was on board and did the cooking, he’d help with emotional support, and occasionally the dishes.

On February 7, 2022, we went “cold turkey” (minus the turkey) and adapted a mostly plant-based diet, detoxing our pantry and refrigerator of all the foods we believed were unhealthy. Since that time and, being transparent, we have made many adjustments and do have an occasional “treat” such as fish or a touch of real butter on bread.

Before going to the other “mostly plant-based side” our health, mine especially were showing signs of decline.  I was overweight, hypothyroid, with high cholesterol.  Up to that point in time, I’d warded off major surgeries or catastrophic health events, with God’s help and medications.  Like some post-menopausal women, I had basically given up on my health and myself, accepting poor health as simply a fate of old age.  My husband, who is six years older than me had been a cancer survivor since 2018, had high cholesterol, and was pre-diabetic (and didn't even know it until we changed our diet). We were both more physically active than most our age, however, I was really beginning to feel it and he too after gaining a few pounds as result of all his late night “cheese fixes” or “potato chip binges” or my “Little Debbie” urges.

Since that time and in the words of my cardiologist, the results have been “remarkable” to include: my heart health has improved with an echo result a few points higher than most women my age; my thyroid has improved so much my PCP has reduced my medication 42%; in 2023 my cholesterol tested in the normal range for the first time in 9 years!!  And the "icing on the (vegan) cake" is I've maintained a 40 lb. weight loss without feeling like I sacrificed anything.  My husband is no longer pre-diabetic, remains cancer-free, and maintains a 20 lb. weight loss.  And he'll tell you the change in his diet isn’t because he didn't love bacon or steak, but instead he “loves his health more.”  And adds, “it helps to have a wife who’s a good cook.”  Thanks, honey.

This is the part of the story where the idea of Faithful Hearts Foods LLC was “baked.”  When we changed our diet, I had to teach myself a new way to cook.  Born a Kentucky girl and raised on all those southern comfort foods like “meat-n-taters” or good oh “biscuits-n-gravy” this way of cooking was all new to me.  And, after doing so and experiencing the positive health benefits personally, I was excited to share a few of my plant-based creations with friends and family, in hopes they might understand going mostly plant based isn't what most thought (i.e. eating just salads).

Neither of us have any experience in the medical field. We attribute our health improvements to our mostly plant-based diet and now more active lifestyle.  A few of our friends and even family questioned our sanity at the time. However, we believe our story is one of divine intervention. We know that we made the right decision and have the medical lab and test results to prove it.

Fast forward, my vegan muffins have been especially popular and the feedback always “these are so moist and good, you ought to be selling them!” or “I might consider going vegan, these are so good.”  Hence, Faithful Hearts Foods LLC was born!

My hope in sharing my baked with love creations via Faithful Hearts Foods with customers is not to become rich and famous on ‘Shark Tank’ (not that it wouldn't be a huge compliment). But instead, to introduce others to a food option that's been incredibly good for our health and tastes good too.  My hope is it might change someone else's health for the better too. 

However, please always consult with your personal physicians first and foremost before making any lifestyle changes of your own.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13