Caryn Dugan loves to eat. In fact, in high school, she says one of her friends called her the human garbage disposal. Her then-faves included Velveeta cheese and fried bologna. But her brush with cancer in 2008 prompted a pilgrimage into the healthiest of eating. So much so, she built a business based on "meals that heal," all through plant-based diets, and became known as the 'STL Veg Girl.'
"An insatiable need to learn how the food we put in our body directly affects our health continues to be my quest. During reading, researching and meeting with authors, instructors and medical experts in the field of nutrition science and health, I adopted a plant-based, whole foods diet," she explains.
"It’s no secret that mainly unprocessed, real food is what our body responds to and uses to develop a strong immune system to help fight off disease and chronic illnesses."
After sharing healthy recipes via regional television segments, home shows, corporate kitchen classes and health immersion events, Caryn launched into making house calls to deliver customized meals. She also became certified through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in 2011.
"Today, still delving deep in continual education and always working toward the highest in certifications, I enjoy teaching plant-based culinary classes and serving my clients. Whether you're looking to reverse an illness or take preventative measures to avoid one, looking at what you put in your body is a good place to start. The most asked question I receive is, 'How do I begin?' My answer, A Plant On Every Plate," she asserts as a wellness coach.
Combining all of her interests and information, Caryn founded the Center for Plant-Based Living in Kirkwood during 2019, which she says was the nation's first plant-based and nutrition education center. She made the decision to close the center's physical location last summer due to the broad acceptance and flexibility of virtual programming.
Presently, Caryn collaborates with James Loomis Jr., M.D., MBA, FACLM, to produce and provide "The Doc & Chef" online videos on top nutrition topics. She says they build 10- to 20-minute videos, and an evidence-backed blog post around each one. "Jim served as the medical director for the Center for Plant-Based Living, and he's a practicing lifestyle medicine clinician and the medical director at the Physicians Committee in Washington, D.C."
She says the center’s virtual members have access to an on-demand library of plant-based cooking classes, 150-and-growing recipes, interactive live virtual cooking classes and a monthly accountability support group call with her. Dr. Loomis joins the group on a quarterly basis for an "Ask The Doc" call on Zoom.
"Our membership is built like a streaming service where members can watch whenever they want," Caryn states.
In addition, Caryn also works with the Hospital for Special Surgery staff in New York City regarding orthopedics and lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Loomis and Caryn also co-authored a 350-page book on what they deem the six pillars of lifestyle medicine through the lens of food. They serialized this information in six parts, with each booklet focusing on a pillar: Whole-Food, Plant-Predominant Eating Pattern; Physical Activity; Restorative Sleep; Stress Management; Avoidance of Risky Substances; and Positive Social Connection. She says they like to "marry nutrition science to plates of food."
Additionally, this duo travels the world to do live Doc and Chef shows at conferences and events worldwide, including throughout the United States, the US Air Force, cruise ships, Romania, Moldova, Canada, the Virgin Islands and Europe.
"Never did I ever think little STL Veg Girl in 2011 would be here," Caryn sighs.
- Center for Plant-based Living for classes and events.
- STL Veg Girl for recipes and online cooking program.
- The Doc and Chef for nutrition science and application.
"Whether you had a health scare or are just taking preventive measures, I can help soften the learning curve."