Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmen Lam.
Hi Carmen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a food and wellness content creator and visual storyteller—and the amazing thing is, I never planned or intended for it to become what it is today. It simply unraveled and fell into place in the most beautiful way.
My passion for food began when I was a teenager. My mom and I loved watching the Food Network together, and we would spend time in our kitchen trying to recreate the dishes we saw on television. I would even pretend I was on camera while cooking, talking to an imaginary audience as I prepared food in our humble kitchen. Looking back, I realize I was already discovering my love for food, storytelling, and being behind the camera long before I knew where those passions would take me.
That fascination with food eventually led me to culinary school, which I attended immediately after graduating high school. At the time, I had a dream of one day being on the Food Network. Culinary school not only taught me exceptional cooking skills and techniques, but it also completely changed the way I viewed food.
I learned that food is about so much more than simply creating something that tastes good. It is an art form. It’s the way a dish is presented, the balance of colors and textures, the combination of flavors and ingredients, and the thoughtful details that come together to create something truly beautiful. We eat with our eyes first.
After earning my associate degree in Culinary Arts, I decided to continue my education in Mass Media Communication with a concentration in Multimedia Journalism. That’s where I discovered another passion that would ultimately shape my career: visual storytelling.
I fell in love with photography, videography, and the ability to tell a story through visuals. I began seeing food not only as something to prepare and enjoy, but as something that could be photographed, filmed, shared, and used to inspire others.
That passion eventually led me to create The Healthy Beet, a digital platform dedicated to discovering and promoting healthy restaurants, cafés, and wellness-focused businesses across Texas.
Through The Healthy Beet, I embarked on a journey to discover as many healthy and inspiring places as I could. I partnered with businesses to create visual content that showcased what made them unique while sharing their stories across social media. My goal was to make healthy food look just as exciting, beautiful, and indulgent as anything else—because eating well shouldn’t feel boring or restrictive.
I wanted my content to make people stop scrolling, appreciate the beauty of a dish, and think, “I want to try that.” If a photograph or video could inspire someone to discover a new restaurant, try a new ingredient, or make a healthier choice, then I knew the story had done its job.
And that’s what brings me to today.
I continue to explore healthy restaurants and cafés, collaborate with businesses, and create visual content that celebrates food, wellness, and the stories behind them. What started as a teenage girl pretending to host her own cooking show in her kitchen has evolved into a genuine passion for food, wellness, creativity, and visual storytelling.
I never set out to create this career. Somehow, each passion simply led me to the next—and looking back, every step was preparing me for exactly where I am today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It most definitely has not been a smooth road. Like most things worth pursuing, it has taken a lot of hard work, patience, and perseverance to get to where I am today.
A lot of my biggest struggles have actually stemmed from self-doubt. There were plenty of moments when I questioned whether my vision was good enough or whether people would even be interested in the content I was creating. I also encountered people along the way who told me I was wasting my time simply because they didn’t see or understand my vision.
But I learned an incredibly important lesson: you can’t let other people dictate the direction of your life.
We all have different dreams, goals, and aspirations, and just because someone else doesn’t understand your vision doesn’t mean it isn’t worth pursuing. Sometimes, you have to believe in your dream before anyone else can see it.
Of course, I’ve experienced plenty of rejection along the way. But I chose to persevere. Every “yes” I received reminded me why I started and motivated me to keep going. Those moments of encouragement, no matter how big or small, helped me push through the times when I questioned myself.
At the end of the day, I genuinely love what I do—and that’s what keeps me going.
My biggest piece of advice is simple: do what brings you joy. Believe in your vision, even when other people don’t understand it yet. If something truly makes you happy and fulfills you, don’t be afraid to pursue it. You never know where that passion might lead you.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a freelance food and wellness content creator and multimedia journalist who specializes in creating visually aesthetic and engaging content. I’m known for highlighting and promoting cute, vibrant, and health-conscious restaurants and cafés across Texas and helping bring their unique experiences to life through photography, videography, and social media storytelling.
I’m incredibly proud of the digital platform I’ve created from the ground up and of watching it transform and evolve with every experience I’ve had along the way. It has been so rewarding to see how my creativity, skills, and vision have grown alongside the platform.
One thing that has been especially important to me is staying current with the ever-changing social media landscape. Social media is constantly evolving, and so am I. I’m always paying attention to new trends, styles, and ways people are consuming content. Right now, simplicity is especially popular—keeping content clean, natural, and visually appealing rather than overly produced. I enjoy adapting my creative approach while still maintaining my own aesthetic and voice.
What sets me apart is that my content is very niche. There aren’t many creators focusing specifically on healthy restaurants, cafés, and wellness experiences in the way that I do. I’ve carved out a unique space that combines my love for food, wellness, visual storytelling, and discovering beautiful places.
At the heart of my work, I want to make healthy food and wellness look exciting, approachable, and beautiful—and inspire people to discover something new.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was actually a very shy and timid little girl growing up. I was quiet, kept to myself, and didn’t always have the confidence to speak up or put myself out there. I grew up in a home where there was a lot of conflict, and my parents argued often. At the time, I didn’t really know how to process what I was feeling or understand how much it was affecting me. I think I simply became accustomed to that environment.
It affected different areas of my life, including my grades, my participation in school, and even my motivation to pursue things I was interested in. I didn’t really talk to anyone about what I was experiencing, so a lot of those feelings stayed with me and became part of who I was.
College was a major turning point for me. Being in a completely new environment gave me the opportunity to grow, discover myself, and slowly come out of my shell. I began challenging myself to talk to new people, participate more, and put myself in situations that once would have made me uncomfortable.
And I discovered something I never expected: I actually love talking to people! I’m incredibly inquisitive and genuinely curious about others—their stories, experiences, perspectives, and what makes them who they are.
Looking back, it’s almost funny to think about how shy I was as a little girl compared to who I am today. So much of my work now revolves around communication, storytelling, meeting people, and putting myself out there creatively.
I think that transformation is something I’m really proud of. I went from being the quiet little girl who was afraid to speak up to someone who genuinely enjoys connecting with people and telling stories. And in many ways, I think that journey is what ultimately led me to where I am today.
Pricing:
- 1 Reel $250-$400
- 1 Post $150-$250
- 3-5 Stories $100-$175
- Collaboration $300-$500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://canva.link/thdb3eevjucsp6n
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c_elena_s/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHealthyBeet
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-elena-g/
