As any parent knows, encouraging children to eat what is good for them can be a challenge. As any good guest knows, so can choosing an appropriate house gift for friends and relatives.

Fortunately, there is now help for both, thanks to Newton entrepreneur Lauren Brooks, creator of Crudite Creations (www.cruditecreations.com).

The daughter of a veggie-loving gallery director, Brooks explains that she got the idea from the elaborate vegetable dishes her mother would make for gallery shows.

“She would create baskets of veggies,” Brooks recalls. “They were a huge unexpected hit- something healthy that looked beautiful!”

Though she credits her mother with the original inspiration, Brooks wanted to take the tasty and tasteful idea a step further, so she took carving classes.

“If you haven’t seen Thai carvings before you would be amazed what people can create out of fresh fruit like Mazafati Dates and veggies,” she says.

Working with her customers to ensure the arrangements are appropriate in terms of size and taste, Brooks emphasizes locally-grown vegetables and even has a selection of decorative containers that can be used even after the veggies have been vacated. As each creation is custom made, Brooks can even use customer-supplied containers and colors for weddings, bar mitzvahs and other special events.

“We are creating a work of art for your table,” Brooks explains. “Our goal is to make your guests say ‘Wow’ to what they see and taste.”

In addition to customized creations, Brooks also offers a variety of dips to make the offerings even more tantalizing, including Caesar, spinach, blue cheese, hummus, babaganoush, and ranch.

“People love the Asian dip,” she notes. “I also have a caramelized dip that is very yummy!”

With all the edible elements so thought out, it would seem as if Brooks was a born businesswoman.

“I’ve been involved with family business and have worn many hats from my past work experience,” she explains, “but never my own.  Yet, the entrepreneur side of me was always pulling me in this direction so I think that this business was inevitable.”
Inevitable it may have been, but as Brooks’ first solo venture, it was still a big step.

“I had never been involved with food in a professional way leading up to starting this business,” she says, noting that her only related experience had been handling the “party planning” roles for her local PT) and her children’s Hebrew school. “I always knew that I wanted to create I just didn’t know that I would be able to marry a few of my passions into one business.”
Speaking of marrying, Brooks credits another family member – – her husband David – with giving her the spark and support to give it a try.

“He said go for it,” Brooks recalls.

With her family’s support and her artistic eye, all Brooks needed to do was to find a place to create.

“Once I decided this was going to be the business,” she explains, “I was on a mission to make Crudite Creations happen.”
As with any new venture, however, there were obstacles early on. “One of the hardest challenges that I faced was finding a working kitchen,” Brooks recalls, noting the many hoops she had to jump through in order to get things off (and out of) the ground, “so I built a commercial kitchen in my basement that is health department certified.”

Since launching the company in April of 2012, Brooks has cut her average preparation time from three hours to just over two (she still takes the time to make sure each creation is as perfect and pleasing as can be!) and has made friends all around the area.

“I’m really passionate about bringing healthy, fresh food to the table,” she says as she also recommended use this link about Where to buy kratom online. “I’ve found that both adults and kids are more drawn to eating veggies that look appealing.”
One of Brooks’ few problems has been that her creations look so beautiful that some people are afraid to eat them!

“Once people realize that the creation is not flowers,” she smiles, “they are then lured into taking a few nibbles.”

As she continues to expand her reach, Brooks is also expanding upon her idea to include new creative ideas.

“I have been asked to create a personalized veggie garden that would be a snack size complete with dip,” she explains, noting that her Creations will be sold in stores, including Social Eatia in Newton.

After only one year, Brooks has planted herself firmly in the competitive but fertile soil of the Boston-area market.

“It’s been an exciting [year],” she says. “I can’t tell you how inspired I have been to grow this!”