Conversations with Chef Bre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chef Bre.

Hi Chef Bre, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is LaBira Thompson, also known as Chef Bre. I am a 30 years old self-taught celebrity Chef. I currently reside in Powder Springs, Ga. I was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I have always had a passion for plating and food ever since I was a little girl watching my grandmothers cook in the kitchen, but if I could be honest, it wasn’t really until my teenage years that I began to really grow to love cooking.

Faith & Fitness Meal Prep started in 2016 after being diagnosed with a chronic illness called lupus in May of 2011. Before being diagnosed with lupus, I struggled with my weight at a very young age. I was a student-athlete, but I still struggled so much with maintaining my weight and eating healthy. My senior year I was weighing in at 431lbs and newly diagnosed with lupus. I had no idea what I was going to do. I was up for a softball scholarship to a two years college, but not really sure where life would take me after getting this news. I got focused. Did some research. Talked to my new rheumatologist and I decided to take my life back.

I began working out and meal-prepping for myself to live a healthier lifestyle. My start weight was 431lbs wearing a size 28 in pants at age 17. Others began to see me cook and workout live and started asking did I meal prep for other people. I really didn’t, but hey it was worth a try.

I first started meal prepping for 1 or 2 people. I would do snacks and a few meals twice a week. Before you knew it what was a hobby became my passion! I fell in love with becoming a better me and helping others live a healthier life at an affordable price. From there Faith and Fitness started to spread like a wildfire, and so many people fell in love with my journey and the food. My goal was now to put the love and enjoyment back into living a healthy lifestyle. So every chance I got I made it fun. From workouts to new recipes. People fell in love with the results but most of all the experience.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all. After being diagnosed with lupus. I began to experience chronic pain in my joints so some days I couldn’t cook or work out. In 2018-2019 I had to close my business for a few months because I was dealing with chronic joint and hip pain to the point where I couldn’t stand for long periods at a time. I got so discouraged. I started to slip back into unhealthy eating habits and I completely lost focus. I had to wake up and remember my why.

In 2020 my business took an amazing turning point in the middle of the pandemic. I gained more clientele. So many clients that I had to turn away clients. I had gotten so busy one time that I would forget that I was booked and double book myself due to not having enough staff to help or an assistant. I had to sit down and go back to the drawing board. I was at the greatest place in my career but I was in over my head, and it was time for me to scale my business.

I experienced a decrease in clients because I had to increase my prices, but then I began to get more corporate contracts and we had a bigger problem on our hands. I had to hire a team. Here I was a 28 years old self-taught Chef that knew nothing about the business side of entrepreneurship. What I can say is that it was all worth it.

I knew that I couldn’t stop though. God had brought me to far to stop now. I wrote out my business plan, prayed over it and went to work. Now my business is doing better than it ever has before and I was able to quit my 9-5 job to do what I love full-time.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Many don’t know that I don’t just cook. I also work full-time in ministry as a worship leader, social media manager, graphics and design, and student ministry director at my church Excel Church. I am also a professional singer.

What also sets me apart from others is my style of cooking and who I am. God only created one me, some of us may have the same skill set but God has blessed all of us to do what we love to do all in a different way that inspires the world.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me most happy is cooking great food that brings families together. The joy of seeing families bond, laugh, love and enjoy each other is so beautiful to watch. One thing I love most about my parent’s home on a Sunday is when we are all home. We eat at the dinner table together. We laugh, talk and enjoy each other. I aspire to bring families back together one Chef Bre Experience at a time, not to just provide great food but to provide an unforgettable experience of love and joy.

What also brings me joy is helping others live a healthier lifestyles and reach their fitness goals.

Pricing:

• 5 meals are $100- Includes 1 protein 2 sides
• 8 meals are $120 -Includes 2 protein 2 sides
• 10 meals are $145 12 meals $190 -Includes 2 proteins 4 sides
• 15 meals $280- Includes 3 proteins 4 sides
• Delivery- Start Price $25

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faith_andfitness_mealprep/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/labria.thompson