Daily Inspiration: Meet Lauren Ferguson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Ferguson.

Hi Lauren, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey with SlimThick Vegan began long before I ever imagined starting a business. In fourth grade, my favorite teacher, Ms. Paul, had us write and publish our own books. My story was titled “The Labor Saving Juice Making Machine,” about a talking juice machine my mom invented that flooded our house with juice. My best friend and I ended up selling the extra juice like a lemonade stand. Years later, while launching my business, I found that book in storage, and it felt like everything had come full circle.

Wellness has always been personal for me. I grew up with asthma and allergies, and I spent years dancing and running track, which taught me early on how deeply food affects the body. During the pandemic, I committed to a thirty day juice and herbal fast to reset my health. That experience changed everything. After the cleanse, I began creating vegan meals, juices, and herbal blends for myself. Friends and family encouraged me to share what I was doing, and that is how SlimThick Vegan came to life.

The name SlimThick Vegan comes from wanting to reclaim a term that people often used to describe me. I wanted SlimThick to feel positive, inclusive, and connected to wellness rather than a body type. For me, being SlimThick is about becoming the healthiest and most confident version of yourself in your own way. My brand reflects that through plant based foods and wellness juices made with intention, fresh ingredients, vibrant combinations, and no added sugar. We offer meals such as our Need MO Gumbo with oyster mushrooms, okra, red onions and more or our juice blend Blush Bloom with hibiscus, fuji apple, strawberry and grapefruit that make healthy living enjoyable.

What started as something for my own healing has grown into something I now share with my community. We have sold out at multiple pop up events, and we currently host Sip and Eat Sundays, our weekly pickup experience where customers can grab meals, create their own meal prep combinations, and choose detox and juice pairings from our shared kitchen space.

As we continue to grow, my vision is to expand into retail, offer more wellness driven products, and eventually open a storefront focused on consistency, creativity, and accessibility for the community. I imagine a cozy space where SlimThick flavors, meals, and juices can be enjoyed regularly, and where once a month we host a special ticketed brunch or dinner experience to introduce new dishes.

SlimThick Vegan is the heart of my journey, and Slim and Juicy, our sister brand, adds a playful twist to our wellness creations. Together, they reflect my hope that people feel supported and inspired to become the best version of themselves at their own pace. My goal is not to push a specific lifestyle, but to offer options that make healthy living feel personal, joyful, and achievable for everyone.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has not been completely smooth, but I would not say it has been a struggle either. Entrepreneurship is a constant balance. In the food industry, especially, there are many moving parts. Finding the right events, the right audience, and even the right places to shop for ingredients can be challenging. As the economy shifted over the last few years, those challenges became even more noticeable, but we adjusted and made things work the best we could.

I also had a season where I needed to pause everything. I stepped away for most of 2024 because I needed to reset, breathe, and reconnect with the reason I started SlimThick Vegan in the first place. Health and wellness have always been a passion for me, and sometimes becoming the best version of yourself requires stopping, observing, and rebuilding your foundation before continuing. I think many entrepreneurs can relate to that. You grow, you meet people, you receive feedback, and slowly your vision can get cloudy as you try to meet every expectation around you.

Stepping back helped me return to my “why.” It helped me realign the business with my true vision instead of trying to match what others wanted to see. That reset brought clarity, purpose, and renewed excitement. We officially stepped back into operations in 2025 with a fresh mind, a stronger direction, and a deeper appreciation for what SlimThick Vegan is meant to be.

So no, the journey hasn’t been smooth, but it has been meaningful. It has been a learning experience, a rollercoaster, and ultimately a reminder that this brand is meant for greatness. Every pause, every adjustment, and every comeback has shaped SlimThick into something stronger and more intentional.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I consider myself a creative food specialist, especially within the vegan and plant based space. I never felt drawn to the titles of chef or cook because my business started as a creative outlet, not a culinary pursuit. I’ve always been an artsy person who paints, sings, and creates, and food became another form of art for me. Going vegan required me to think differently about flavor, texture, and ingredients, and that challenge opened the door to a whole new creative world.

What I’m most proud of is the wow factor behind our dishes. Whether someone tries our vegan gumbo or our plant based catfish, the reaction is always the same, surprise, curiosity, and disbelief that it isn’t meat. The moment someone pauses and asks, “Wait, what’s inside this again?” will always be my favorite part of what I do. Those reactions mean more to me than any small awards I’ve won at pop ups or events. Seeing people experience my creativity and enjoy it is the real accomplishment.

What truly sets SlimThick Vegan apart is the intention and love in everything we make. And while people say “cooked with love” often, this love is deeper for me. It’s rooted in my upbringing, in the memories of watching and learning from my mom, in the joy and curiosity that surrounded food in our home. Those moments shaped me, and now I get to share that same feeling with others. Our brand brings people a “feel good” experience, from the food itself to the conversations we have with customers. It’s nurturing, comforting, and personal.

At the heart of it all, I specialize in creativity, plant based flavor, and intentional wellness. And what makes me most proud is knowing that people can taste the care, the joy, and the purpose behind what we create.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I feel like I have taken risks. Going into business is a risk in itself because you are putting all of your energy, effort, money, mental focus, and spiritual investment into something you truly believe in. That has been my biggest risk, and while it has brought challenges, especially financially, I do not regret any of it. Those risks have taught me more than anything about how to keep things afloat. Honestly, the biggest risk was simply starting, and I continue to take risks every day as I keep pushing my business forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.slimthickveganatl.com
• Instagram: slimthickveganatl

Image Credits
Linda McGee Williams (my mom)