Welcome!
Hello my friends, and thank you for being here! For those of you who are new here, I’m Amanda, but most of my friends call me Ducky (you can go with either!). I’m a vegan of 11 years, home cook and passionate recipe developer. Whilst food is a major passion of mine, I also love sports, the beach, pilates and watching past seasons of Survivor and Below Deck on repeat.
So - let’s get into how I ended up working as a plant-based recipe creator!
I was vegetarian from a very young age, about 4 or 5 years old, and this honestly stemmed from me being a very fussy eater. As I grew older, I began to understand where animal products came from and it then became an ethical choice to eat meat-free. Just over 10 years ago, I discovered veganism and I have never looked back. Whilst eating a vegan diet is an ethical choice for me, I also appreciate the health benefits and connection to what I eat that it’s given me. Also - I found a passion for cooking!
I was a terrible cook when I was younger, so much so that I almost failed food tech in high school, but after going vegan and simultaneously working in the hospitality industry, I have spent the past decade honing my craft and falling in love with cooking.
My hospitality career begun working at my local cinema (to this day, still one of my favourite jobs ever), before I got my first waitressing job at a vegan cafe in Melbourne. After moving to the Gold Coast in 2018, I found myself working for different plant-based food businesses and really sinking my teeth into management roles.
I first started my YouTube channel as a hobby, however in 2020, the cafe I was managing closed down. With no hospitality jobs available due to the pandemic, I shifted my energy into making more videos and really properly learning how to edit and create content. This is when my online audience grew and allowed me to earn an income from social media.
My online community has continued to grow since, and I now create food content part time, whilst also working as a video editor.
Thank you for being here & for supporting me! I really hope you love the recipes.
With gratitude,
Amanda/Ducky x