Hidden Gems: Meet Alessandra Cardin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alessandra Cardin.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey started when I was 14 years old and discovered plant-based living while doing a school project. I didn’t know anything about the lifestyle at that time. I grew up eating meat and animal products. We always had home-cooked meals, but I did have a lot of processed snack foods and the occasional fast food dinner. After this project, I became fascinated with plant-based nutrition. As I learned more about the benefits of plant-based eating, I started shifting my diet. The more plant-based foods I ate, the better I felt! By the time I was 17, I was fully plant-based. From eating this way, I experienced increased energy, better digestion, greater focus and mental clarity, and an overall greater sense of well-being. With my increased energy and vitality, I also started getting into fitness, which made me feel amazing too! Back then, plant-based diets weren’t as mainstream, so it was a bit challenging. There weren’t as many plant-based resources or products, and no one I knew was plant-based, so I had to figure things out on my own. I really enjoyed learning though. I spent my spare time reading plant-based books and blogs, watching documentaries, trying new recipes, and going to plant-based events.

When I was 18, I went to business school thinking I would work in Finance. After my first year though, I fractured my spine and had to take a year off to heal. I had a lot of time to reflect and realized that nutrition is my true passion. During my year off, I completed a certification in plant-based nutrition through Cornell University’s online school and started a plant-based recipe blog. I ended up going back to business school to complete my degree, but I switched the focus of my studies to entrepreneurship. While in school, I continued blogging and sold a line of plant-based snack bars I developed. I also worked for PlantPure Communities, a non-profit sponsored by the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.

I enjoyed my studies and work, but to be honest, it was challenging because I was still healing from my back injury. I experienced a lot of stress which manifested as many different health issues—chronic fatigue, gut health issues, acne, hormonal imbalances, anxiety, and insomnia. I went to different specialists and healers and tried so many strict diet protocols and cleanses to heal my gut. I was frustrated because nothing seemed to work! And on top of all of the health issues I was experiencing, I felt that I’d lost touch with the ability to listen to my body after experimenting with so many dietary theories. I felt very confused and anxious about what to eat!

Around that time, I discovered the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and enrolled with the intention of healing myself. IIN’s Health Coach Training Program was a very transformational experience that I am incredibly grateful for. At IIN, I learned about bio-individuality, which means we are all unique and have different dietary and lifestyle needs. I also discovered that diet is important, but other lifestyle factors act as forms of nourishment as well; for example, areas of your life such as exercise, relationships, career, and spirituality. Before IIN, I was eating whole foods, but IIN taught me how to live a holistic lifestyle too. After years of trying to “fix” myself with strict diet protocols and supplements, I realized that simple lifestyle and mindset shifts can make the biggest difference! I started consistently practicing self-love; listening to my body; choosing simple, whole, plant-based foods that make me thrive; doing exercise I enjoy; doing meaningful work; getting rest and downtime; and spending more time with loved ones. When I made these holistic shifts to my diet and lifestyle, I finally found balance. My energy improved, my skin cleared up, I started getting deep rejuvenating sleep, my digestion worked optimally once again, and I felt more focused, confident, and at peace.

After graduating from IIN, I became more interested in mindful living and completed a yoga teacher training. The mindfulness, presence, and breathing techniques practiced in yoga can be applied off the mat in daily life as well. Yogic teachings can empower you to listen to your body, eat mindfully, and live mindfully too.

As I started sharing more about my journey on social media, people started reaching out and asking for support with their health goals! I realized that with all that I had learned on my own journey and from studying plant-based nutrition, health coaching, and yoga, I could make a big difference in people’s lives. That’s when I started my health coaching practice. It’s now my mission to help others fuel for optimal health with holistic plant-based living so they can thrive and live their best lives!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I definitely experienced challenges along my journey. As I mentioned, when I first went plant-based, I was so young and plant-based living was not as common. My friends and family didn’t quite understand my dietary choices, and at first, I felt very awkward at social events and restaurants. But I learned to be confident in my values and proud of the holistic plant-based lifestyle I live. At nutrition school, we called this “fitting out”. In social situations where people are less supportive of your lifestyle, it can seem scary to be different. This sometimes leads to hiding your true values, interests, needs, and desires for fear of being judged or being an inconvenience. Fitting out, which is the opposite of fitting in, means being your authentic self, being proud of your values, honoring your unique needs, and practicing healthy habits that make you thrive—even if that means being different! And when you’re thriving, you can show up in the world as your best self, and you’ll have more energy to connect with loved ones and do the things that bring you joy. Also, by being yourself, sharing what you know, and leading by example, you’re likely to inspire those around you to fit out and live healthy lifestyles too! You’re also more likely to attract people who have similar interests and values.

Healing from my back injury and all of the health issues that I was experiencing was very challenging as well. I was so frustrated because I had so many big dreams for my life, but my health was suffering, and I didn’t have the energy or vitality I needed to take action on my goals! I tried so many strict gut-healing diets, cleanses, and supplements, and nothing was working! But when I finally turned to a holistic approach, that is when I began seeing results. I realized that you can eat the cleanest diet in the world, but if you’re experiencing stress due to an imbalanced lifestyle, your health can easily suffer. I noticed a big difference when I made lifestyle shifts such as doing exercise I enjoy, getting high-quality sleep, meditating, doing work that’s meaningful to me, and spending more time with loved ones. I also discovered the importance of listening to my body, eating more simple whole, plant-based foods, and taking a customized approach to nutrition. There is so much nutrition and wellness info out there—I know it can seem a bit overwhelming at times. But know that health is a journey, and you know your body best! Stay curious, keep learning, experiment, and find what works for you.

And finally, the entrepreneurial journey has been challenging. Being an entrepreneur comes with a lot of uncertainty, and it felt scary starting a business rather than taking a corporate job with a stable income! But I moved past the fear, held my vision close, took a leap of faith, and trusted that things would work out. And it was so worth it! It’s so fulfilling to get to do what you love and make a positive impact in the lives of others. Helping people improve their health with plant-based nutrition and holistic living is my purpose and passion. I’ve found that staying connected to your purpose and your personal “why” helps keep you on track with your entrepreneurial journey. There is also so much to learn when growing a business, but I always remind myself that if any challenges come up, there is always a way to figure out a solution! Community and mentorship are so important as well. I’m grateful for the Integrative Nutrition community and the coaches I’ve worked with who supported me in growing my business.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Alessandra Cardin – Plant-Based Health Coach?
All of the work I do is centered around empowering people to fuel for optimal health with plant-based nutrition and holistic living. I teach a simple, fun, customizable approach to plant-based living that empowers people to feel energized and confident; while eating foods they enjoy and living their best lives!

Everything in our lives is either fueling us or draining us… contributing to health or causing unnecessary stress that can compromise our well-being. If you want to thrive, it’s so important to FUEL yourself with nourishing foods and healthy lifestyle habits—in a way that’s sustainable and customized to your needs!

Working as a health coach, I’ve discovered that many people have similar health goals—to increase their energy; reach their ideal weight; improve their skin, digestion, or mood; or prevent chronic disease, and live a long and healthy life. The amazing thing is that whole, plant-based foods have been shown by nutrition science to help people reach all of these goals! Lifestyle medicine also shows that a holistic lifestyle is incredibly powerful for helping people transform their health too.

I know this from firsthand experience as well! As I shared, I’ve struggled a lot with my health in the past, but when I adopted a holistic plant-based lifestyle, I saw my health and my life transform. I’m so grateful to finally be living a life full of energy and vitality. With all that I’ve learned along my journey, I created the FUEL Method to help others FUEL for optimal health too!

The FUEL Method is backed by science and has been effective for me and my clients. It’s based on three key pillars: Plant-based foods (which are extremely nutrient dense); Lifestyle Fuel (which is what I call lifestyle forms of nourishment); and Bio-Individuality (which means there’s no one-size-fits-all diet and lifestyle). To experience optimal health, it’s so important to FUEL with plant-based foods and a holistic lifestyle in a way that’s customized to your needs.

Through my private coaching program, I empower people to adopt the FUEL Method so they can reach their health goals and feel energized, vibrant, healthy, and confident! I will also soon be launching FUEL: The Plant-Based Living course, an online course that teaches the FUEL Method, along with the FUEL Recipe book. The FUEL Recipe Book has a great emphasis on customization and teaches you how to not only follow plant-based recipes but also how to customize and create your own recipes. It was designed to empower you to listen to your body, eat intuitively, and find freedom and flexibility in the kitchen. You can stay tuned for updates about the launch by connecting with me on Instagram (@alessandra.cardin). I share lots of plant-based wellness content and love connecting with others on the platform, so be sure to say hi!

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you’re interested in working with me, you can apply for a health consultation at https://alessandracardin.com/consult. During this free 30-minute call, we’ll discuss your health history and goals, along with how I can support you on your wellness journey. You can learn more about my private coaching program at https://alessandracardin.com/coaching.

To discuss collaboration ideas, please reach out to me at [email protected]. I love collaborating with other health coaches, wellness businesses, and plant-based organizations. Working together with a common mission to make the world a healthy, happy place is so inspiring and powerful!

You can also support my mission by sharing this interview with anyone you know who is interested in wellness or plant-based living. Sharing this interview can help inspire others to live healthy lives. And when people are healthy and thriving, they tend to inspire those around them to live healthy lives too! Together, the more people we inspire, the greater the ripple effect of health and happiness in our world! Remember to say hi on Instagram as well (@alessandra.cardin). I’d love to connect!

Contact Info:

• Website: alessandracardin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alessandra.cardin/