so who here has an Instagram okay I see most of you probably do so if so if some
most of you probably do so if so if some
most of you probably do so if so if some of you don’t know what Instagram is it’s
of you don’t know what Instagram is it’s
of you don’t know what Instagram is it’s a photo sharing social media site that
a photo sharing social media site that
a photo sharing social media site that allows users to post pictures to their
allows users to post pictures to their
allows users to post pictures to their followers and to others and for most of
followers and to others and for most of
followers and to others and for most of you Instagram is probably a guilty
you Instagram is probably a guilty
you Instagram is probably a guilty pleasure but for me it’s actually a
pleasure but for me it’s actually a
pleasure but for me it’s actually a business it’s actually a hobby and also
business it’s actually a hobby and also
business it’s actually a hobby and also a part-time job I’m here to explain to
a part-time job I’m here to explain to
a part-time job I’m here to explain to you just how a pre-med student with no
you just how a pre-med student with no
you just how a pre-med student with no business experience turned her healthy
business experience turned her healthy
business experience turned her healthy eating Instagram blog into a business
okay so my name is Caroline Grainger
okay so my name is Caroline Grainger like I said and I’m a pre-med student
like I said and I’m a pre-med student
like I said and I’m a pre-med student here at UM starting medical school at
here at UM starting medical school at
here at UM starting medical school at our very own Miller School of Medicine
our very own Miller School of Medicine
our very own Miller School of Medicine in the fall and I started my blog
in the fall and I started my blog
in the fall and I started my blog Caroline cooks clean on Instagram in
Caroline cooks clean on Instagram in
Caroline cooks clean on Instagram in March 2015 but it started to grow
March 2015 but it started to grow
March 2015 but it started to grow exponentially from there so I started
exponentially from there so I started
exponentially from there so I started off as a freshman and in the beginning I
off as a freshman and in the beginning I
off as a freshman and in the beginning I was basically just in my dorm room so my
was basically just in my dorm room so my
was basically just in my dorm room so my photos were pretty amateur it was mostly
photos were pretty amateur it was mostly
photos were pretty amateur it was mostly just the oatmeal that you might
just the oatmeal that you might
just the oatmeal that you might recognize actually from our dining hall
recognize actually from our dining hall
recognize actually from our dining hall and also smoothies that I made in my
and also smoothies that I made in my
and also smoothies that I made in my little GNC blender in my dorm room so
little GNC blender in my dorm room so
little GNC blender in my dorm room so right now my photos weren’t really that
right now my photos weren’t really that
right now my photos weren’t really that extravagant but it was a start so after
extravagant but it was a start so after
extravagant but it was a start so after a while the semester ended and I’d had
a while the semester ended and I’d had
a while the semester ended and I’d had to go home so I went back to Cleveland
to go home so I went back to Cleveland
to go home so I went back to Cleveland Ohio and I think that my recipes started
Ohio and I think that my recipes started
Ohio and I think that my recipes started to grow there because now I had a full
to grow there because now I had a full
to grow there because now I had a full kitchen basically unlimited supply of
kitchen basically unlimited supply of
kitchen basically unlimited supply of food thanks to my mom and Costco and
food thanks to my mom and Costco and
food thanks to my mom and Costco and also really great daytime lighting so
also really great daytime lighting so
also really great daytime lighting so that was really cool and I got to see my
that was really cool and I got to see my
that was really cool and I got to see my blog grow a little bit while I was there
blog grow a little bit while I was there
blog grow a little bit while I was there it got to be at about a thousand
it got to be at about a thousand
it got to be at about a thousand followers at that point and I think that
followers at that point and I think that
followers at that point and I think that as my follower count grew my passion for
as my follower count grew my passion for
as my follower count grew my passion for a creative nutrition also grew in
a creative nutrition also grew in
a creative nutrition also grew in addition I was celebrating milestones
addition I was celebrating milestones
addition I was celebrating milestones like this one which was when I hit 2,000
like this one which was when I hit 2,000
like this one which was when I hit 2,000 followers so I carved some watermelon to
followers so I carved some watermelon to
followers so I carved some watermelon to celebrate that and as you can see I have
celebrate that and as you can see I have
celebrate that and as you can see I have some comments there and some likes there
some comments there and some likes there
some comments there and some likes there so my blog was clearly growing I’ll
so my blog was clearly growing I’ll
so my blog was clearly growing I’ll never forget my first company contact
never forget my first company contact
never forget my first company contact which was in August 2015 so I got a
which was in August 2015 so I got a
which was in August 2015 so I got a direct message on my Instagram blog from
direct message on my Instagram blog from
direct message on my Instagram blog from halo Top Creamery which is now a pretty
halo Top Creamery which is now a pretty
halo Top Creamery which is now a pretty big ice cream company actually but they
big ice cream company actually but they
big ice cream company actually but they contacted me and they asked me if I
contacted me and they asked me if I
contacted me and they asked me if I wanted to try some of their pints in
wanted to try some of their pints in
wanted to try some of their pints in exchange for a post about them so in
exchange for a post about them so in
exchange for a post about them so in that moment a light bulb went off in my
that moment a light bulb went off in my
that moment a light bulb went off in my head I realized that I could now use my
head I realized that I could now use my
head I realized that I could now use my blog as more than just
blog as more than just
blog as more than just but something to actually use as a tool
but something to actually use as a tool
but something to actually use as a tool to gain access the things that I’d never
to gain access the things that I’d never
to gain access the things that I’d never had before so I went ahead and did this
had before so I went ahead and did this
had before so I went ahead and did this sponsored post with halo top and I’ve
sponsored post with halo top and I’ve
sponsored post with halo top and I’ve also worked with a lot more companies
also worked with a lot more companies
also worked with a lot more companies now this was a company called ABS
now this was a company called ABS
now this was a company called ABS protein pancakes so this was a sponsored
protein pancakes so this was a sponsored
protein pancakes so this was a sponsored post that I did with them in the
post that I did with them in the
post that I did with them in the beginning but you can tell I have a
beginning but you can tell I have a
beginning but you can tell I have a thousand likes on this post so my blog
thousand likes on this post so my blog
thousand likes on this post so my blog was clearly growing and I actually had
was clearly growing and I actually had
was clearly growing and I actually had the privilege of speaking on a panel
the privilege of speaking on a panel
the privilege of speaking on a panel with the founder of this company which
with the founder of this company which
with the founder of this company which I’ll talk about later so these are two
I’ll talk about later so these are two
I’ll talk about later so these are two examples of sponsored posts that I did
examples of sponsored posts that I did
examples of sponsored posts that I did the first one which is on your left
the first one which is on your left
the first one which is on your left was with food networks hellofresh and
was with food networks hellofresh and
was with food networks hellofresh and that’s a company that gives you
that’s a company that gives you
that’s a company that gives you ingredients for dinners that if you’re a
ingredients for dinners that if you’re a
ingredients for dinners that if you’re a really busy businessperson or something
really busy businessperson or something
really busy businessperson or something and you can’t really go grocery shopping
and you can’t really go grocery shopping
and you can’t really go grocery shopping for healthy dinners but you still want
for healthy dinners but you still want
for healthy dinners but you still want to cook them you can so i exemplified
to cook them you can so i exemplified
to cook them you can so i exemplified that by cooking their shrimp tacos and
that by cooking their shrimp tacos and
that by cooking their shrimp tacos and then on the right is a sponsored post
then on the right is a sponsored post
then on the right is a sponsored post that I did with Whole Foods and that was
that I did with Whole Foods and that was
that I did with Whole Foods and that was a Thanksgiving collaboration so for that
a Thanksgiving collaboration so for that
a Thanksgiving collaboration so for that it was like embrace your holiday
it was like embrace your holiday
it was like embrace your holiday traditions so I posted a recipe that I
traditions so I posted a recipe that I
traditions so I posted a recipe that I usually make with my mom and it’s a
usually make with my mom and it’s a
usually make with my mom and it’s a spinach quiche with a sweet potato crust
spinach quiche with a sweet potato crust
spinach quiche with a sweet potato crust so the business side of things hasn’t
so the business side of things hasn’t
so the business side of things hasn’t always been so easy for me as a pre-med
always been so easy for me as a pre-med
always been so easy for me as a pre-med student since I don’t really have any
student since I don’t really have any
student since I don’t really have any experience and pretty much had to do
experience and pretty much had to do
experience and pretty much had to do everything on the fly so these posts I
everything on the fly so these posts I
everything on the fly so these posts I kind of had because as my blog grew they
kind of had because as my blog grew they
kind of had because as my blog grew they would contact me and that’s how we work
would contact me and that’s how we work
would contact me and that’s how we work together on these posts but yeah so
together on these posts but yeah so
together on these posts but yeah so there is a profile that I use to called
there is a profile that I use to called
there is a profile that I use to called Reb fluence and this is a snapshot of
Reb fluence and this is a snapshot of
Reb fluence and this is a snapshot of that and this is like a third party
that and this is like a third party
that and this is like a third party middleman type of website that connects
middleman type of website that connects
middleman type of website that connects influencers to brands and lets you work
influencers to brands and lets you work
influencers to brands and lets you work on specific collaborations together so
on specific collaborations together so
on specific collaborations together so here on my profile you can see my
here on my profile you can see my
here on my profile you can see my statistics which is something that’s
statistics which is something that’s
statistics which is something that’s really important in a blog and something
really important in a blog and something
really important in a blog and something that I really didn’t know at first was
that I really didn’t know at first was
that I really didn’t know at first was important so I remember one time when I
important so I remember one time when I
important so I remember one time when I was working on a collaboration with a
was working on a collaboration with a
was working on a collaboration with a company during the negotiation stage
company during the negotiation stage
company during the negotiation stage they asked me for my media kit and
they asked me for my media kit and
they asked me for my media kit and naturally as a science student I had
naturally as a science student I had
naturally as a science student I had absolutely no idea what a media kit was
absolutely no idea what a media kit was
absolutely no idea what a media kit was so I literally had to google what is a
so I literally had to google what is a
so I literally had to google what is a media kit and figure out what it was so
media kit and figure out what it was so
media kit and figure out what it was so that I could send it to the brand later
that I could send it to the brand later
that I could send it to the brand later that day and for those of you who don’t
that day and for those of you who don’t
that day and for those of you who don’t know what a media kit is I’ll see if
know what a media kit is I’ll see if
know what a media kit is I’ll see if you’re from that trip to Google it’s
you’re from that trip to Google it’s
you’re from that trip to Google it’s basically like a resume for an Instagram
basically like a resume for an Instagram
basically like a resume for an Instagram blog so
blog so
blog so you describe what your profile is so for
you describe what your profile is so for
you describe what your profile is so for me that’s clean eating and a healthy
me that’s clean eating and a healthy
me that’s clean eating and a healthy lifestyle and you talk about your
lifestyle and you talk about your
lifestyle and you talk about your engagement as well so that’s like
engagement as well so that’s like
engagement as well so that’s like follower count likes for photo video
follower count likes for photo video
follower count likes for photo video views and stuff like that and there’s
views and stuff like that and there’s
views and stuff like that and there’s also some Instagram influenced or
also some Instagram influenced or
also some Instagram influenced or oriented websites where you can use for
oriented websites where you can use for
oriented websites where you can use for getting those statistics as well so this
getting those statistics as well so this
getting those statistics as well so this is one of the sponsored posted I did
is one of the sponsored posted I did
is one of the sponsored posted I did through red fluence and I’m using this
through red fluence and I’m using this
through red fluence and I’m using this one because it was kind of funny it was
one because it was kind of funny it was
one because it was kind of funny it was like a unique experience for me it was
like a unique experience for me it was
like a unique experience for me it was with a mattress company actually which
with a mattress company actually which
with a mattress company actually which you’re probably thinking why would a
you’re probably thinking why would a
you’re probably thinking why would a clean eating blog be advertising a
clean eating blog be advertising a
clean eating blog be advertising a mattress but it was actually a cool
mattress but it was actually a cool
mattress but it was actually a cool collaboration it was called embrace the
collaboration it was called embrace the
collaboration it was called embrace the food coma and it was after Thanksgiving
food coma and it was after Thanksgiving
food coma and it was after Thanksgiving so it’s basically like you’re on your
so it’s basically like you’re on your
so it’s basically like you’re on your mattress after Thanksgiving just like
mattress after Thanksgiving just like
mattress after Thanksgiving just like taking a nap and so when I found out
taking a nap and so when I found out
taking a nap and so when I found out that I was accepted for this
that I was accepted for this
that I was accepted for this collaboration I called my mom on the
collaboration I called my mom on the
collaboration I called my mom on the phone I was like mom do you need a
phone I was like mom do you need a
phone I was like mom do you need a mattress and she’s like what are you
mattress and she’s like what are you
mattress and she’s like what are you talking about like I don’t know if I
talking about like I don’t know if I
talking about like I don’t know if I need a mattress and I was like yeah well
need a mattress and I was like yeah well
need a mattress and I was like yeah well I’m getting one for a collaboration so
I’m getting one for a collaboration so
I’m getting one for a collaboration so do you want one she was like I don’t
do you want one she was like I don’t
do you want one she was like I don’t know and she said yes so I sent it home
know and she said yes so I sent it home
know and she said yes so I sent it home to Cleveland Ohio it’s probably going to
to Cleveland Ohio it’s probably going to
to Cleveland Ohio it’s probably going to send it there anyway and I went home
send it there anyway and I went home
send it there anyway and I went home there and found my mattress and found
there and found my mattress and found
there and found my mattress and found that my dog actually loved it too so I
that my dog actually loved it too so I
that my dog actually loved it too so I posed with her for the sponsored post
posed with her for the sponsored post
posed with her for the sponsored post and that went really well for me so now
and that went really well for me so now
and that went really well for me so now that my blog has grown a lot I have gone
that my blog has grown a lot I have gone
that my blog has grown a lot I have gone from zero followers in March 2015
from zero followers in March 2015
from zero followers in March 2015 all the way up to twenty three point
all the way up to twenty three point
all the way up to twenty three point four thousand followers now a little
four thousand followers now a little
four thousand followers now a little more than two years later and I’ve also
more than two years later and I’ve also
more than two years later and I’ve also published a cookbook on Amazon called
published a cookbook on Amazon called
published a cookbook on Amazon called Caroline cooks breakfast clean and it
Caroline cooks breakfast clean and it
Caroline cooks breakfast clean and it has 30 breakfast recipes that are all
has 30 breakfast recipes that are all
has 30 breakfast recipes that are all vegan friendly and I also calculated all
vegan friendly and I also calculated all
vegan friendly and I also calculated all the nutrition facts for each one so that
the nutrition facts for each one so that
the nutrition facts for each one so that people can look at those if they want to
people can look at those if they want to
people can look at those if they want to I have also as I briefly mentioned
I have also as I briefly mentioned
I have also as I briefly mentioned before spoke at the connect to
before spoke at the connect to
before spoke at the connect to confidence conference
confidence conference
confidence conference it’s a I was on a body confidence panel
it’s a I was on a body confidence panel
it’s a I was on a body confidence panel there and it was put on by the woman
there and it was put on by the woman
there and it was put on by the woman empowerment brand she’s fit to lead and
empowerment brand she’s fit to lead and
empowerment brand she’s fit to lead and I had the pleasure like I said of
I had the pleasure like I said of
I had the pleasure like I said of speaking on that panel with Ashlee
speaking on that panel with Ashlee
speaking on that panel with Ashlee Drummond’s who was the founder of ABS
Drummond’s who was the founder of ABS
Drummond’s who was the founder of ABS protein pancakes and she was also
protein pancakes and she was also
protein pancakes and she was also featured on Shark Tank and I also spoke
featured on Shark Tank and I also spoke
featured on Shark Tank and I also spoke with Tania Zuckerberg who’s the founder
with Tania Zuckerberg who’s the founder
with Tania Zuckerberg who’s the founder of the F factor diet so I had a lot of
of the F factor diet so I had a lot of
of the F factor diet so I had a lot of fun doing that
so another thing that I get to do that’s
so another thing that I get to do that’s pretty cool is I get to go to Grand
pretty cool is I get to go to Grand
pretty cool is I get to go to Grand Openings of healthy restaurants around
Openings of healthy restaurants around
Openings of healthy restaurants around the area and I also get to taste some of
the area and I also get to taste some of
the area and I also get to taste some of their newest products so I’d like to
their newest products so I’d like to
their newest products so I’d like to joke around sometimes that my
joke around sometimes that my
joke around sometimes that my kindergarten dream job of being a
kindergarten dream job of being a
kindergarten dream job of being a professional taste tester finally came
professional taste tester finally came
professional taste tester finally came true so when I was shadowing a
true so when I was shadowing a
true so when I was shadowing a neurologist last summer like I said I’m
neurologist last summer like I said I’m
neurologist last summer like I said I’m pre-med I asked him for advice not only
pre-med I asked him for advice not only
pre-med I asked him for advice not only for a career in medicine but also just
for a career in medicine but also just
for a career in medicine but also just to live a happy life in the most general
to live a happy life in the most general
to live a happy life in the most general of senses and he told me that the best
of senses and he told me that the best
of senses and he told me that the best way to do that in his opinion is to
way to do that in his opinion is to
way to do that in his opinion is to reinvent yourself every 10 years so I
reinvent yourself every 10 years so I
reinvent yourself every 10 years so I like to think of Caroline cooks clean as
like to think of Caroline cooks clean as
like to think of Caroline cooks clean as my 10-year reinvention I think it’s
my 10-year reinvention I think it’s
my 10-year reinvention I think it’s molded into my identity I find that
molded into my identity I find that
molded into my identity I find that people often ask me for the nutritional
people often ask me for the nutritional
people often ask me for the nutritional value of certain foods and also for
value of certain foods and also for
value of certain foods and also for advice on how to lose weight in a
advice on how to lose weight in a
advice on how to lose weight in a healthy and permanent way and I think by
healthy and permanent way and I think by
healthy and permanent way and I think by the way that you can achieve that by
the way that you can achieve that by
the way that you can achieve that by just enjoying the healthy food that
just enjoying the healthy food that
just enjoying the healthy food that you’re eating and fueling your body with
you’re eating and fueling your body with
you’re eating and fueling your body with things that you know are nourish you and
things that you know are nourish you and
things that you know are nourish you and also by choosing a fitness modality
also by choosing a fitness modality
also by choosing a fitness modality that’s actually going to be enjoyable
that’s actually going to be enjoyable
that’s actually going to be enjoyable for you because I think way too often
for you because I think way too often
for you because I think way too often people try to exercise and force
people try to exercise and force
people try to exercise and force themselves to do something that they
themselves to do something that they
themselves to do something that they absolutely hate and then they quit in
absolutely hate and then they quit in
absolutely hate and then they quit in like a week because you’re never gonna
like a week because you’re never gonna
like a week because you’re never gonna be able to set goals for yourself if you
be able to set goals for yourself if you
be able to set goals for yourself if you hate it so there is something out there
hate it so there is something out there
hate it so there is something out there that everyone’s gonna love I tell people
that everyone’s gonna love I tell people
that everyone’s gonna love I tell people that that’s really important so yeah as
that that’s really important so yeah as
that that’s really important so yeah as I said that since I’m pre-med I like to
I said that since I’m pre-med I like to
I said that since I’m pre-med I like to think that I defied the pre-med
think that I defied the pre-med
think that I defied the pre-med stereotype of being stuck inside your
stereotype of being stuck inside your
stereotype of being stuck inside your own world and constantly studying
own world and constantly studying
own world and constantly studying molecular structures and organic
molecular structures and organic
molecular structures and organic chemistry grignard reactions and enolate
chemistry grignard reactions and enolate
chemistry grignard reactions and enolate intermediates and I think that it’s
intermediates and I think that it’s
intermediates and I think that it’s really important for us to find our
really important for us to find our
really important for us to find our passions and then in the midst of that
passions and then in the midst of that
passions and then in the midst of that balance of our passions to create a life
balance of our passions to create a life
balance of our passions to create a life out of it and it’s also really important
out of it and it’s also really important
out of it and it’s also really important to to not be afraid of failure
to to not be afraid of failure
to to not be afraid of failure because at least for me I found that
because at least for me I found that
because at least for me I found that I’ve always gotten the best things out
I’ve always gotten the best things out
I’ve always gotten the best things out of pushing past my fear of failure like
of pushing past my fear of failure like
of pushing past my fear of failure like for example when I’m working with
for example when I’m working with
for example when I’m working with companies and I send out proposals to
companies and I send out proposals to
companies and I send out proposals to them probably out of every like 10 or 12
them probably out of every like 10 or 12
them probably out of every like 10 or 12 even proposals that I send out I’ll only
even proposals that I send out I’ll only
even proposals that I send out I’ll only get a few yeses back but I’ll tell you a
get a few yeses back but I’ll tell you a
get a few yeses back but I’ll tell you a little secret it’s only those yeses that
little secret it’s only those yeses that
little secret it’s only those yeses that matter so I will leave you with this as
matter so I will leave you with this as
matter so I will leave you with this as I start a career in medicine
I start a career in medicine
I start a career in medicine I want to hope or I want to make sure
I want to hope or I want to make sure
I want to hope or I want to make sure that I can infiltrate my passions for
that I can infiltrate my passions for
that I can infiltrate my passions for medicine and also my passions for
medicine and also my passions for
medicine and also my passions for creative nutrition and give some medical
creative nutrition and give some medical
creative nutrition and give some medical insight on my blog as well and I think
insight on my blog as well and I think
insight on my blog as well and I think this quote is really cool it’s by
this quote is really cool it’s by
this quote is really cool it’s by Epocrates let food be thy medicine and
Epocrates let food be thy medicine and
Epocrates let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food because this is
medicine be thy food because this is
medicine be thy food because this is something that I wholeheartedly believe
something that I wholeheartedly believe
something that I wholeheartedly believe in and I’ve actually started
in and I’ve actually started
in and I’ve actually started incorporating into my blog using the
incorporating into my blog using the
incorporating into my blog using the hashtag food as medicine which is
hashtag food as medicine which is
hashtag food as medicine which is something new that I’ve been trying to
something new that I’ve been trying to
something new that I’ve been trying to do so I hope that by listening to this
do so I hope that by listening to this
do so I hope that by listening to this talk you’re inspired to live a healthier
talk you’re inspired to live a healthier
talk you’re inspired to live a healthier life in every sense of the word and if
life in every sense of the word and if
life in every sense of the word and if you’d like to continue being inspired
you’d like to continue being inspired
you’d like to continue being inspired please check out my Instagram blog
please check out my Instagram blog
please check out my Instagram blog Caroline cooks clean for daily reminders
Caroline cooks clean for daily reminders
Caroline cooks clean for daily reminders thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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