Nicolette Gage did not choose a vegan and gluten-free lifestyle because it was popular or trendy. Her decision was connected to a personal goal of improving her health and feeling better every day. She had been dealing with brain fog, constant tiredness, and ongoing bloating, which made her realize that she needed to make a meaningful change in the way she was eating.
A Change Focused on Healing
For Nicolette, changing her diet was not about following strict food rules or creating unnecessary restrictions. She wanted to discover a healthier way of eating that could support her body and help her feel more comfortable.
She explains, “I wanted to find a way of eating that felt healing.” For her, the most important idea was healing rather than restriction. This mindset helped her approach vegan and gluten-free food in a more positive and practical way.
Taking the First Steps Gently
Nicolette admits that the beginning of her journey was not easy. She spent time searching for unfamiliar ingredients, carefully reading food labels, and wondering whether she would ever be able to enjoy what felt like a “normal” dinner again.
Instead of changing everything overnight, she decided to start with small and manageable steps. She replaced dairy milk with almond milk, swapped traditional wheat pasta for chickpea-based alternatives, and began preparing large vegetable stews filled with simple and nourishing ingredients.
Rather than trying to be perfect from the first day, Nicolette focused on making one small change at a time. Each adjustment helped her become more comfortable with her new lifestyle and made the next change feel easier.
Finding New Joys in Cooking
As Nicolette became more familiar with vegan and gluten-free cooking, something unexpected happened. She developed a genuine love for preparing food, something she had never realized she could enjoy so much.
“It became more about what new tastes I could create, and less about what I couldn’t have,” she says.
Her meals started becoming more creative and exciting. She experimented with smooth and creamy cashew-based sauces, colorful curries packed with spices, and fresh salads filled with tangy dressings, crunchy nuts, and vibrant vegetables.
Cooking was no longer focused on the foods she had removed from her diet. Instead, it became an opportunity to discover new flavors, textures, ingredients, and combinations. Food slowly changed from something that felt limiting into an enjoyable experience.
Feeling Better and More Connected to Food
Today, Nicolette says she feels better than she has in a long time. She feels more lively, energetic, and connected to the food she chooses to eat. Her journey has helped her build a different relationship with meals, where food is connected with nourishment, creativity, and personal well-being.
For Nicolette, adopting a vegan and gluten-free lifestyle was never simply about removing certain foods. It became a way of making choices that felt more supportive of her health and daily life.
“Selecting this way of life was not about giving things up,” she says. “It came down to choosing myself.”