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My name is Emily and I was born and raised in Loveland, Ohio.  Growing up here, I thought Cincinnati was pretty boring.  In 1997, our family moved away.  Returning to Cincinnati for a visit in 2014,  I was so impressed with how much the city had changed that I decided to stay!  Being in the hotel industry, I learned a lot about the city and enjoyed being an unofficial tour guide of the city for friends and family.

My vegan journey began a few years back like many others did—documentaries!  Forks Over Knives was the documentary that did me in.  They highlighted all of the health benefits of a whole foods, plant-based vegan diet and how that lifestyle could protect you from some of our country’s major killers like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.  That was all I needed to hear.  I cut out all animal products cold turkey right after watching it.

It was surprisingly not as difficult as I imagined and I felt amazing after going vegan!  I had so much energy, it was great!  After a few weeks, my head really felt clearer.  I seldom get sick and recover after workouts faster than I did before.  I never expected to feel that way. 

As I continued to learn more about the vegan lifestyle, I learned more about the animal rights and environmental sides of it.  I wanted to leave this earth in a better condition than when I got to it.   I truly believe that a plant-based vegan lifestyle is best for our health, our planet and all of the creatures we share this planet with.  When we fuel our bodies with real food, we feel better and treat others better!

Prior to becoming vegan, my biggest questions was, “well, what do you eat?” I thought that vegans just ate salads all day. Once I dove into becoming vegan, I realized that there is so much more to eat than just salads (although, I do love salads)! There are so many amazing fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes, spices and creative new vegan treats, I never feel like I am missing out. I have always enjoyed cooking and experimenting in the kitchen and there is no shortage of amazing vegan recipes. Plus, so many restaurants are adding amazing vegan dishes to their regular menus! 

I decided to create an Instagram page to showcase all of the delicious food I was having. From restaurants to home cooking, I shared it all. It has been a lot of fun! I’ve had so many friends say to me that they are amazed that I eat so much great food each day. Many of them have told me they are inspired to make more plant-based decisions during meal time. It also has inspired them to adopt other sustainability practices in their own lives.

My goal is to help others with the hardest part of a vegan lifestyle—getting started and what to eat!

I am so excited to be working with Riverside Food Tours and to have the opportunity to combine a few of my passions—showcasing our amazing city and inspiring others to live a healthy and more conscious lifestyle.

Join me on the Cincy Vegan Food Tour every Saturday at 11:30am. Our 3 hour adventure begins on Fountain Square and we’ll use the streetcar to visit 3 different downtown neighborhoods. Come hungry and dress comfy. We are about to see the city, hear the history and taste 6-7 different and unique vegan dishes. Whether you are a vegan or just curious about plant based dishes, I know you will enjoy this culinary adventure around town!

The tour includes a 3 hour guided tour, stops at 6-7 eateries, an all day streetcar pass and a food guide. Tickets $59.00 + $3 ticket fee. BOOK NOW