Plant Sumo Interviews – Candice Hutchings

Candice Hutchings

The Edgy Veg

Candice Hutchings, the face of “The Edgy Veg”, is on a journey to revolutionize how we think about food, eco-conscious living, and feminism. She is the author of “The Edgy Veg: 138 Carnivore-Approved Vegan Recipes”, a delicious cookbook that delivers vegan recipes with attitude and comedy. Edgy by nature, Candice uses her YouTube channel, food blog, and Instagram pages to disrupt the vegan community with her candid and humorous take on activism not only for animals and food built differently, but also for mental health, the environment, and female empowerment.

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What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why?

The most common book I gift to people is “A is for Activist”. It teaches children compassion for others.

When You Feel Overwhelmed Or Unfocused Or Have Lost Your Focus Temporarily, What Do You Do?

If I can’t focus on work, I’ll typically take my dogs for a walk and get some fresh air.

In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?

Going to bed early.

If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — what would it say and why?

Probably the same thing that made me vegan. It’s a poster that says “why to love one and eat the other” with a photo of a dog on one side and a pig on the other.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

My previous marriage. I am much happier now.

What is the most significant thing that someone much younger than yourself has taught you?

Stop caring so much about what other people think. Gen Z is really good at that.

Tell us about your business. What does it do and what value do you add?

We disrupt the traditional vegan narrative and offer more fun and approachable way of living and advocating a vegan lifestyle.

Where do you see your industry in the next 5 years?

Growing and I see a lot more vegetable-forward foods. The encouragement of reducing animal consumption is more than “vegan purity”. Also pushing lab-grown meat and dairy options.

What is a ‘hack’ you have for success that most people don’t know about?

Block scheduling your to-do list and calendar, putting a specific time for each task.

What one song can you listen to every day non-stop?

La vie en rose by Edith Piaf

How has Covid-19 changed your industry?

My industry exists online already, it lead to changing cooking from an experimental thing to a necessity for the general public.

What’s your favorite color?

Pink

What popular celebrity do you admire the most and why?

Woody Harrelson because he was the first popular vegan and took on this lifestyle “before it was cool”.

What’s something exciting you’re currently working on/learning that only a few people know about?

Learning to adapt my home to a dog with disabilities

Are you a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or something else entirely?

Vegan

What’s your star sign?

Taurus

What Purchase Of $100 Or Less Has Most Positively Impacted Your Life In The Last Six Months?

Tofutti press, pushes the liquid out of tofu for restaurant quality meals, from amazon.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?

Eating essential oils. No one should do this but I hear it a lot in the vegan community.

What’s your favorite vegan meal?

Lasagna. Recipe!

What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?

My emergency fund. Having money for yourself is very important, particularly for women.

When did you first become a rebel?

I quit my corporate job to be a full-time blogger when people were really not doing that.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?

I would tell them to ignore advice that you get from an aging generation. The world changes too quickly for their advice to apply to you.

What career advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?

Stop trying to be the chef you think people want to see and be the chef that you’d want to see.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Costume and prop styling and set design for films.

Tell us about someone you admire and why you admire them?

I admire Emmeline Pankhurst because she was an original suffragette in 1919 and fought ruthlessly for women’s rights.

What is a useful skill someone could learn in one minute?

How to take a good photo on an iPhone!

What is the most surprising thing you’ve seen in your industry?

Racism and sexism. Vegans are meant to be compassionate for all.

How has Covid-19 changed your company?

I lost income from in-person events but because everyone is online I have been able to connect with my audience more personally.

What’s your favorite holiday destination?

Tel Aviv Israel

What one thing in life do you consider to be overrated?

Smoothie bowls

What’s your favorite vegetable?

Cauliflower

What are you NOT Very Good at?

Time management

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Coffee and tofu scramble