Hi, I’m Rachel, a lifelong foodie, local San Diegan, and longtime “I’ll have the fish, please” kind of gal, until I wasn’t.
Years ago, I was pescatarian. I thought I was doing alright, until I kept catching colds. A visit to an acupuncturist led to a simple suggestion: try some chicken. So I did… and just like that, the sniffles stopped. That kicked off my descent down the meat train (the final straw: a steak at a wedding where the options were steak or steak—sigh).
For a while, I didn’t think much about it. Then came 2025. I decided to cut out beef and pork, less for health, more for values. But the deeper shift came when I felt the emotional weight of all the cruelty and violence in the world. It was everywhere, in every headline. And I thought: While I can’t stop all of it, I can choose to do less harm. I can start here.
So I stopped eating meat.
Of course, I had questions. Can I stay strong? Can I still build muscle, feel good, age well? (Hi, woman-of-a-certain-age club 👋) I dug deep. I read books, listened podcasts, went down the YouTube rabbit hole and I learned that you absolutely can live a vibrant, active, protein-powered life on plants, and I’m doing living proof!
But here’s where it gets tricky…
I still love going out to eat. Fancy date nights, casual hangs with friends, birthday dinners. And while some spots have decent veggie options, they’re often just that—options. Sides. Salads. Appetizers. Maybe not sad salads, but definitely not main character energy.
That’s when Sunny Bites found its new mission:To uncover vegan and plant-forward gems on menus all over San Diego (and, okay, maybe beyond… but let’s keep that our secret 😎). To help fellow plant-based foodies enjoy meals with friends without sacrificing flavor, fun, or values. To show that meatless meals can be the best thing on the menu.
Whether you’re fully vegan, flexitarian, or just plant-curious, I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s find the good stuff together.
Come for the eats, stay for the no-judgment vibes. And remember: No. Sad. Salads.
