PERSONAL MISSION

During my second year at Hofstra University, I had many friends that were vegan or vegetarian. I always admired their motivation and dedication to increase sustainability of their health and environment. After cutting red meat out of my diet for 7 months, I decided to try to give up meat, poultry, and fish during Lent to see if the lifestyle was sustainable with my Hofstra Dance Team training and campus lifestyle. After 40 days, I continued to be a vegetarian and I wanted my new diet to benefit both me while making a small impact globally. However, on campus I resorted to the same food options weekly. Although my options lacked variety, not having to prepare my own meals was very convenient. My main struggle coming home after Spring semester was meal planning and understanding my body lacked certain supplements. The entire summer home, I spent researching to adjust my vegetarian diet with my athletic activity and full-time internship schedule. Many times I considered going back to eating meat because everyday I lacked so much energy, strength and never felt full. But once I started researching, looking at B12 and Omega-3 supplements as well as tips on meal prepping, I learned how to adjust to being a vegetarian with my busy, active lifestyle. After my struggle, I wanted to begin a business to help anyone who is a vegan or a vegetarian through a monthly iskra subscription box, access to supplements, and plenty of advice.

~Kristen Dansereau, Founder