1 week ago
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By Ameera Steward | For the Birmingham Times
Moses Crawford is on a mission to help Birmingham get healthy. He seeks to bring the philosophy of holistic living and veganism to the Birmingham community through his business Conscious Living, which provides vegan food, catering, cold-pressed juices, and detox packages.
Crawford is especially passionate about inspiring Black Birminghamians to make healthier choices.
“My overall mission is to get Birmingham healthier, and I always highlight [helping] Black people [become] healthier,” said the 27-year-old. “Our communities always happen to have unhealthy food, [for example] the liquor store is a corner store. So my mission is basically to show Birmingham, and…Black people that…[there’s] a place you can go for healthy food.”
An Opened Mind
Crawford is originally from San Diego, California, where his vegan journey began. He was interested in a girl who happened to be a pescetarian at the time, and to impress her, he went vegan.
Veganism is a philosophy and way of living seeking to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Although the phenomenon goes back centuries, the concept became popular in the 2010s.
“As soon as we stopped talking, I was like I’m going right back to meat,” Crawford said. “But my roommate…was vegan and he would always tell me, anytime I [ate] something…’man that’s going to kill you…it’s not good for you.’”
He continued, “Eventually…I just heard him out. But [overall] it was essentially a combination of spiritual reasons, wanting to take care of my body, my temple. It’s [also] understanding that the majority of the food in Black, Hispanic, minority communities is liquor stores, corner stores, [just] a lot of unhealthy foods. I was realizing that…this food is designed to be unhealthy…I just wanted to do better for myself.”
That realization was six years ago, and Crawford hasn’t looked back since.
During his journey of becoming more conscious, he also became more pro-Black and began to realize that Black people are being targeted systematically through tactics such as food deserts, redlining and more.
“I essentially made it my mission…to do something because…if you’re not trying to do the work yourself, then it’s really never going to be solved,” Crawford said.
He decided to move to Birmingham in 2023 because he wanted to be in the South to buy land to build an “off-grid homestay community.” And with his mother and brother already in Birmingham, it seemed like the best southern city for him.
“As soon as I touched down [in Birmingham] I started…my business.”
He began selling juices, and Conscious Living was born.
Conscious Living provides vegan food, catering, cold-pressed juices, and detox packages. (Provided)Conscious Living
Through his business, Crawford offers cold-pressed juices and vegan food. The juices he sells range from $8 to $10 and provide a plethora of benefits.
The ‘Watermelon Juice’ is simply the juice from seeded, locally grown watermelons. Crawford said it helps with hydration and lowering blood pressure when consumed in high amounts.
‘Get Ya Greens’ is made from apples, cucumbers, celery, spinach, kale, and lemons. Its advertised benefits include supporting weight loss, flushing out toxins, and promoting a healthy gut.
‘Liquid Gold’ is made from apples, pears, ginger, and burdock root. Crawford said it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and the ginger can help relieve constipation, bloating, inflammation, menstrual cycle cramping, and pain.
‘Beet It’ is made up of apples, beets, and ginger. It is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and and minerals that may help lower blood pressure and improve heart and brain health.
Crawford also offers detox packages.
For food, Crawford offers catering for events and groups. He tries to avoid serving meals made from pre-made packaged foods.
“Most vegan [restaurants] just buy something from the freezer, put a little seasoning on it, and [serve] it to you,” he said. “I really try to do everything I can from scratch,” he said. “If I can make it, I make it.”
Crawford typically uses mushrooms, black beans or lentils as a meat substitute.
Crawford doesn’t claim to be a professional chef. But he is a cook with a clear purpose.
“I’m just wanting to see Black people be better and live better,” he said.
Divine Inspiration
Moses Crawford seeks to bring the philosophy of holistic living and veganism to the Birmingham. (Provided)In 2024, during one of his catering events, a young woman around his age came up to speak with him. “And we were talking for a while,” he said.
Crawford said to himself, “I think she might like me because…she kept initiating conversation.”
This young woman was Jasmine Thompson, the daughter of the woman Crawford was catering for. After meeting that night, Thompson and Crawford dated for about two years and have now been engaged for a few months.
Crawford said his fiancé inspires him to keep going.
“She’s helped me with my business by encouraging me, helping me with different ideas and always telling everyone she comes across about my business,” Crawford said of his fiancé.
He said he also draws inspiration from the holistic health and wellness brand Yahki Awakened.
Crawford’s family motivates him, too. He said his maternal grandfather is from Belize and was a fan of herbal remedies. His mother [Dalila Perez] always tells Crawford that he is just like his grandfather.
“She always says that I remind her of him,” he said. “She’s very supportive of it.”
Through his work, Crawford wants people to realize that “they only have one life, and that the focus should be to live as [happily] and as long as possible.”
“I just want [people to] start steering their own lives,” he said. “Instead of going to the grocery store [and just] grabbing something…read it and see [if it’s good for you.] And I guess that ties into the name of my business, Conscious Living.”
Crawford continued, “Most of the time we’re just on autopilot, but I want us to start [living] consciously in everything we do, whether it’s the people around you…the music you’re listening to…the things you’re eating, [ask yourself] is it healing you or is it hurting you?”
To learn more about Conscious Living, visit consciouslivingllc.com.
