We recently connected with Amanda Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I have always loved being in the kitchen. To me, it is almost like a stress reliever but that was always the case. You see, I grew up with A LOT of food allergies. I was around the age of 2 when my mother walked in the room and saw my lips turning blue, as a result of eating a bite of a waffle, covered in peanut butter, off of my sibling`s plate. From there, we discovered just how many foods I was allergic to, and the list seemed to grow as I got older. As a result, I couldn’t enjoy the foods that many seemed to loved. This affected my life in many ways but especially in social settings. I would often say no to outings for fear that I would have an allergic reactions. As I grew into adulthood, I outgrew some of my allergies, but the more severe ones stayed with me.

I have always had a love for the kitchen. Growing up, I was always in the kitchen helping my mom prepare for various guests and dinners. She also taught me different food substitutions so I wouldn’t feel too left out. As I went off to college and encountered new friends, I didn’t realize that so many shared in my struggle. I knew there had to be a better way…but how?? Even if I was successful in avoiding nuts, soy is in almost everything. I got tired. Tired of researching restaurants, their menus, and ingredient lists. Tired of turning down invitations. Tired of “enjoying” myself, only to end up miserable and having to take medication and flush my system. But, it wasn’t until I become more open about my dietary restrictions, that I realized there were so many others who had similar allergies and restrictions and were also struggling for alternatives.

My love for cooking, baking, and hosting others as a child (with my mom), carried over into adulthood. There were many times people would say things like, “You really should consider starting a business”, or, “You have a knack for making certain foods taste amazing”. But, I had never given it much thought as I had a career as a healthcare worker (a Speech-Language Pathologist), so why would I even consider doing something else? But, in 2016, after having my 2nd child, I decided to just go for it and that’s when Make it Mandy Catering, LLC was born. But I wanted people to know that this wasn’t just another business in the food industry. Make it Mandy specializes in serving those with dietary restrictions, by offering a variety of savory and sweet foods, while not sacrificing taste. These include items that can be made gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and plant-based.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Make it Mandy offers a variety of both savory and sweet dishes but, has recalled honed in, in serving those with dietary restrictions while not sacrificing taste. These include items that can be made gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and plant-based.

I believe I bring a unique skill set to the table as I can truly empathize with my clients. I know the feeling of having allergies, I know what it feels like to say no to the social outing in fear of having a severe reaction in public, I know what it’s like to have to walk around with an epipen and teach people how and when to use it. People can relate to my story and I most certainly can relate to theirs.

Nothing brings a smile to my face more than a parent reaching out to me, to make a special dish or dessert for their child and them not having to worry about a potential reaction from my food. I also love being challenged by my customers who bring their ideas and ask me to put my special spin on it.

This is why I do what I do!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

No man is an island.

Growing up in was extremely independent and kept to myself. If there was a problem, I was going to figure it out on my own.

Now in some instances, that is still the case, however owning and operating a business is something in didn’t go to school for. I am self taught, based on life experiences. There are certain aspects that come with a running a business that I had no clue about. I cannot operate alone. I had to learn to reach out to others, and through talking with others, we help each other grow.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

This is definitely an area that is still a work in progress for me.

I had managed to avoid having any social media accounts until after I started my business. And when I say after, I mean much after. I was talking a 9 week class, made for women in business, and the director came up to me and told me, “Amanda, it’s time” lol.

As a result of that class, I was introduced to Deanna, from Sassy girl media, now known as CarbonSilk and she had been a great resource in helping me grow my social media platforms. I have learned to become more comfortable in front of the camera and not just hiding behind my products. Ultimately, potential clients want to relate to a person and not just a product.

My advice I would offer someone she just starting out is to keep it simple, be authentic and be yourself. Don’t over think your post or aim for perfection. Social media is a place where everyone displays perfection but you’d be surprised at how effective being yourself can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.makeitmandy.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/makeitmandy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/makeitmandy
• Pinterest: @makeitmandy2016