We're so excited to introduce you to Jasmine, the vegan food blogger and recipe developer behind @sweetsimplevegan and one of the co-creators behind our newest seasonal flavor: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie! Learn more about Jasmine below!

Tell us a little about you!

Hi everyone! I’m Jasmine, one half of the duo behind the popular blog and brand Sweet Simple Vegan. With my degree in Nutrition and my passion for cooking and all things vegan, I share delicious and approachable plant-based recipes weekly with a goal of helping people live more consciously. 

What inspired your creation of the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie flavor?

Oatmeal Raisin is not only such a nostalgic flavor from my childhood and brings back so many happy memories, but I’ve also always felt like it doesn’t get enough recognition compared to chocolate chip cookies. After posting my recipe for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies on our blog, I realized that I wasn’t alone and it quickly became one of the most popular recipes on our website to date. And turning it into a nut butter, I mean, who wouldn’t want an oatmeal raisin cookie flavor readily available to them anytime of day? 

What do you do for work? Tell us about your professional journey.

I create content and develop recipes for Sweet Simple Vegan full time with my partner Chris. I created my vegan food blog during college as a hobby and creative outlet. After college, I decided to take a year off of schooling to focus on my blog and take a little break from academics, and ended up blogging full time since.

How do you stay motivated?

Reminding myself of my why always re-motivates me to stay on track. I went vegan over a decade ago, and during that time, there weren’t many online resources or a community I could turn to. Starting SSV was not just a creative outlet for me, but also my way of being a resource for others that I didn’t have.  

Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in becoming an entrepreneur?

I’d say that we are our own biggest critics and getting passed self judgement is truly the hardest part about getting started. As cliche as it is to say, you really have to believe in yourself. “Fake it until you make it” shouldn’t be advice to follow because when you are truly confident in who you are and what you do, there’s no need to fake anything because you’ve already made it. 

What are your favorite ways to #spreadgood in your community?

We donate whatever we can to our local food bank and share all of our recipe creations with our neighbors, friends and family. Food is my love language and being able to share my passion with others is truly a gift! 

Who is one person who inspires you and why?

I know this is cheesy to say, but my partner Chris is my biggest inspiration. He approaches life with a positive outlook, always reminds me to take a step back and re-approach things in a different light, and truly teaches me something new every day. 

How do you work to stay centered and practice self-care in your busy day-to-day reality?

I lived most of my life putting others before myself because I felt that that was the right thing to do, but in reality, I neglected my own self care and that took a huge toll on my mental and physical health. I realized that taking care of myself first allows me to help others even better. Developing a consistent and calming morning routine has been my favorite self care practice because it sets up my day on a positive note and helps me approach the day in a better headspace.

What do you like to do for fun, when you aren't working?

When I’m not working, you can usually find me curled up on the couch with a hot matcha latte and a good book, playing with my chihuahuas, tending to my indoor jungle (I have a slight houseplant obsession and my collection has reached about 60+ plants now), or painting pet portraits for my friends and family. 

What are some of your favorite recipes with Ground Up? (Specifically, with the delicious flavor you created!)

Ooo, definitely our chocolate oatmeal raisin cookie nut butter cups! We brushed a cupcake liner with a thin layer melted chocolate, then added in our oatmeal raisin cookie nut butter, let that sit in the fridge, finished it off with more melted chocolate and chilled in the freezer for an hour. They’re the perfect treat!