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

Hi Shelbie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Simply put, I wanted to share the food I made with everyone and be apart of the food industry. I have always loved trying new food and cooking it. I’d see how happy I was, and the other patrons around me were at a restaurant. I’d also see how happy people were at gatherings when my mom would cook or holidays. I wanted the process of starting my business to represent my experience of trying a new dish or restaurant for the first time or as a returning customer always memorable. I wanted people to have the same smile on their face when trying my baked goods as all those people did years ago at parties and holidays when my mom and dad prepared homecooked meals. Honestly, my process behind starting my business came from a background that had good food, a lot of love, and new experiences for my tastebuds. With that, the next step was to incorporate healthy baked goods that still had all the flavor and sweetness. So many vegan baked goods are too dry, too bland, and just downright not enjoyable. I wanted people to know you can enjoy the sweet stuff in life without all the guilt. That also has a lot to do with me and being a person who is a huge advocate for eating healthy and exercising. Not to mention, I have an autoimmune disease and have had it for the past almost nine years and realized food is real medicine at the end of the day. Eating well is what not only changed my life but made it better. All of these things are the platform of Grub It Up LLC.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets me apart is that nobody is me, and I am nobody else. I think people need to realize it doesn’t matter if you cook, sew or build bbq pits not one person can do it the way you do because it’s you. What makes me unique is my brand and my products. My products are one of a kind, the baked goods are soft, delicious, addicting, entirely plant-based, and they melt in your mouth. I know you won’t find anyone else’s products out there that taste like mine unless I’m baking it. I got today where I am business-wise, by never thinking I knew too much. I live by this motto, “If you think you know everything, you don’t know a damn thing at all.” I am a sponge, and I am always learning and failing. Every day, I’m trying to study new vegan recipe ideas and business ideas. Whether it’s touching upon my digital marketing, reading a blog, or newsletter on entrepreneurship, I want to continue to become better. As a business owner, you have to continuously perfect your craft. No, it has not been easy, but very rewarding. Nothing in life worth having is just given away. You must always be willing to work for whatever it is you want at a relentless pace. I overcame the challenges by doing research, staying optimistic, looking for different routes to fix any problems because there is always more than one, and most important staying proactive, and not giving up. I’ve learned that there will always be roadblocks. Sometimes the roadblocks will be one after each step, but you have to move around those and continue to reach for your goals no matter what. If something matters to you will do anything to keep it going. Business will not always be going well, some weeks will be harder than others but those are the ones that mold you and make you get sharper and think more. I want the world to know Grub It Up LLC is here to stay, we’re always working on becoming better and making tasteful creations with you in mind. Grub It Up LLC, is a company for everyone. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, health-conscious, have a health condition, or just interested in seeing what plant-based is all about, we want to teach you, serve you and make sure your tastebuds walk away happy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first thing people normally want to do is eat and drink and that is my expertise. If it’s centered around wine more than likely I am there. If there is good food I’m just around the corner. I’m a person who loves being outdoors so I’d start with a great outdoor patio for bites and good wine. My first stop would be Postino Montrose! They are a wine cafe with a multitude of wine selections and delicious bruschetta boards. I can’t forget the amazing outdoor patio and the dog-friendly environment. My favorite wine and crafted cocktail bars would be a must for this trip one for each day for sure. My list goes as follows, Simone on Sunset, 13 Celcius, Boheme, Vino Vinyl, and Bacco, While I’m not vegan I enjoy eating plant-based a lot. I would have to stop by Veegos, Sunshine’s Vegetarian Deli & Health Food Store, Houston Sauce Pit, Verdine, and Korny Vibes for the H-Town vegan fix! I’me a sucker for Isteak, Italian and Latin food. For dinner, I’d say Steak 48, Mastros, Antica Osteria, Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino, Damian’s Cucina Italiana, Caracol, Hugo’s, and Xochi! For hangouts, again I love being outdoors so Memorial Park and Menil Park for a workout or picnic is up to my alley. Next would be MFAH and any outdoor festivals or vendor events so they can get a feel for the culture, history, and art scene in Houston. I’d end things with a drive-in Movie at Space City Drive-In or Roof Top Cinema!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The only two people who deserve a shoutout are my wonderful parents Anthony and Crystal Morgan. They have always been my biggest supporters from day one. They are my taste testers for new food items, they spread the word and the love around for my business and support me in so many other ways. I have only made it this far in life because I had a great foundation to instill a hard work ethic into me, my mom, and my dad. So I’m sending a super shoutout and all my love their way! To say the least, thank you guys so much!

Website: https://www.grubitup.org/
Instagram: grubitup
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbiemorgan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grubitupfoodie
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCax7SjVeEnnjMtMjIiAU28w?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
All photos are own and taken by me.

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