Contributor Q&A: Lisa Gonzalez-Turner, Founder of wholier
Lisa is the founder and CEO of wholier. She's spent her career in food, beverage and wellness at high-growth brands like spindrift and Daily Harvest. She's been vegan for almost a decade and is a big proponent of optimizing her health both physically and mentally. She's also a science geek and loves reading clinical studies (her parents are both doctors).
Q. Plant-based, plant-forward or plant curious?
A. I'm plant-based. I've been vegan for 8 years and was vegetarian before that. I'm a big advocate of everyone trying to take meat and dairy off of their plates whenever possible, but I also understand that being fully vegan isn't the best route for everyone.
Q. Best tip to optimize your health?
A. Well, I'm the founder of a health and wellness brand so I hope my health is in pretty good shape. I exercise 4-5 days a week and am very thoughtful about not eating too much processed food or sugar. The hack that has worked best for me and my body is not eating fruit in the morning. I've always found that having sugar (even healthy sugar) on an empty stomach doesn't work well for my digestion.
Q. Why do you choose to eat a lot of plants?
A. My reasons for going vegan were both for my health and the environment. I have found that I feel so much better when I'm only eating plants (limiting processed foods too). My mood is better, I have more energy, I can sleep at night - it really has improved every aspect of my life.
Q. What is your favorite plant-based meal to serve at a dinner party?
A. Vegan chili! I love topping it off with Sweet Cayenne Nooch and kite hill sour cream. It's the perfect dish for the colder months in New York because it's hearty and gives you that yummy, cozy feeling.
Q. What’s your favorite wholier formula?
A. I'm a big fan of the OG multivitamin. I created the Multi for Plant-Based People because I wanted a simple all-in-one multivitamin that was science-backed and tailored to my needs as a plant-based person. Plus I love the citrus taste in the morning! It's like aroma therapy in a bottle.
