Meet Brianna McClain | Content Creator / Self-Taught Plant-Based Chef / Nutrition & Wellness Coach

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

Hi Brianna, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Never in a million years did I think I would start my own business. From a very young age, I knew I would be successful in some way, shape, or form. I don’t mean having billions of dollars, but being someone to impact my community. As I worked in corporate America, I knew that my potential was much more than sitting behind a desk and feeling unfulfilled.

At 27, I walked away from a promising career with a Fortune 50 company because I knew I wasn’t living out my dream. Sure, the money and benefits were great, but the emptiness I felt from not truly embodying my purpose became too loud to ignore.

After leaving that company, I began working in a career field that offered much more flexibility in terms of work-life balance. I had truly never been happier, but still, I craved more. While working my 9-5, I would (and still) wake up early before work and stay up late after work to experiment with recipes, create content, and help others on their fitness journey.

Doing things to satisfy my creative side ignited a spark inside me, forcing me to go after my dreams. I started perfecting my recipes and am now on my way to offering plant-based catering and meal prep services. My catering services are geared towards those in holistic spaces hosting retreats, while my meal prep services are for those who want to either transition into a plant-based diet or need help sustaining a plant-based diet, especially busy moms.

I’ve watched my family, friends, and thousands of people on the internet fall in love with my recipes, which makes me feel like I’m doing something right for the collective. So, to answer your question, my thought process behind starting my own business is knowing my purpose and walking in it no matter how scary it seems. Some days I still ask myself, “What the heck are you thinking?! Your dreams are too big!” But I know that when I’m doing the work I was sent on this earth to do, nothing can stop me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Not only is my content creation art but so is my food. I put my heart, mind, and soul into both pieces of my work. Let’s start with content creation since that’s where it all began. I started taking content creation seriously about a year ago. I had a professional camera that was collecting dust and one day I decided enough was enough and that I needed to put it to use.

I’ve always been a creative person. I used to write books and poetry that I would store away on my computer. I also would dabble in photography and was big into videography for a while. So much so that I thought I was going to be traveling the world doing documentaries. Anyways, fast forward to 2023, I became very health conscious, changed my diet, and dropped over 60 pounds. I started pursuing my CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) certification and creating fitness content and then transitioned into a plant-based lifestyle and started showcasing my meals on social media.

The food content started to resonate with my audience, so I dedicated my time to developing tantalizing meals for people looking to transition into a plant-based diet.

Growing my Instagram platform was not easy at all, it was like adding another full-time job on top of the one I already had. My passion for creating is what kept me going. There were so many days when I would be exhausted, but I knew I had to be consistent and intentional with my work. I also had to look past the validation because whether I was getting 5 likes or 5,000 likes, I knew that this one piece of content was going to help at least one person along their plant-based journey.

Transitioning into a more health-conscious lifestyle led me to coach others which birthed my brand, Balanced by Bree! It began with 1:1 fitness coaching and then transitioned into providing plant-based coaching and meal services.

When I began my plant-based journey, I had no guidance on things that I should be cautious of or why my body might be experiencing certain changes. This is why I provide coaching to those who wish to transition but don’t know where to start. It can be hard and unsustainable if you don’t have the proper support, just like maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle. I am not a doctor and don’t provide medical advice, but I do help support those who need assistance during their journey!

My brand focuses on (but is not limited to) providing nutrition and wellness coaching to women, specifically mothers who have a busy schedule and feel like they don’t have time for themselves.

My meal prep services allow me to give them healthy options while taking something off of their plate, while my wellness services help them maintain a fit lifestyle from the comfort of their own home. I am a huge advocate for making fitness fun and finding ways to incorporate it into your daily routine.

Being a mother who went through post-partum depression, I understand what it is like to lose yourself while having to take care of another human. No woman should ever feel like she is alone after having kids, so this is my way of giving back to myself when I felt alone while being the support that someone else needs.

I’m most excited about expanding my meal services and providing nutritious, comforting whole foods that even non-plant-based eaters would be able to relate to. I love turning traditional southern cuisines into healthier meals without using tons of processed ingredients. Cooking allows me to bring out my creativity and share it with others. It is my art.

Getting my catering services off the ground has been a work in progress, but once again, it’s all about consistency and putting yourself out there. I spend hours, days, and weeks perfecting my recipes for everyone to enjoy. But it’s always worth it when I see someone enjoying something that I created.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would start at the Belt Line! I absolutely love going to the Belt Line and seeing all the different people and entertainment. From there we would grab our picnic blankets and chill out at Piedmont to enjoy what the park has to offer from jazz festivals to hot-air balloon shows. We would then grab a plant-based pie from the Plant-Based Pizzaria and make our way to Buckhead to have some plant-based Asian cuisine from PLANTA Queen. We have to add hiking at Kennesaw Mountain! I love being out in nature, especially during the Spring. I would then show them around Little 5 Points and have them meet the face reader by Crystal Blue to get a deeper understanding of who they are. After that maybe find some clothes at the Junkman’s Daughter for a night out. Speaking of going out, we would end a night at Divan Restaurant & Bar for some Mediterranean treats.

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?
I would have to give credit to my sonshine, my baby boy, Jayvion. He showed me that failure is not an option. This may sound cliche, but besides providing the very best life for him, I want to show him that his dreams are never too big. You just have to work to make them come true. I would also like to give credit to my amazing family. They’ve supported me on this journey to starting my own business while being a single mom. They have helped make this process so much easier. When you’re starting a business, it’s so important to have people that want to see you win in your corner.

Website: balancedbybree.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancedbybree_/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BalancedByBree

Image Credits
BJ the Photographer (Not including food photos)