Hulda Hoehn Crooks (1896–1997) was one of 18 children born on the frontier along the White Sand River in what is known today as Canada’s province of Saskatchewan. Her family home was built of logs and sod. As well as a humble beginning, her upbringing also proved to be a rather unhealthy one. By the time she reached the age of 16 with a diet composed primarily of meat and candy, she weighed 160 pounds and was soon feeling the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle. By the time of her death 85 years later, she would be known as one of the world’s healthiest and fittest individuals.
Just before turning 18 years old, she made several major life-altering decisions. She left her farm home for California, and became a member of the Seventh-Day Adventists. Her religious choice proved to have more than spiritual benefits. She adopted a common diet practiced by many Adventists called lacto-ovo vegetarianism. This diet consists primarily of plant-based foods, eggs, and dairy products, but no meats.
