Tia Robinson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Tia, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I would say integrity is the most important to me. The reason is that integrity directly shapes the type of energy a person carries. When someone is operating from a place of honesty and authenticity, their energy tends to be genuine and uplifting. On the other hand, if someone lacks integrity, the energy they bring into a space can feel disingenuous and even harmful to those around them.
I also believe that intelligence is relative—what one person sees as brilliance, another may see differently, and it can grow or change over time. But integrity is a constant. It’s the foundation that guides how you use your intelligence and where you channel your energy. To me, if integrity is in place, the other two naturally align in a positive and productive way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tia Robinson, and I’m the owner of Houston’s Kravee Meal Prep. Kravee began in 2018 with a very personal inspiration. At the time, I was focusing on creating delicious keto meals after a chance encounter in a grocery store checkout line. I struck up a conversation with a woman who shared how the keto lifestyle had not only transformed her health, but even made her diabetes almost undetectable and helped her manage high blood pressure. Hearing her story made me immediately think of my father, who had battled diabetes and had recently passed from stomach cancer. That moment planted a seed. I couldn’t help but wonder—if he had access to this type of nutrition, could it have made a difference for him?
From there, I began planning, and soon Kravee Meal Prep was born—a way for people in my community to enjoy food that is not only flavorful but also functional for their health and lifestyle goals.
What makes Kravee truly special, however, is how it has grown beyond meal prep. In 2021, I was blessed with an opportunity through the Urban Enrichment Institute in Houston’s 5th Ward to teach young men the art of cooking. What started as teaching recipes and culinary skills quickly became so much more. In the classroom, I discovered my passion for pouring into these boys—not just as a culinary instructor, but as a nurturer, mentor, and role model. Through cooking, I get to help them build confidence, leadership skills, and self-expression. It has opened up parts of myself that I didn’t even know needed opening.
While I’m slowly transitioning away from Tastee Tee’s Treats, my heart is set on growing Kravee into something greater. My dream is to one day launch a Kravee Academy, where I can expand on this vision of food, community, and education, and continue to inspire healthier lifestyles and stronger futures.
Alongside this, I also curated Crowned Girls HTX, a social women’s group that’s all about “fixing each other’s crowns.” It began in 2022 with a close circle of friends where I hosted and curated girls’ bonding events, but in 2025 I expanded it into a Facebook group to reach and connect with even more women. What started as intimate gatherings has grown into a community filled with sisterhood, laughter, and support.
I like to say I’m a renaissance woman who wears many hats—entrepreneur, teacher, mentor, and community builder—and each role I step into allows me to pour into others while continuing to grow myself.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My grandmother—who many would have simply called a country woman from Tarry, Arkansas—saw me clearly long before I could fully see myself. She was a woman of deep faith and intuition, and so much of what she poured into me years ago I am only now realizing were seeds being planted.
She taught me to walk by faith and not by sight, and to protect the light within me because while people may be drawn to it, not everyone’s intentions would be pure. She reminded me never to look down on others based on what the world says they should be or look like, but instead to always see their heart. She also taught me to pray before making decisions and to recognize that chaos is not of God. Today, I carry her wisdom with me—if something feels unsettling or chaotic, I know to step back, because every time I ignore that, it leads to problems. Her voice is still a guiding force in how I live and lead.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain after experiencing two of the greatest losses of my life—when my grandmother passed in September 2015, followed by my father in March 2016 after a sudden cancer diagnosis. My heart was shattered, but on the outside I kept smiling, showing up, and being the same Tia that people expected me to be, even though inside I was no longer that person.
Eventually, I realized I couldn’t keep carrying it that way. I had to refocus that pain into power and commit to a healing journey. In 2018, I devoted myself to reinventing who I was internally—I sought counseling, worked on my mental health, and found clarity. That clarity gave me the space to create again, and from that season of healing, Keto Kravee—now known as Kravee Meal Prep, Catering & Desserts—was born. What started as pain became purpose.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—the public version of me is real, but it’s not the whole me. What people see publicly—my businesses, my teaching, my events—is all genuinely who I am. I’m passionate, nurturing, creative, and committed to serving others. And beyond that, I bring my sometimes unfiltered humor and sarcasm, my willingness to fight for what’s right even when others won’t, and my giving heart—even when that giving isn’t always reciprocated.
Over time I’ve learned that authenticity doesn’t mean giving everyone access to every piece of you; it means showing up as your true self wherever you are, without pretending to be someone you’re not. The public version of me is absolutely authentic—it’s just curated with boundaries so that I can continue to pour into others without losing myself
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes—I already do this. I’m led by passion, not by praise. Does it feel good to hear ‘job well done’ or ‘I’m proud of you’? Absolutely. Praise can be a motivator—it reassures you that you’re on the right path and sometimes pushes you to grind even harder. But I’ve also learned that too much praise, or praise that feels disingenuous, can actually be detrimental to self-growth.
That’s why I’ve trained myself to function without the ovation. If you’re only fueled by recognition, you risk losing sight of the purpose and falling into mediocrity or selfish agendas. For me, giving my best will always be about passion, purpose, and integrity—not performance for applause.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kraveemealprep.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kraveemealprep
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KraveeMealPrep
