Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Caitlin Sakdalan of BeFatBeHappy Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Edward Sylvan
For me, food is not just essential to the body, but good food feeds the soul. And so this is my lane where I’d like to make an impact — I get so much joy out of eating and experiencing life through the lens of food culture, and I desire for others to experience that same comfort and joy.
As a part of my series about leaders who are using their social media platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Caitlin Sakdalan.
Caitlin Sakdalan is the Chief Eating Officer of @befatbehappy, a personal brand and business where Caitlin explores and expresses her passion for F.A.T. (Food And Travel) experiences. She is a storyteller, influencer, social media strategist and coach. Her ‘be fat be happy’ motto is a call for all of us to ‘stay hungry’ to feed our appetites, feed our souls and feed others — what Caitlin believes to be the core drivers that fill life with purpose.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Maybe I should have known I would end up where I am when I was five years old, asking my parents if I could order Mahi Mahi from the adult menu instead of Chicken Nuggets off the kids one. I had a curious palette and loved the feeling of trying new things, seeing how people could create incredible flavor in different ways. Many of my formative moments were also around the table — whether it be casual family dinner or larger get-togethers — food in a Filipino home was always in focus. But growing up, “food & travel influencer” wasn’t a job description, much less a dream to be had. I had other dreams in mind, but when I was in college, living in New York, I started a food & travel page for fun. I named it @befatbehappy for the fact that I was a chubby kid that had always loved to eat. I simply wanted to capture all of the amazing food experiences I had, like it was a personal visual diary. I didn’t think of it as a career path. But what I did think about often was this tension — I’m a young adult, attending a dream school and living in one of the best cities that seems to be at the epicenter of it all. Yet, while I was seeing all the wonder, I was also surrounded by the high rates of homelessness and food insecurity. Years later, when I carved out this career path for myself, I had been on the media committee for Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, the largest soup kitchen in New York State that serves meals every single weekday of the year. I was on my way to pick up wine for dinner at a friend’s apartment when I encountered this woman standing outside of a Whole Foods. She asked for prayers and if I had the money for a meal. I offered her both, and we started talking about her life story, and her sadness about where and how she’s ended up in life. I mentioned that she could head to Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen and count on a meal from there every weekday and that they had some assistive programs to help folks get mail and other weekly groceries. She thanked me, we prayed together, and parted ways. I hope she’s doing better than when I saw her last. It is heartbreaking how prevalent food insecurity is, pervasively affecting so many people, especially communities of color. And when I think about all the happy memories I have been blessed with because of food, it pains me to know that so many struggle to find their next meal. I knew that this platform I was building couldn’t just be about myself and my own happiness. Everyone deserves to be fed and happy, period. It shouldn’t be a luxury to enjoy a comforting meal.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?
In 2018, I was invited to Influencer Awards Monaco, where they asked the top 20 influencers across industries to attend their first inaugural gala and ceremony.
I was shocked to even be in a category amongst people that had hundreds if not millions more followers than me. But there I was, in Monaco with my number one fan, my mom, and we were at this stunning event. We were networking, drinking, and just soaking it all in. When the actual awards started, the whole room would clap in unison for each winner in the various categories. All of a sudden, the room around me spun as I was announced as Best Hope Food Influencer of the Year. WHAT — me? “I don’t deserve this,” was my immediate thought. But I humbly accepted and gave the most unprepared speech of my life. Later on, I asked Pauline Ducruet, one of the judges that selected winners, “Why me?” She told me that aside from my feed making the panel so hungry, they believed my authenticity and mission to impact the food world for good — that they loved that my page was about feeding myself, my soul AND others. And it hit me. I didn’t need to have the most followers in the room. I knew I certainly did not. But what I did have was this specific desire to make a difference and dent in a very complex world. So if I was going to accept this award I was so graciously given, I could never forget my purpose and passion for making an impact. Because what does influence mean without impact?
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Early on in my career, I had no clue how to run a business or be self-employed. But I didn’t ask anyone — I didn’t research other people in my network and set up a time to ask questions or for advice. I felt alone, and that’s because I chose to be. I was too embarrassed to admit my shortcomings or lack of experience, and it’s so silly how pride can sneak its way into our hearts. I made way more wrong left turns than I needed to because I was too scared to ask for directions. I’ve learned that I can’t have everything figured out or be 100% self-sufficient. It’s healthy to call on others and ask for guidance.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
We are all fallible, and fear of failure is real. Acknowledge that fear so that it doesn’t control you. Also, find your intrinsic motivation for WHY you want to embark this career path, and let that be the main driving force of your pursuits. Life is a forever lesson on learning, and when you do something that excites and fulfills you, that lesson will always be rewarding.
Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?
A lot of my organic social content is centered around supporting the small businesses and people of the resilient hospitality industry. These folks deserve all the praise (and our business) for how they’ve managed to navigate through all of the pandemic’s ups and downs, as well as creatively thinking of solutions to not only serve patrons but also serve the community.
In my work, I am also conscious to highlight organizations that go the extra mile to give back. For example, at The Migrant Kitchen, for every meal bought, they donate a meal to a New Yorker in need through their nonprofit initiative. And it’s not just any meal, but a culturally inclusive and relevant one that they would be proud to serve in their restaurant. I have seen firsthand how this happens. When I volunteered at their Thanksgiving Meal Distribution, they had full family trays of gorgeous turkey breast, gravy, and all the other traditional fixins that would be at one of our tables.
Also, with the platform that I have now and ability to impact some buying decisions, I’ve dedicated 10% of merchandise profits to fight food insecurity.
Lastly, I am selective about the brands I choose to work with and sponsored content I pursue. For example, one of my favorite brand partners has been Too Good To Go, which is an app that allows people to support local restaurants/businesses, fight food waste, and protect our planet. I’m proud to work with sustainable organizations like this — that I know will provide value to my followers and make a positive impact on our planet.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?
When I was at a Thanksgiving food distribution in Queens with The Migrant Kitchen Initiative, I got to chat with these sweet elderly Filipina women. They shared with me how they rely on weekly food distributions in their neighborhood, and it just humbled me so much. Thanksgiving is a particular holiday celebrated around the table, where the goal is to fill your stomachs with food and hearts with thankfulness with the people you love. And the thought of people not having a satisfying meal on this holiday is grounded in gratefulness. It breaks my heart. I’m so grateful to organizations I work with, like The Migrant Kitchen Initiative, that have served over 3 million meals to New Yorkers in need. And I’m proud to continue our working relationship to further the impact that they can make.
Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?
I wouldn’t necessarily say there was a tipping point because I owe it to my mom and dad that have always instilled the importance of paying it forward and giving back with a generous heart. I’ll be the first one to admit that I had a pretty charmed childhood. I never wanted for anything — my immigrant parents worked so hard to provide for me and my brother. But they also knew struggle and wanted my brother and I to understand that everything we had was a blessing. So from a young age, they sent me to go serve on missions trips. By example, they taught me the importance of tithing and giving back to communities. My parents also give to others without batting an eye — not just their money, but their time, their advice and their energy. They have always been living examples of what it looks like to have a generous spirit.
For me, food is not just essential to the body, but good food feeds the soul. And so this is my lane where I’d like to make an impact — I get so much joy out of eating and experiencing life through the lens of food culture, and I desire for others to experience that same comfort and joy.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Donate to reputable organizations that fight food insecurity. This issue is complex and often interconnected with poverty and homelessness. So a lot of these nonprofits have programs that address both (i.e. Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen that serves meals & allows for people to use their address to receive mail).
- Get involved with a local organization that distributes meals to the food insecure and volunteer. I highly encourage people to volunteer where they donate their money. This way, they can see the issues firsthand and have a better understanding of and care for the causes they’re supporting.
- Advocate for food insecurity AND food justice — reach out to policymakers to prioritize and address the barriers to food security.
- And one more… If you’re an employee, ask your company to match donations — many large corporations are willing to match donations for nonprofit organizations, easily doubling donations and impact.
What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?
- I try to reach people at the core of what connects us, while also trying to simplify the giving back process. We can’t all dedicate equal time and effort toward the same social justice issues, and so it’s important to be clear and connect to our shared humanity.
- Also, if you want to start using your platform for social good, be an example. Show your followers in your casual day-to-day content WHY you do what you do, as well as how to take action as it’s relevant. How are people supposed to follow your lead if you don’t do the work yourself? I know this sounds simple, but you really want to have people trust your opinion and authority on a matter, and that simply takes time and putting in the work to do so. When your audience understands why you care about something, they’ll be more inclined to make an impact as well.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
- Be prepared for doubt.
When I started this career, I got so many questions around how I was going to make money or if social media was even a viable career. Being an influencer isn’t like being a doctor. It isn’t even like being an actor — risky people might say, but there are clear success stories and pathways to be a performer. Social media and “influencing” are new concepts that garner a lot of doubt. I’m glad the tides are changing — many companies are now building out teams for social media and community management. Even still, many of us have to justify the power and investment in social media, and I guess that’s the territory of being in a new career path. I try my best to block out the noise and not let others define my vision.
2. Know your value and worth
Speaking of what defines me — understanding your value and what you have to offer helps keep the distractions and doubt away. I wish I knew years ago to not undercharge for my services or undervalue the impact I can make.
3. You are a business — learn to understand the ins and outs of running that business
A lot of influencers have the creative part down — that’s why many of us attracted the following we have. But if you want to try and influence full-time, you have to learn how to read contracts, really manage your time and projects efficiently, learn basics around accounting and invoicing — the list goes on. Build up your business acumen and stay alert to the ways your industry is changing so that you can innovate.
4. The lines of personal and professional will be blurred, and it will be difficult to navigate. Find as much balance as you can.
Food is part of all of our everyday lives, and so the lines of what is personal time vs. professional time are quite muddy for me. As a small example, it’s hard for me to sit down at a restaurant and not think about the content I could be creating for my platform. The urge to bring out my camera or my phone is palpable, but sometimes I really do need to just enjoy being in the moment without capturing it. It’s difficult for me to get my mind to stop working knowing all that needs to be done. But just because the world keeps churning, doesn’t mean you need to be, nor is it sustainable for anyone to be “on” all the time. Although to be honest, it’s difficult for me to turn “off” — but I’m working on that balance and personal care that each one of us needs to prioritize.
5. You may not be at an office with set co-workers, but remember to make time to connect.
Make meaningful connections with people in and adjacent to the industry or industries you care about. Continue to learn about and from others. When I started, I wasn’t working with organizations fighting food insecurity, but because I’ve remained open to opportunity and walked through open doors (as my mom would say), I’m so grateful to be prioritizing this issue more in my life and work today.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Eradicating food insecurity altogether would be the ultimate dream. I genuinely believe we all deserve to be fed and happy, but I know that this issue is a multilayered problem that needs to be addressed from various facets. So while we work toward that dream, I’d like to make it a priority to bring people joy through food and connection. I would love to have a “restaurant” in every city that’s 100% free to the patrons coming in. We’d have community fridges for people to pick up to-go groceries, have a service counter where people could “order” off the menu for the day, and comfortable seating to have a nice food experience. I would love to bring some of that humanity and compassion that a lot of people experiencing poverty, homelessness and/or food insecurity lack. I’ve unfortunately seen how we ignore problems that are right in front of us, and strip struggling humans of that human connection that we all need. So I think it would be wonderful to have a community food space that’s “open for business” for people to come in for a meal when they’d like, grab groceries, and just make people feel normal. The restaurant could even have rotating chefs with a pop-up-like feel, with food sourced from restaurants that have leftovers to be used before going to waste.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Call me cliché, but I want to have lunch with Oprah. She is at this beautiful intersection of entertainment and philanthropy. I feel like her superpower is her ability to connect with people (at least on screen from what I’ve seen). And I would absolutely be honored to share a meal with this powerhouse of a woman.
How can our readers further follow your work online ?
My main platform is @befatbehappy on Instagram, which links to @befedbehappy, where I share more about focused non-profit organizations and work.
I’m also the host of an online cooking show on In The Know.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much!
Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Caitlin Sakdalan of BeFatBeHappy Is Helping To Change Our… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.