Changemakers: Dana Heath on How to Be a Superhero for Animals

Can you talk a little bit about your plant-based journey? When did you go plant-based and what inspired you to make the switch?

I became vegan about a year after I moved to Los Angeles. I was having severe stomach issues and I was sick all the time. We talked to a doctor about it, and they told me, “Well, you’re relatively fine.” So I thought, maybe it’s something I’ve been eating.

I started off by going vegetarian, but I was still having stomach issues. So then I tried cutting out dairy. I felt a lot healthier, I felt a lot happier, and my stomach issues went down.

You’re quite the cook! What are some of your favorite meatless recipes to make?

Okay, listen: I love Mexican food. My mom taught me a really good vegan taco recipe. And it’s by far my favorite meal to eat. If I could eat it every day, I would. We did for a while, and it was a problem. (Laughs.)

I also love nachos, I love a good taco salad… you get me? So it’s all Mexican food. I’m telling you, it's a problem.

You’ve inspired a few of your family members to go plant-based, including your mother and grandmother. How are you inspiring those around you to eat healthier?

I don’t try to convince people, necessarily. But when it does get brought up in situations, I share that (plant-based eating) is a healthy and happy lifestyle to take up. I’m definitely stronger. And I’m a lot healthier! My mental health and my physical health are a lot better than they were.

According to a 2021 study by Sprouts Farmers Market, 47 percent of Americans are flexitarian—they primarily eat vegetarian but will occasionally have meat or fish. What are your views on the power of incremental changes like going vegetarian?

It’s a good way to do it. I mean, that’s how I did it! When you do homework, you don't want to look at the full sheet of what you have to do. You take it one problem at a time. It’s the same thing! It’s all about the baby steps. Incremental change makes things a lot less daunting and a lot easier to do. That’s what I did, and it definitely helped.

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Going vegan definitely changed my worldview on a lot of things.

What would you say to someone who’s interested in going plant-based but is unsure of where to start?

Cutting out meat is probably the easiest way to start. It was for me! Take what you don’t like, the foods you’re not obsessed with, and take them out and start trying different things.

If you really like turkey, for example, get rid of chicken but keep the turkey—and go from there. Pretty soon, you’re just not eating it anymore.

And from my experience, once you’ve gone long enough without eating certain things, your palate changes. And once you eat those things again, you’re like, “Ew, why would I even?”

You can keep up with Dana Heath on Instagram. And for more helpful tips on how to transition to a plant-based diet, check out our "Path to Plant-Based" Starter Guide.