BC Business
10 Things You Didn't Know About... Fresh Prep Foods co-founder and director of product development Becky Brauer
BCBusiness wrote about Fresh Prep Foods co-founders Husein Rahemtulla and Dhruv Sood when they were 30 Under 30 winners in 2018. Becky Brauer, a friend from Burnaby Central High School, joined the meal kit delivery company when it launched in 2014 to handle recipe development.
“I’ve always loved food, and I had a hard time finding time to cook after a long day at the office,” Brauer says. “I found that takeout just didn’t cut it. I wanted to be able to control what was going into my food, and I wanted the meal to be fresh.” When she saw a Facebook post from Rahemtulla about the start of Fresh Prep, she messaged him saying that she loved the business idea, and offered to help with recipes. Her title is now co-founder and director of product development.
Apart from food, here’s what else she likes.
What is your favourite spot in B.C.?
My favourite spot in B.C. depends on the season. I love going to the Okanagan in the summer and coming home with a car full of fresh fruits and veg, along with a case or two of local wine. In the fall, my husband and I do an annual trip to either the Island or the Sunshine Coast, somewhere on the water. It’s so stunning at that time of year. During the winter and spring, I pretty much become a homebody. Where I live in Burnaby, close to Burnaby Mountain, is truly an oasis. Lakes, forests, ocean and mountains surround us, and I feel super blessed to live in such a stunning place.
Where did you go on your last vacation?
Costa Rica—one of my most favourite places to vacation. The people are amazing, the food is so fresh and healthy, and the sunsets are unbelievable—10/10 would recommend if you haven’t been yet.
Favourite restaurant/bar?
I’m a sucker for aburi sushi at Miku. I could eat several plates of it to myself. I also love Koko on Hastings for a more casual spot. Their dynamite roll is the best I’ve found anywhere, and their sashimi is really good quality.
What is your most memorable podcast, film or book?
My favourite movie of all time is Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Each scene is a masterpiece in and of itself.
What is your morning routine?
I actually vary my routine a bit from season to season and based on what I need to do that day. If I’m feeling stressed or anxious when I wake up, I do some meditation to start my day and help me feel grounded. I try not to look at my phone until I’m about to head to work so I’m not bombarded with tasks first thing in the morning. I take time to plan out the following week on Fridays, so I usually have a pretty good handle on what will be going on on any given day. This helps me remain productive and stay on top of finishing tasks.
Hobby?
Cooking (obviously, haha!). I like to take on larger cooking projects on the weekend and share the results with my family and friends. Other than that, I love learning about how to reduce waste (I know this sounds super nerdy). I’ve learned a lot of new things over this last year about how to live more minimalistically. I am way more aware of what I purchase, what’s a need versus a want, and I’m really trying my best to limit my own personal use of plastic, especially single-use plastic.
What is your favourite quote?
“Almost nothing you’re socially scared of is actually scary.” —Tim Urban
This quote is from a post that Tim wrote about why you should stop caring what other people think. Tim Urban has a really smart and funny way of presenting his ideas so that they are thought-provoking and easily digestible, and this article was no different. Finding out who you truly are is one of the most important things we are tasked with in our lives, and this post sums that experience up nicely.
Best advice ever received?
Don’t listen to advice; find your own path! Advice can only get you so far. I’m a firm believer in learning from your own experiences and listening to what your gut tells you. I’m not afraid to fail, and when I do fail, I learn from it.
Your worst job ever?
I don’t think I’ve had a job that I would call the “worst ever.” I’ve definitely had jobs that I didn’t enjoy, but in retrospect I learned a ton from those jobs. I think it’s important to do the jobs you dislike. If you don’t, how will you know when you’ve found the job you really do like?
If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
A dog! I would want to be part of a sweet family and also be able to nap a lot.