Meredith is the founder of Lake & Oak Tea Co. - a superfood tea blend company that's fun to drink and benefit the body and mind. Founded in 2014 when Meredith was searching for a natural remedy for her anxiety and digestive troubles. We chatted with Meredith to talk about her inspiration for the business, typical day in the office, and self-care tips!
Tell Me About Yourself.
Hi, I’m Meredith! I’m a nutritionist, recipe-developer, cook, writer, and founder of Lake & Oak Tea Co. a wellness brand known for our delicious and functional Superfood Teas & Superfood Latte Blends.
What inspired you to start your business?
What does a typical day look like?
What problem did you want to solve with your business?
I want to help people feel good, and find their calm. This was the original reason I created our first tea blend - Ashwagandha + Chill - and it continues to be our “why” behind everything we put out into the world. My own mental health journey has inspired a huge passion for self-care, because I have experienced first-hand how impactful it can be.
How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
My anxiety hasn’t disappeared, but my toolbox of methods to manage it is always growing. I try to deal with stressful situations with self-compassion and patience, and remind myself it’s okay to feel uncomfortable and like sh** sometimes. When things are tough, I keep my schedule as open as possible, allowing myself plenty of time to unwind and practice in self-care. As an introvert and highly sensitive person I know I need that space (mentally).
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about food, self-care and mental health, and how that all ties together. Creating delicious and functional teas satisfies this love, as does cooking vibrant food, for friends and family or sharing on my food blog Earth & Oven.
What does self-care mean to you?
Self-care means having patience, appreciation and love for yourself (through good or bad), and having self-awareness to take part in practices that will support this. This may look different for everyone: journal writing feels like home to me, but for others may not spark that joy.
How do you implement self-care in your daily routine?
Mornings and evenings are my favourite times to practice self-care, because the rest of the day can go sideways! My morning ritual (journalling, tonics, making healthy food) helps frame my mind for the kind of day I’d like to have. In the evenings, it’s all about celebrating small wins, recuperating from a not-so-awesome day, or grounding myself from something overwhelming or exciting. This may look like creating a nourishing meal for my partner and I (I love pasta, curries and tacos) reading, or taking a botanical bubble bath.
Who or what inspires you the most?
Any self-care tips or advice?
Slow down, check-in with yourself and find what feels good for you. Everyone is wired differently, so don’t be discouraged if your self-care doesn’t look like the influencers on instagram. It doesn’t have to be glamorous or photogenic to be effective - some of my most satisfying self-care days are de-cluttering my pantry, writing out my worries on paper, or spending the evening tech-free.