Plant Sumo Interviews - lindsay moe

Lindsay Moe

The Live-in Kitchen

Lindsay Moe is the food photographer and recipe developer behind the vegetarian food blog The Live-In Kitchen. She has a passion for fresh, beautiful food that can be easily customized to meet your needs when it comes to feeding the ones you love. When she’s not in the kitchen, you can find Lindsay hanging out with her husband and kids, reading a book, or hiking in the bluffs of Wisconsin.

Company Profiles

What Is The Book (Or Books) You’ve Given Most As A Gift, And Why?

Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber. I had no idea what I was doing when I became a mother, but this book made getting babies to sleep easier each time I had one (and I read it every time I had another, four in total!). It's known for it's "cry it out" method, but if you follow the initial advice the kids never really end up crying. I've recommended it to everyone I know who's had a baby.

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

I got a pair of JBL wireless earbuds for Christmas and it's a total game changer! I've always attached earbuds to my phone when running, but these sound amazing and it's so freeing not to have a chord in the way.

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

Take some time off and do something fun. Breaking routine always helps me find a little clarity and start something different, new, or challenging.

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

You have to spend money to make money. While it can help get you there faster, you can still be successful by doing things yourself or being more frugal.

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

Blogging has changed so much in the last 5 years, and barely existed 10 years ago. I think it will continue to change in ways that we can't even fathom, but I do see a trend in it becoming more like corporate websites and television shows.

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

Taking mental photographs/videos. I have a notoriously terrible memory, but I've been trying to take little moments of beauty in my life and turn them into unforgettable moments in my life. Examples are my daughter running in the grass, the light coming through the trees onto the snow, or my family sitting around the table at Christmas dinner. It helps in the harder times to have these beautiful moments to reflect on.

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

I share easily customizable vegetarian and vegan recipes with people who are cooking for a variety of dietary restrictions. These people might be meat eaters who have never cooked a vegan meal, but want to be able to cook something for their daughter, or maybe their neighbor who eats gluten-free. My recipes make it easy to approach different dietary needs with base recipes that can fill the need. It has become a very open minded, friendly community where people feel safe exploring the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle.

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

How supportive everyone is of each other. No one is trying to hold back the secrets to success for themselves, it's just a very open community.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

A homemade breakfast bar. It's peanut butter, honey, crispy cereal, oatmeal, chia seeds, tons of nuts, and a few chocolate chips. They're the best!

How has Covid-19 changed your industry?

Food bloggers received so much more traffic to their websites in the early pandemic, but were getting paid far less for that traffic because of how other businesses were being affected. Overall I think it has caused us to pivot our content to fit a changing world but has solidified us as a necessary service for many.

What's your favourite colour?

Slate blue

What's your favourite vegan meal?

Buddha bowls. I could eat them every day. My favorite has roasted sweet potatoes, onions, broccoli, and spinach with bulgur and sriracha.

How Has A Failure, Or Apparent Failure, Set You Up For Later Success?

I had a failed business idea a few years ago that was really embarrassing because I had really put myself out there with some people I respected to try get the ball rolling. I don't regret it because it taught me that I can't be an expert in everything, and if I want to reach higher levels in business I'm going to need to hire people that are experts in the fields where I fall short.

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

Your career and overall life don't need to look like anyone's expectation. As long as you're happy and able to provide for yourself you're doing great.

What Careers Advice Would You Give To Your 21-Year Old Self?

Work hard now so you won't feel like you're trying to do it all once you have kids.

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

I always wanted to be the person in the Coast Guard who jumps in and saves people from the ocean. I would also love to be in more traditional media, editing film or creating special effects.

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

I've always admired my dad. He was an honest, hard working man who did what he needed to do to take care of his family and enjoy life.

What Is A 'Hack' You Have For Success That Most People Don't Know About?

Let go of any ego and just create what you want to create. If you're trying to fit someone else's idea of success you probably won't reach it, and if you do it won't feel how you expect it to

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

Quick keys. I use them for video editing and it shaves off SO much time.

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

Most Times by Shoos Off

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

Investing time into my business has really paid off. It can feel like nothing is happening day to day, but when you look back on growth over time it's really incredible.

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

I've been trying to come up with a new, creative way to create recipe videos. I've met a few road blocks to my ideas recently, so I'll need to keep getting creative!

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

Flexitarian, but mostly vegetarian with a lot of vegan thrown in, haha. I don't like labels!

What's your favourite vegetable?

Sweet potato

What are you NOT Very Good at?

Remembering. So I write everything down.

About the Author

Heather-PS

Heather Wilkinson is a globe-trotting content creator and PR enthusiast who’s finally put down roots in her native UK. When she isn’t working, you’ll find her pretending to care about Minecraft for her son’s sake, while secretly reading the latest Ace Atkins novel (or sleeping – her second favourite past-time).