Story & Lesson Highlights with KaTisha Smittick of Washington

We recently had the chance to connect with KaTisha Smittick and have shared our conversation below.

Hi KaTisha , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing freedom and peace. Freedom to live life on my own terms, and peace to enjoy every part of it without chaos weighing me down. If I stopped chasing that, I’d lose the core of who I am and why I do what I do. Freedom and peace are what fuel me, and without them, I’d just be cooking meals instead of building moments that matter.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m KaTisha J. Smittick, a DMV native, retired Staff Sergeant, and proud Army veteran . After my service, I traded in combat boots for chef whites and followed my true passion in food. I earned my Culinary Arts degree with honors from Stratford University and built Mental Meals, a brand that is as much about freedom and peace as it is about flavor.

What makes Mental Meals unique is the way I cook with intention. It is not just about putting dishes on a plate. It is about creating experiences that feed the body and the mind. My global travels, military discipline, and creative spirit come together to bring culture, comfort, and connection into every meal. Mental Meals works with people from all walks of life and all over the world, and giving back to the community is at the heart of what we do.

I am a traveling chef and catering service provider, bringing customized experiences directly to clients whether it is an intimate dinner, a community event, or an international gathering. Cooking is more than my career. It is my way of helping people slow down, savor, and feel nourished in every sense of the word. That is the heart of Mental Meals, and that is what makes it one of a kind.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My brother, Tony, saw me clearly long before I ever saw myself. He believed in my strength, my creativity, and my ability to build something bigger than I could imagine at the time. He reminded me that I had a gift worth sharing and pushed me to keep going even when I doubted myself. His vision for me and his support still fuel everything I do today. He saw the chef, the leader, and the dreamer in me before I had the courage to step into it.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell Little Tisha that you will not always see the purpose in what you are going through, but every challenge and every season will come together to make a beautiful story. Be patient with yourself, trust the process, and know that what feels heavy today will one day become the strength and inspiration that carries you forward.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yeah, it’s me all the way through. I don’t know how to be anyone but my authentic self. What you see in the kitchen, at an event, or on stage is the same person you’d see if we were just hanging out at home. I don’t switch it up — this is me, every time.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I’d build an empire of flavor and peace. Imagine a world where food is the universal language, where every culture and every person has a seat at the table. If I had forever, I’d spend it making sure the meals I create outlive me, turning recipes into memories and memories into legacy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mentalmeals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mental.meals/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mentals.meals

Image Credits
Mental Meals Photography