Meet Ashlee | Attorney, Vegan Chef, and CEO of Naked Soul Cooking

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

Hi Ashlee L., maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always been fairly health-conscious; I watched as my extended family was plagued by nutrition-related illnesses and I myself was diagnosed with high cholesterol as a child because my diet consisted of fried southern foods and fast foods. I’m convinced I’m still traumatized from it; after having my son, I was even more conscious of making healthy choices.

About four years ago, my (then) 10-year-old son approached me saying he wanted to be a vegetarian “to be his healthiest, strongest self.” I didn’t know it at the time, but this request stemmed from him being teased/bullied about his weight at school; he was at that in-between phase before a major growth spurt hit, so he was a little pudgy. Even though I was horrified at the thought of giving up some of our favorite foods, I indulged him and I stepped my cooking game all the way up. It was also a therapeutic bonus, as I desperately needed a change from my hectic life as a practicing attorney. Cooking is a huge part of my being and my family’s culture. At the knees of my grandmother, mother, and father, I developed a knack for making everything from scratch and as flavorful as possible.

So, I got to work: I researched which fruits, veggies, beans, etc. were going to meet our nutritional needs; figured out how to duplicate textures and tastes; and meticulously made each meal from scratch. Sometimes, the meals were a hit; and sometimes he sent me back to the drawing board. Soon, we had a variety of healthy vegan dish options that taste just as amazing as our favorite carnivorous dishes – Jamaican patties, tacos, ribs, chicken breasts, chicken and waffles.

As I shared my recreations with my family, my sister suggested that I either start selling food or selling recipes. My first thought was “absolutely not; how do I make such a drastic career change and be taken seriously?” She gave me the final push I needed by initiating a crowdfunding campaign and started to get the word out. I slowly came around – and Naked Soul Cooking was born.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Naked Soul Cooking is different from other vegan soul food brands in that most of our recipes are gluten-free, soy-free, beginner and budget-friendly, with very few specialized “vegan” ingredients and best of all: picky-eater approved. Are we literally doing this naked? If you want to fully embrace a holistic natural lifestyle and prepare your foods and tinctures in the nude – I won’t ever be one to judge. But for our brand, it’s the recipes that are Naked – food and remedies have been stripped down to their most powerful base without preservatives, additives, etc. to feed your own mind, body and spirit.

I’m most proud of our community and the fact that we just released our first published hard copy cookbook. Naked Soul Cooking was built from one of the lowest points in my life, but it was always my intention to produce a book – even though I had no idea how to go about it, where the capital was going to come from, or how to get it to the masses. But the Naked Soul Cooking community of Soulmies has literally built itself. I’m very transparent about my own mental health challenges and how making certain dietary and other lifestyle changes has helped in managing those challenging moments. That transparency opened the door of trust between me and the Soulmies; there are so many people – especially in disenfranchised communities – who are struggling and have reached out to me saying “thank you for this” “you saved me this morning.” I let that guide me in making decisions about what I’m going to put forth next. That’s why we’ve expanded our brand to offer cookbooks, cooking classes, and 1-on-1 coaching to help us maximize our reach. Blood, sweat, tears, and meltdowns happen, but those messages help me stay aligned with our mission to promote whole body wellness – physically, emotionally, and mentally – while encouraging mindful eating through the regular and daily consumption of nutrition-dense foods.

What I want the world to know about Naked Soul Cooking is that we’re not just about the food and the recipes. Yes, that’s what we lead with – because food is a love language to which everyone can relate – but we truly want to educate as many people as possible on how nutrition is able to reverse so many maladies that plague us.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For me, the best time consists of the arts, delicious food, amazing ambiance, and great company. For a day immersed in the arts, we’d start off grabbing a bite to eat at Tassili’s Raw, then take a trip to Zucot Gallery. Later, we’d take a stroll through Centennial Park and mellow out at Fellaship for the rest of the evening. For a day we’re feeling a bit more lit, we’d snag some burgers at Slutty Vegan, pop over to the Trap Museum, then kick it at Boogalou. Of course, rooftop bars are always on deck, so a trip to SkyLounge would definitely be on the agenda as well. And on the way out of town, a stop at Lov’n It Live to load up for his/her/their flight back home!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Hands down my family – but especially sister and my son! Without Isaiah (referred to interchangeably as Picky Eater and The Dopest Nerd amongst the Naked Soul Cooking community), advocating for himself and his own health goals, I never would have considered a whole food, plant-based food lifestyle. He was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at two years old and (due to sensory sensitivities) is a notoriously Picky Eater; he has not only challenged me to create a healthier food lifestyle for us, but has also ensured that I do it lovingly and from a place of authenticity. It’s cool to follow food “trends,’ but he keeps me aligned with the goal to be our best selves.

There is a 13 year age difference between me and my sister; DelShaun has been my manager and biggest cheerleader since the day I was born. She knew how unhappy I was in my career and could see I was floundering in trying to find the “right” pivot; she gave me the push I needed to start this brand. On the days I didn’t believe in myself, DelShaun was there with enough faith to fill a stadium.

My parents have laid a phenomenal foundation – even when they don’t understand my choices, they always make it known that all they want is to see me happy. That kind of love and support takes me farther than I can ever adquately express.
Furthermore, I do everything in honor of my late grandmother Lucille. I carry her in every physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual move I make.

I have an amazing group of friends-turned-family I call my dream team; they root me on and support every move I make. I don’t take their time, energy, or love for granted in the slightest bit.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out my Soulmies – the Naked Soul Cooking homies! We’re all walking this wellness path together; but their thirst for knowledge, their encouragement, and their continued support is the heartbeat of my brand and what keeps it alive.

Website: www.nakedsoulcooking.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nakedsoulcooking

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nakedsoulcooking

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