Can you really make plant-based changes that stick, even if you’ve tried it all before?

You swore this week would be different. 

You’d finally make that tofu, try the new veggie recipe you saved, and maybe even prep a couple of lunches for the week… but here you are, staring at your crisper drawer with zero plan and even less motivation.

This isn’t your first rodeo.

You start with good intentions… a fridge full of produce and a Pinterest board full of hope.

But then… 

💻 Work stuff. 

🚙 Family stuff. 

😩 The Mondayest Monday that ever Mondayed. 

And before you know it, the carrots are bendy, the greens are… brown, and grilled cheese and soup is looking better and better. Again.

Is it really worth trying again when you already know how it will end? 🤦‍♀️

The short answer? YES!

This is exactly what I help people work through inside Empowered by Plants, my 12-week 1:1 coaching program. Together, we untangle years of food noise, shift the way you think about eating, and help you create plant-forward changes that you can stick with… even on the Mondayest Monday.

But if you’ve already tried alllll the things – diets, meal plans, food trackers, some supplement you saw on TikTok that promised to change your life – you might be thinking:

💬 “That sounds great but… nothing else has worked before. This probably won’t either.” 

And that’s a totally valid concern.

Which is why I’m writing this post… to talk through why this all makes perfect sense… but also why it doesn’t have to stop you from finally creating some plant-based habits that work for you.

Let’s take a look at what’s really going on underneath that hesitation… and what’s actually possible when you take a different approach. 

There’s a reason you don’t believe this will work.

If you’ve tried to change the way you eat a bunch of times and it has never stuck, of course you're skeptical. 

You’re tired of getting your hopes up, only to find yourself right back eating a basket of fries with a side of shame and guilt. 🙄

But honestly? You’ve probably been set up to fail.

🛑 Wait, what? 

Yep, I said what I said. 

Most “solutions” out there are built for the short term. You’ve been taught to believe that “eating healthy” means sticking to strict food plans or crazy rules (No carbs! All carbs! More protein! Only raw! Eat six times a day… but only between 10:00am and 6:00pm!) and giving up all the things you love. 

And then when it doesn’t stick, it’s somehow your fault for not having enough willpower, and you’re left wondering what the hell is wrong with you. 

I’m here to tell you once and for all… Absolutely nothing. 

Who could stick to that!?

You’ve been trying to build sustainable habits built on a foundation of confusion and quick fixes. Diet culture thrives on repeat customers – it was never meant to free you from the cycle. 🤯

But this is not a diet.

So if your first thought is “This probably won’t work either,” that’s not a character flaw. It’s self-protection. It’s you trying to avoid another round of disappointment.

But that doesn’t mean change isn’t possible. It just means you just haven’t really looked at the whole picture and explored why your old habits keep pulling you back – and what would actually work for your life.

💬 “Ok, Meghan, I get it. That all makes sense, but…” 

Call me crazy, but I had a sneaking suspicion there’d still be a “but…” lurking in there somewhere. 

So, let’s break down a few things you might still be telling yourself – and why they’re not actually deal-breakers.

When “nothing has worked before” becomes a reason not to try again

Once you’ve had enough false starts, it’s easy for that internal debate to start taking up entirely too much mental space. 

You want to make plant-based changes, but there’s that little voice in the back of your head going, “What’s the point? It’s just going to end the same way.” 

So, when it comes up again? 

You hesitate.

You second-guess.

You wait to feel 100% certain before doing anything, because you can already feel that “here we go again 🙄 ” energy building up… 

And it’s exhausting. 

And if you’re really honest with yourself, that voice in your head isn’t just being dramatic. You’ve probably had moments in the past where it felt like this might actually work this time... until it didn’t.

But what if that hesitation isn’t doubt – it’s clarity?

You’ve done the plans, the programs, and the resets. 

🙅‍♀️ Hard pass. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t start creating a plant-based lifestyle. It just means you’re done doing things that don’t work for you.

So while it’s easy to list off 20 reasons why this might not work either, if you’re still here reading this, there's at least a small part of you that still believes something could be different. 

And that’s a powerful place to start. 

💡 If you’re having a hard time wrapping your head around how this might actually be clarity in disguise – and how to move forward without falling into the same traps – The Clarity Kickstart is designed to help you get clear on where to begin… and figure out what’s worth leaving behind. 

And if the idea of nutrition coaching sounds like one of those woo-woo scams that pops up in your feed promising to fix your life with celery juice and pomegranate seeds – trust me, I get it. I thought the same thing about coaching too… until I experienced firsthand how powerful it can be when you tackle what you’re struggling with the right way – and with the right support.

You’ve Been Focused on the What – Not the Why

Chances are, most of your past efforts to eat healthier were all about changing what you eat: less sugar, fewer carbs, more veggies, blah blah blah.

But very few approaches help you get to the why behind your habits.

Trying to eat more plants without addressing what’s underneath is like slapping a new coat of paint on a crumbling wall. It might look nice for a bit, but the cracks will show up again soon enough.

Real, sustainable change starts when you understand your patterns – not just your portions.

When you know what’s actually important to you – whether that’s no longer needing an afternoon caffeine pick-me-up, feeling better in your clothes, or just not thinking about food all the time – it becomes easier to make choices that stick. 

And as a bonus? It no longer feels like you’re forcing yourself to follow a diet. It’s just the way you eat. 🙌

This was true for me, too. I used to try and ‘clean up’ my eating at least a few times a year. It would last for a week or two, and then I’d find myself eating Oreos in the pantry – feeling guilty and wondering why I was the way I was.

Once I got clear on why I really wanted to make plant-based changes (and what I didn’t want anymore), everything shifted. I stopped chasing perfection and started figuring out what actually worked for me.

Trying Again Isn’t Silly — It’s Smart

It might feel pointless to try again when you feel like you’ve already tried alllll the things. But the fact that you’ve tried before? 

That’s not a sign of failure. It’s a sign of growth.

This time, you’re not going into it blindly. You’re starting with years of experience (aka data about what didn’t work). And that means you’re in the perfect position to try something new… with intention.

And let’s be real: society doesn’t make this easy. Social media and pop culture love to sell the idea that it’s all downhill after 40: Weight gain is inevitable! Download this program so you don’t lose mobility! You’ll never sleep through the night again without this supplement!

🙄 NOT even a tiny bit helpful.

But here’s what I know: you’ve lived enough life to know what doesn’t work for you. And now, you get to use that knowledge to build something that actually does. This time around, it’s about building something that feels good – and keeps feeling good – because it’s designed around you.

Cool Story… But Why Would This Actually Work for Me?

💬 “Ok, again, that sounds great, but how do I know this is actually different?” 

I’m so glad you asked! Here’s how this coaching experience is built to give you the clarity, confidence, and staying power other programs didn’t.

🌱 We start with my MAPS framework: Mindset, Accountability, Practicality, Sustainability

Before you change anything about how you eat, we take time to explore your patterns, your past experiences, and your personal why. You’ll run a few “experiments” with your current routine, and we’ll build a foundation that works with your life – not against it.

By the time you start shifting food choices, you’ll have the clarity and support you need to stay consistent without the usual overwhelm.

📞 You’re never going it alone. 

We meet once a week for coaching calls to review what’s working (or what’s not), and plan for the week ahead. And in between, you’ve got WhatsApp support – because those moments that have you reaching for the phone to order takeout rarely happen when you’re on Zoom.

They happen at a million different times throughout the day.

🌮 When you’re pulling things out to start making tacos… only to realize you forgot to buy tortillas. 

🚛 When you get home late, don’t feel like cooking, and your spouse tells you your favorite food truck is right up the street. 

🥣 When you’re at lunch with friends and feel self-conscious ordering the grain bowl when they’re all eating burgers and fries.

That in-the-moment support makes a huge difference.

And if 12 weeks flies by and you still want more support? We can build a personalized plan for that next phase too.

👩‍🦳 I’ve got the O.L.D. too – And I Get It

This one isn’t flashy – but it matters.

You’re not working with a 25-year-old coach who’s never had a hot flash, has no idea what perimenopause feels like, or has never had to coordinate picking a kid up from college and getting a parent to a doctor’s appointment on the same day, all while trying to remember what the hell they were planning to make for dinner.

You’re getting me 👋: sarcastic, sweary, definitely team “please don’t make me wear real pants,” and deeply passionate about helping people figure out how to eat more plants when life is just… a lot.

I know what it’s like to feel pulled in 57 directions, to feel like your body is changing faster than you can keep up with, and to have a complicated relationship with food after decades of dieting messages.

Basically, I am you.

And that’s why I won’t hand you a list of rules or a detailed meal plan. You know what to do… you just need some support while you figure out the how and start building new plant-based habits. 

I’m here to help you figure out what actually works for your body, your schedule, your stress level, and your real life so you can finally make changes that stick – because they’re built just for you.

This Is What’s Possible When You Say Yes to Something Different

When you stop believing that this will just be another failed attempt – and instead give yourself the chance to try something new, something actually built to last – here’s what becomes possible:

✨ You feel more in control of your food choices, without needing to second-guess every bite. 

✨ You stop obsessing over what’s “right” or “wrong” and start trusting yourself to make choices that feel good. 

✨ You build a way of eating that supports your goals and fits your real life – even when things get busy, messy, or unpredictable. 

✨ You feel genuinely proud of how you’re showing up for yourself – and confident that you can keep going, without starting over every Monday. 

✨ You finally let go of the diet mentality. No more rules, no more guilt. Just a new normal that feels like you.

If that’s the kind of change you’ve been waiting for, I’d love to help you make it happen.

Still reading? That’s probably not a coincidence.

If there’s even a tiny part of you thinking, “Hell yes! This could actually work,” that’s worth listening to.

My coaching programs were made for that version of you –  the one who’s tired of trying to figure it out on your own, is ready to stop starting over, and just wants to create a plant-based life you can stick with.

Whether you're ready for a deeper commitment or just want to dip a toe in, there's a next step waiting for you.

👉 Apply now for Empowered by Plants and get 12 weeks of personalized, one-to-one support.

👉 Not quite ready to commit to a full 12 weeks? I get it. You can start with a single Your Plant-Based Breakthrough Power Hour to see what’s possible with the right support. Apply here.