Today we’d like to introduce you to Dainese LaVaugn.
Hi Dainese, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Honestly, if I can be honest, I feel like I am just getting started! The momentum is just starting to build. I spent 2020 and 2021 really just trying to get my name out there & the flowers are starting to bloom.
But, to give a little background, about 7 years ago I decided to embark on a plant-based journey, overnight. Yes! I went vegan, cold turkey. Or, as they say in the vegan world – Cold Tofurkey.
The lifestyle change impacted my overall health, my life, and my outlook on life so much, that I wanted to share the fruits of my transformation with everyone I knew! Veganism helped me stop drinking, it helped me lose weight, it helped me kick a drug addiction – it REALLY changed my entire life. Wholeheartedly. For this reason, I wanted to show people a different side of the foods they were (or weren’t) used to.
Back in 2016, I sold my first pot of vegan “Not Yo Mama’s Chili”, back in my hometown of Austin, TX. My dream was to sell vegan chili to the masses, at the Farmer’s Market. But that never happened because I let fear deter me from truly embarking on the journey. Thinking back, I underestimated the amount of hard work that needed to go into venturing out into entrepreneurship.
Fast forward to 2018/19, I moved to Dallas from Austin. Dallas changed the way I saw veganism. Dallas changed my perspective on how I could share my journey with veganism. But I’d started working at a nice corporate establishment & things were going really good, so I let comfort & fear stop me, yet again.
And then, the pandemic hit, followed by a slew of police-related killings, and life started to feel short. I knew I had to go for my dreams or bust! So, I started Mineral Eats in 2020, not because I can cook, but because I feel like I have the innate ability to transform vegetables into something intricately different & mind-blowingly delicious.
With Mineral Eats, I’ve been able to transform foods in a way that inspires people to think beyond what they think they know about food.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I am a firm believer in knowing that the final destination will include a few bumps along the way. To succeed you have to be vigilant in understanding that the journey is going to be what it is – buckle up, enjoy the ride & DON’T QUIT!
It’s going to hurt if you keep going. It’s going to hurt if you give up. Choose wisely.
For the first year, there was a cloud of doubt that overshadowed a lot of the work I was doing. I was seeking approval from my peers (that I never got). I couldn’t understand the lack of personal support from the people that I’ve known for years. And, I was actually living very ungratefully.
I’d also, never run a business. I had no idea what I was doing when I started. I was the business owner, the shipment warehouse, the head chef, the delivery person, the CPA, the everything. I was doing everything. Burnout was imminent & it happened, multiple times in the first year. I kept pushing past the burnout.
I am proud to say that this year, things have gotten easier now that I’ve learned a few things.
As you know, we’re big fans of Mineral Eats. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mineral Eats is a 100% plant-based catering company that provides a healthier food alternative for people, that provides a highly quantifiable return of investment by way of better health, happier feelings, high levers of energy, and an overall good experience.
Mineral Eats is known for her Famous Lemon Pepper Oyster Mushrooms, Smoked Out Jackfruit Nachos, and her Crispy AF Vegan Fish Blossoms (also known as vegan catfish) & Cajun Crab Cakes!
We specialize in all things plant-based! Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, Drunch, Snacks, Baked Goods, and more with consistent explosive flavors, that sets us apart from the rest.
We’re most proud of the way our curated creations make people feel after they eat them. Mineral Eat’s first ingredient is always positive energy! If the Head Chef is having a bad day – if the energy isn’t right, no food gets prepped. “If we’re not in a good mood, we can’t cook good food.”
We believe that cooking food for community is meant to be a healing energy transfer. It’s meant to be a blessing. We believe our food provides an emotional experience that surpasses long after the meal has been consumed. As a brand, we firmly believe in that.
What if you can’t get to Dallas to experience all that is Mineral Eats?? You can cook like us! Grab your copy of our digital cookbook, *Vegan Cold Tofurkey*. The cookbook meant to help you go vegan overnight – if you so choose. 50 Fool-Proof FLAVOR PACKED recipes that will change your life. It can be found on my website as soon as today!
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?
“The global plant-based food market is expected to reach 77.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. Further growth is expected. The forecast projects that by 2030 the market will have more than doubled. For 2022, the model expects a market worth 44.2 billion U.S. dollars.”
Beyond that, more and more people are taking note of the benefits of plant-based living. I believe the vegan meat industry is going to expand vastly. It already has in the last 7 years. It’s been amazing to see!
As the plant-based market continues to grow, I see the successes of other companies & home-based chefs & it lets me know what’s possible for me. All I have to do is keep evaluating my growth & doing what’s necessary to continue impacting the palate of the community!
In regard to my own personal brand – I think the saying is “Keep your plans & goals a secret to accelerate your success.” What I will say is, I have big plans for expansion, which will include a relocation.
I am ready for whatever God has in store for me as I continue with this journey!
Pricing:
- Meal Preps $100+
- Private Catering $ varies
- Brunch Boxes $50-60
- Pop-Ups $15-25
- Sunday Brunch $ varies
Contact Info:
- Email: plantedluxe@mineraleats.com
- Website: www.mineraleats.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mineraleats
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mineraleats
Image Credits
Dainese F
Mineral Eats
