We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Dreyer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote is by Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” It’s what inspired me to lead a vegan lifestyle, which ultimately led to the launch of my business. It’s what fuels my daily motivation to make the world a better place and give back. If I can leave this world a little better than I found it (and raise children who do the same), I will consider my life a success.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Batch Cooking Club is my weekly, meal prep membership that makes meal time easier. I believe that feeding your family healthy, homemade meals should be joyful, not stressful. As a plant-based meal planning expert, I wish I could wave my magic wand and make sure every child in the world has access to an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables daily—and enjoyed eating them! My membership is one of the ways I aim to help families do this. My membership is unique from others in several ways. First, we’re plant-based which gives people an opportunity to add more meatless meals into their weekly menus. Even if you’re not 100% vegan, we all need to eat more vegetables! Our approach to meal prep is different than other plans in that we organize our weekly prep around a simple formula that helps you make 5 ingredients ahead of time on the weekend, (a salad dressing and / or sauce, a marinated protein and / or filling, a snack, and / or a soup or casserole), that you can then use to make meals quickly later in the week. We give people a flexible plan and set of recipes that they can incorporate to their lifestyle and weekly menu however it works best for them. Creating and launching Batch Cooking Club in January was one of the most challenging things I’ve done so far in my career, (and I used to run an advertising agency)! Running the business continues to have challenges and opportunities that require daily dedication and commitment. It’s never easy but it’s always worth it, knowing that I’m helping others not only eat healthier and simplify their lives, but also creating opportunities to connect with loved ones over food. I overcome challenges by staying focused on my mission and using that to guide the opportunities I pursue to grow the business. I’ve learned that simplest is best, and that the best way to grow is by sharing my story and how batch cooking works for my family on a day-to-day basis. At the end of the day, I do what I do because the benefits of preparing daily, homemade meals are life-changing—not only in your health and wellbeing but also in the relationships and connections between everyone in your household. Sitting down to a home-cooked meal together at the end of the day sets you up to communicate and bond—all over tasty, healthy food! Making and sharing a meal together shows your family that you prioritize nutrition, self-care—and time with them. In that time around the table, I get to hear about my kids’ days, celebrate their highs (and sympathize with their lows), troubleshoot their worries and enjoy their company. At dinnertime, we slow down and connect in a way that’s not possible during the rest of the day. I cherish it more than anything and if I can help other families cherish and prioritize it in their lives through Batch Cooking Club, I consider that success.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I consider myself very lucky to live in Los Angeles, a mecca for great plant-based food. There are so many delicious spots, but I live in the South Bay so I’d like to shoutout a few of my beach area faves. Happy Veggie makes the best pho I’ve ever eaten and The Grain Cafe has a great menu, but I love their macro bowls. Both are in Redondo Beach. When it comes to vegan sushi and ramen, Rice in Manhattan Beach is incredible.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people who have been a part of my journey. I want to shoutout them all: To Spork Foods for changing my life with their cooking classes and inspiring me to pursue my love of vegan cooking. To Leslie Durso for always being a friend and champion on my journey. To The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone for educating me and inspiring me to go vegan. To Michelle Cehn and World of Vegan for welcoming me into her community and allowing me to contribute to it so generously.

Website: batchcookingclub.com
Instagram: @veegmama and @batchcookingclub
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veegmama/
Twitter: @veegmama
Facebook: @veegmama and @batchcookingclub
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrToDMzePOLpksnhDc7hTig