From Personal Struggles to Raw Food Healing: Shari’s Inspiring Wellness Journey

What happens when life knocks you down—again and again—with surgeries, a devastating car accident, and the kind of loss that shakes you to your core? If you’re Shari, you rise. You heal. And you turn your pain into a purpose-driven lifestyle rooted in raw food, animal love, and radical self-awareness.

In this deeply honest and inspiring interview, Shari—ISSA-certified health coach, fruit enthusiast, and founder of Shari Likes Fruit—opens up about her powerful transformation. 

From battling physical and emotional trauma to thriving as a wellness guide and content creator, she shares how a high raw vegan lifestyle helped her rebuild not just her health, but her entire life.

This isn’t just a story about food. It’s about resilience, self-love, and the unexpected ways healing can show up—sometimes in the form of a perfectly ripe mango or a snuggly cat. Ready to be inspired? 

Keep reading!

Hi Shari! Can you tell us about your personal journey and what led you to adopt a raw food lifestyle?

It all started with my love for animals! I first went vegetarian almost 30 years ago, but then in 2010, I learned the truth about the dairy industry and became vegan overnight. 

Shortly after, my best friend shared a raw food video with me—and it was like a lightbulb went off. I realized this might be the healing path I needed after everything my body had endured—from surviving nine surgeries and a tragic car accident to years of unhealthy habits.

I dove headfirst into learning about the raw vegan lifestyle. I read every book I could find, studied long-term raw vegans, and even volunteered on fruit farms. The impact was undeniable—my energy, mood, and overall health improved dramatically.

Today, I follow a high-raw lifestyle that supports my body’s healing while staying connected to my passion for fresh, vibrant foods. Most importantly, I love sharing what I’ve learned to help others thrive too. 💚

How did your surgeries and accident shape your approach to wellness?

At the time, those experiences felt almost unbearable. But like all challenges, they became my greatest teachers—if you allow them to be.

Each surgery, and especially the car accident, pushed me to explore what healing truly means. I discovered it’s not just about fixing the physical body—it’s about the connection between what we eat, how we think, and how we show up in life.

I lost my best friend in that car accident. Later, I lost my ovaries and other parts due to a botched hysterectomy (which I should never have had, but I trusted the doctors). 

I lost my abs to an incisional hernia. But I gained so much—knowledge, experience, the drive to pursue a healthier path.

The biggest work was on my mindset. There were times I didn’t want to go on living. I had to start paying attention to everything—hydration, whole plant foods, and how my thoughts influenced my healing. I became more consistent with my meditation practice. And now I get to share everything I’ve learned. 🌱

I’m not perfect, and I’m still focused on deeper healing—especially as I prepare to move into my new home (with a brand-new kitchen!). 

I’m excited about planting fruit trees and exploring local produce here in southern Iowa. I even heard there’s Pawpaw fruit here—something I’ve always wanted to try.

The lessons have been tough, as they are for everyone. But I’m grateful for the self-awareness that allows me to course-correct when things go off track. I don’t dwell on the past. I reset with the next meal. 

No guilt—ever. That’s the key. That’s what I teach my clients and share with my followers. Everything that happens is just data we can reflect on—in a journal, with a coach, or with a friend. It’s all part of our spiritual growth. It’s never just about the food.

What inspired you to create Shari Likes Fruit?

I started a YouTube channel during a tough time in my life. It was meant to be about the raw vegan lifestyle—I already had the “Shari Likes Fruit” Instagram. 

But when my mom’s cat started showing up in my videos, engagement shot through the roof—haha! Long story short, I love animals just as much as I love fruit, so I ended up creating two separate channels.

The website came from my love for both the plant-based lifestyle and animals. From a marketing standpoint, it wasn’t the smartest move. I probably should have stuck with one passion—FRUIT. 

But the animal channel community helped me through a very difficult time, and it brought me so much joy.

So, I defied the marketing gurus and did my best to combine my two passions. Since most vegans love animals, it wasn’t too much of a stretch.

A lot of my cat channel followers have asked about plant-based eating, so it’s been really rewarding. They’re such loving and kind souls.

I’m never pushy about my beliefs, but when someone wants to get healthier, I’m more than happy to help them add more fruits and vegetables to their life.

That’s one of the reasons I wrote The Pocket Guide to Choosing and Storing Fruits and Vegetables—it’s a quick read and useful for anyone. Knowing how to choose great produce makes healthy eating easier.

So, long story short: if you love animals, head to ShariLikesFruit.com/animals or my Etsy shop here. I work day and night to create content I think both audiences will enjoy. 

Reading their comments and being of service helped me through hard times, and now I get to give back—and that brings me so much joy.

As an ISSA-Certified Health Coach with a background in Communication, how do you approach supporting others?

The amazing thing about combining health coaching with communication skills is that it helps me meet people exactly where they are. 

Instead of throwing a bunch of rules at someone, I help them tune into their own body’s signals and discover what works best for them. That applies to the mental side too—how we think we should look or eat. It’s about imperfect consistency, not perfection.

I focus on helping people build small habits and stack them over time. With self-awareness and self-forgiveness, they’ll get where they want to be.

raw food

I’m all about making wellness feel doable—and even fun! Lasting change comes from consistency, yes, but also from understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing—not just following someone else’s rules. 💡

One of the most rewarding things is watching people celebrate small “wins” along the way—like drinking an extra glass of water. It doesn’t have to be a massive transformation overnight (although I’ve witnessed those too). 

When we listen to our inner wisdom instead of chasing quick dopamine hits, true progress can happen faster than we think.

I believe in everyone’s ability to overcome more than they believe they can. We all have powerful stories—and way more resilience than we realize.

How has moving from sunny southern California to freezing southern Iowa influenced your approach?

Um. A lot, haha. Going from sunny California, where fresh fruit is available year-round, to snowy Iowa winters has definitely been an adventure.

I also found myself temporarily without a kitchen (long story). 

But honestly, it’s made me a better teacher because now I really get the challenges my followers face.

It’s not that I haven’t been raw or vegan during cold winters before, but moving to a new place with unfamiliar produce, new stores, and different shipping options has impacted my routine in unexpected ways.

I’ve had to get super creative—finding local growers in the warmer months, tracking down small farm stands, asking locals where to buy the best fruit, and adjusting to what’s in season. 

It’s amazing what you can do when you have the right mindset. This move has proven that you can thrive anywhere—even if the conditions aren’t “perfect.”

And my mom’s cat? She’s loving all the extra indoor cuddle time during these chilly months! 🐱❄️

What are the common challenges people face when transitioning to raw food?

The biggest challenges usually aren’t about food at all! It’s more about dealing with family who think you’re crazy or missing the comfort foods from childhood. Trust me—I get it! That’s why I emphasize baby steps and celebrate small wins (while always staying open to the big ones too).

I encourage everyone to journal their journey—notice how different foods make you feel, track your energy, write down your wins. And hydration! 

Don’t even get me started on how life-changing proper hydration can be (I use the Mini Classic Countertop Pure Water distiller – and got my followers a 5% discount with code “ShariLikesFruit”). It’s about progress, not perfection.

How do you use social media to build community?

I’m mostly behind the scenes in my fruit and animal videos—the stars are the fruit and the animals! I sprinkle in some humor when I can, and I love responding to comments. If someone has a more in-depth question, I invite them to message me via my website.

I had the honor of working with one of my best friends in her group coaching program, which helped grow my community and gave me valuable feedback. It made me a better teacher, author, and creator.

I’m open and honest about my past struggles—and more importantly, about what others can overcome too.

I’ve supported two of my favorite raw food and plant-based influencers with their books, and they inspired me to write my own. 

That’s my current focus—finishing the bulk of writing before moving into my new home. 

For inspiration, I highly recommend following @RawIntuition (Matt Bennett) and @MsFitVegan (Jeannette Donofrio). 

Matt is a chef and author of 5-Star Salad Mastery, and Jeannette is also an author and runs the Woodstock Fruit Festival. They both teach people how to find the best fruit wherever they live – make the best salads that actually fill you up – and they inspire me everyday.

As for my animal channels, they’re pure joy. I love seeing people support one another in the comments. It’s like we’re all just hanging out, cheering each other on. 

Many subscribers have gone through the loss of a pet, and that inspired my current book series. I’ve been through that pain too. We lift each other up—it’s a real blessing.

What advice would you give someone exploring a more conscious lifestyle?

Start where you are—and be gentle with yourself. The key is to stay curious and have fun with it!

Track how you feel—energy, mood, sleep. Stay hydrated (seriously, it’s a game-changer!). And remember: every small step forward matters. If you need support, that’s why I created my books, social media, website, and guides. We’re all growing and glowing together, one day at a time. 🌱✨

I also have a resource directory on my site, and if people email me, I’ll personally recommend coaching, communities, or retreats that might fit their personality and goals.

I offer tons of free videos, resources, and blog posts—and as many people already know, if money’s a barrier, just message me and I’ll send you my ebooks for free. I’m beyond grateful to do what I love from home. And more than anything, I get to live in a bubble of kindness. It might sound cheesy, but as this community grows, so does the kindness in the world—and that’s something we all need more of.

Thank You, Shari!

We want to sincerely thank Shari for sharing her time, her story, and her wisdom with us. Her journey is a powerful reminder that healing is possible—at any stage, under any circumstances—when we lead with intention, self-compassion, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

From raw food to emotional resilience, from plant-based living to animal advocacy, Shari’s path is an inspiring example of how challenges can be transformed into purpose.

If you’ve been moved by her story and want to learn more, we encourage you to follow Shari on her platforms, where she continues to share free resources, practical tips, and heart-centered content for anyone interested in conscious wellness:

Follow along and join a growing community where kindness, nourishment, and mindful living go hand in hand.