When did you know that you wanted to work in food?
Some of my fondest memories are looking down my dining room table full of friends and family, eating, drinking, talking, laughing, & engaging. Food is connection. It's community. It is what keeps us together. It slows us down and allows us to be present with each other. It gives me great satisfaction to know that with the food I prepare, I can nourish not only bodies, but also hearts and souls. The food I source and cook is full of wholehearted, nourishing energy!
How did you get your current good food job?
The job I wanted didn't exist- so I created it! The drive to finally "go for it" emerged from my experience with a stomach ache that lasted more than 10 years. Over time, I came to the realization that the food I was eating was contributing to the condition, so I made a bold decision to return to school to study holistic nutrition. I met my business partner while in school and after graduation we began to develop our Ancestral Nutrition and Lifestyle Evolution programs. Not yet a "business", we were running the program in Boston at a global consulting firm when someone said, "I understand everything that you are saying- I get it. I earn a good salary and I work long hours and I just can't do this. Can you do it (cook) for me?" We said "yes" and WHOLEmade Meal Shares was born. I've been creating my job every day since!
How did your previous work or life experience prepare you for a good food job?
The combination of my work, education, and personal life has prepared me for the work I do now. I was employed in supply chain management/ logistics out of college which has had a huge impact on how my brain works - I am a person who gets stuff done! I am also a mom to two wild, amazing young boys. I know the impact of food on developing bodies and brains and I see it as my job to give them all the raw materials that they need to optimize their lives. Another incredibly important piece that I have come to realize is the tremendous power of lifestyle choices. While food is the foundation, making a choice to live a clean, healthy lifestyle each and every day is what keeps the house up!
What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in pursuing your Good Food Job dream?
The greatest obstacle in working in the Good Food industry is that the learning curve is so steep! Each step, every day is a giant learning process. I was home with babies for 10 years and missed out on a decade of technology and development, so everything about business, social media, marketing, and preparing food for large numbers of people was new to me. Owning a small business means that I not only plan weekly menus, source ingredients, cook meals, clean the kitchen, shop, pack and deliver the meals, but I also need to learn QuickBooks, marketing, sales, return phone calls, answer emails, AND most importantly be there for my boys at the end of each day. This incredible life has not been without some bumps and bruises, so I take the time to celebrate each tiny win! Like all of us, I have my hard days, but I haven't yet considered calling it quits. I have a lot of work to do in the world and some days are just tough. I can't give up! I work with an inspired group of people who are brave and willing to push boundaries. My partner and I work passionately with people and invest time in developing relationships with them because, very simply, we want them to succeed. This practice gives each of us the space to grow and expand, and it is more nourishment for our business. There have been plenty of tears along the way (and there will be more!) but we make sure that we fill the quiet moments with lots of laughter and love. As our tribe grows, our business will grow. My partner and I aim to employ people who can embody the ancestral lifestyle and we want to make a solid living. Food, teaching and cooking are not separate from my life - they ARE my life, and I live it proudly every single moment. There are days that I need an extra hug, a really big coffee, or a skinny dip in the cold ocean - but then I'm right back at it!
Name one positive thing that a former employer taught you that you continue to appreciate?
Without a doubt, the person I admire most is my business partner, Helen. She is absolutely brilliant! She is strong, driven and confident- she is not afraid. Her "all in", high-octane energy is palpable (and contagious!) Her impeccable attention to detail and talent for organization mixed with my creativity and positive spirit make us a dynamic, well-balanced team. I could not (and WOULD not) want to be on this wild journey without her! I truly believe there is no one else I could work side by side with better to challenge current paradigms. We both have an intense passion for "ancestralizing" 21st century lives in order to bring human beings back to a place of vibrant health.
What can you identify as the greatest opportunities in food right now?
Nutrient dense whole foods are the key to returning human bodies to a state of vibrant health! Fresh, unadulterated whole foods include plants, vegetables, roots, grass-fed pasture raised meats, wild game, poultry, eggs, wild-caught seafood, seasonal fruits, nuts and seeds. We must support the movement for local providers to supply us with unadulterated whole food choices and practice sustainable farming methods. We want people to take the opportunity to learn about hunting, fishing, and foraging. Get your hands dirty. Fill your lungs with fresh air. Get some sun on your bare skin. Try new, wild foods. See what you can find locally. There are many great opportunities in food right now - get involved, learn more, and support the people who produce good food and are willing to share their knowledge. Education about nutrition, cooking, and local, healthy food has the real power to change the world.
If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?
I would take time away with my boys in a timber frame cabin - big porch, stone fireplace, hot coffee and a lake, please!