Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyana Begret See.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Lyana Begret See, also known as Healthy Mood SF on Instagram! I’m a foodie turned full-time content creator and recipe developer. I’m also a wife to my best friend Brandon and mama of two beautiful girls Aysha (9) and Safiya (7). My journey into social media content creation first began when I found my new home in the states and moved to San Francisco 14 1/2 years ago.
On March 10th, 2016 I started an Instagram account under the handle @healthymoodsf. It was a time before Instagram Stories, Highlights, ‘Swipe Ups’ or even Ads for that matter – crazy, right? After having my girls and becoming a mother, I was determined to begin a regular exercise routine and eat healthy to be the best and happiest version of myself that I could be for me and my kids. I made it my goal to be a role model for them – to show how to live a happy life free of unhealthy eating habits and body image insecurities, which we all know are so prevalent, especially in the lives of young girls today.
Once I found that motivation to change my lifestyle for the better, I fell in love with documenting and taking pictures of the food creations I was making. It was amazing to look back and see the progress I had made learning in the kitchen, learning what made my body feel good and how it positively affected my overall happiness and mindset.
Knowing how good I felt, I finally started sharing my content on my Instagram hoping that my ideas and easy recipes would inspire someone else to find the joy in eating and living a healthy lifestyle. Fast forward to the present day and I could not have dreamed up what this passion project of mine has turned into. I’ve worked with some of my favorite brands in the Health & Wellness space, made longtime friends (both in-person and virtually), and have been able to cultivate and grow a community that inspires me every day to do and create what I love. To think this all started with Aysha and Safiya in mind, rooted in love, just makes every milestone in my career that much sweeter.
It has been so fun to challenge myself to make recipes combining simple, nourishing ingredients into a collection of vibrant flavors that keep your tastebuds satisfied! I think it is so important to realize that you CAN enjoy a variety of flavors and really love the food you eat all while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. My recipes always keep mealtimes fun and tasty without having to take shortcuts with takeout meals to mix things up. Pro Tip: Love the food you make! On the Healthy Mood SF Instagram, Pinterest, and Blog you can expect to find exciting new meals that give you the confidence in your ability to change your lifestyle, starting in the kitchen.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, in any career there are ups and downs along the way. Navigating an industry as new as social media has definitely come with a learning curve but I always tell myself that things are going to get better and easier as I learn and grow, and so far they always have.
Being an “Influencer” is a relatively new career that not many people understand all sides of. There is the business side of building your platform – marketing, partnerships, etc. and there is the personal side which always comes first for me – my community and what I stand for. Marrying the two sides has been challenging at times but also the most rewarding. I pride myself on only working with brands that I trust and genuinely stand behind because at the end of the day, people will always gravitate towards authenticity and honesty.
I was able to turn my passion into a profession and make a living out of it while inspiring others to live a healthier life. There is no better feeling than knowing that you can not only positively influence someone’s life, but be a friend to them along the way thanks to the positive power of social media.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I wear a lot of hats when it comes to Healthy Mood SF – full-time recipe developer, content creator, videographer, photographer, editor, and artist. When I’m not creating new and fresh recipe content and step by step videos, I am working to expand my amazing Healthy Mood SF community!
You can find me on Pinterest @healthymoodsf where I share quick, digestible content that can be easily pinned and saved for later. On Instagram @healthymoodsf I share my everyday life, where I’m eating, what I’m buying and what me and my family are doing as well as all recipe content! BUT my newest way for you to get all things Healthy Mood SF is on my Blog and by joining my newsletter. My Blog at HealthyMoodSF.com now serves as a permanent recipe catalog that’s super organized and easy to navigate whether you’re looking for dinner party recipes or quick breakfast inspiration for your kids! There, you can also sign up for my newsletter where I share exclusive recipes, monthly favorites, giveaways and more.
My main goal with expanding HMSF onto these different platforms is to give my community different ways to access easy, simple and healthy recipes in any way that’s most convenient for them.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In both the social media and food industry, the only constant is change. It can be hard to know what will happen next.
When it comes to how people make their food choices, I expect people to keep accelerating the trend of using social media to find inspiration for a healthy lifestyle, and I hope I can be a part of their journey! On the health side of things, I expect (and hope) that the trend of being more aware of exactly what we put into our bodies continues. For example, reading the ingredients label and making sure you understand what’s in the food you’re buying. As a result of this, it looks like gluten-free diets are becoming more popular and more plant-based options hitting the shelves everyday.
I also hope that in moving towards these trends of being more aware of what we are being sold, we incorporate our kids into our learning and teach them that healthy food is fun and having this knowledge is important. My kids are my taste testers and my biggest critics – I highly encourage getting the whole family involved!
Contact Info:
- Email: Healthymoodsf@gmail.com
- Website: Healthymoodsf.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Healthymoodsf
- Facebook: Healthymoodsf
Image Credits
Lyana Begret See
