Meet Maria
A California girl turned island dweller. I’ve always had an appreciation for good food. I love a good cup of dark Kona coffee, Indian food, dark chocolate, and veggie tacos…just to name a few favs.
I’ve been a Registered Dietitian for over 23 years and have been plant-based for 30. I LOVE being plant-based! For most of my 40s, my health and fitness level was at its best.
But, as I got closer to 50 I started struggling with menopausal symptoms without realizing what was happening to me. Besides the typical hot flashes and brain fog, I started having insomnia and I’ve never had issues sleeping before. I also was an emotional and reactive mess – over the smallest things. I was like “What is wrong with me??”. You hear about others struggling with symptoms but you never think it will happen to you.
After doing my own research, I tweaked my diet, supplements, and exercise regimen. Another game changer for me was starting on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. After a few weeks, I started feeling human again!
I don’t know about you, but I want to live my best life. I want to be active, feel strong and vibrant, and hold tight to my values even if they are unpopular. I’m here to support you in doing the same. Let’s do this together!
My own plant based journey
I became vegetarian in my early 20s while I was battling chronic fatigue syndrome. At the time, meat was starting to turn me off and after moving to the Oakland/Berkeley area I started working at Whole Foods Market where I was surrounded by vegetarians and vegetarian options. The transition was actually pretty easy for me!
My health, on the other hand, took years to improve. My immune system was really compromised. When I first transitioned to a vegetarian diet I was still eating a lot of processed foods and my sugar and dairy intake continued to be high.
Fast forward years later, with the help of supplements, being more conscious about what I was eating, and upping my exercise and activity level, my health dramatically improved! Once you experience this difference, you truly appreciate what it feels like to feel healthy and your quality of life is so much more apparent.
This is what I want for YOU. I’m so happy you’re on this plant based menopausal journey with me!
Editorial Process
There is a lot of nutrition and health information on the internet. What makes this website a reliable one with information you can trust?
All content is created by Maria Tointon, RDN, LDN unless otherwise indicated. Maria has a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition from San Francisco State University, has completed 1,200 hours of supervised practice through an accredited dietetic internship program, and passed a national exam to obtain her dietitian credential. To maintain this credential requires 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years.
All articles are written based on Maria’s 20+ years of experience as a registered dietitian and based on current literature and research. Our content includes references to peer-reviewed research articles, academic text books, or websites you can trust (from government or academic institutions). Veg Out With Maria is about science and not popularity, click-bait, or trends.
When a guest author posts on this website, all content is edited and fact checked by Maria prior to publication. Guest authors use the same process of research and referencing. All content is reviewed at least annually and updated as needed based on changes in science.