Farah Shammas: How I Went from Snowball Success on Facebook to an Exclusive Club

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As a mother of three, Farah is a full-time businesswoman and certainly has a lot to juggle. While she is best known for being the Managing Director of a large, luxury resort hotel and marina based in Limassol, Cyprus, she is also readily identified for her passion for healthy living. Perhaps it is impossible to be the perfect business leader and mother; still, she laughs that one can only try their best and make sure they keep their sense of humour along the way.

She shared one of the most important keys to parenting that many may not have come across: as a mother, you may comfort your children even when you do not feel reassured by the circumstances yourself. Positive affirmations, a bright outlook, and lots of love keep her going strong and teach her children that anything is possible.

Farah has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition which she achieved from eCornell. She is also a certified plant-based coach in her everyday effort to learn more, grow, and become the best version of herself. She tells us in this interview that there is only one sustainable way forward, and that is living with a wholefood plant-based diet and being positive.

While researching marketing techniques, Farah’s drive motivated her to launch a group presenting her vegan home cooking. Her personal philosophy is making small changes at a comfortable pace and finding the confidence to make a difference. Adding rather than subtracting abundance rather than restrictions are all techniques she encourages to help people live a healthier lifestyle.

Cook Vegan, now transcending one plane of operation into being an exclusive club after massive success on Facebook, is for anyone on a journey to easily begin enjoying plants and living a more energetic, peaceful, and healthier life.

She has also published two books with a third on the way, all including healthy, easy-to-make recipes. ’40 Delicious Vegan Recipes’ is an ideal start for anyone wishing to embark on a healthier journey.

‘Theo The Pig’ and ‘A Little Boy Called Noah’ are both poetic stories for children of all ages promoting kindness and love, with some mouth-watering recipes for the whole family to enjoy. You can check them all out on cookvegan.com or Amazon.

Many people asked me ‘what do you cook at home for your family?’ My reply was always I ‘Cook Vegan,’ hence the name was an easy choice and one that was available. It snowballed within days to reach thousands…
—Farah Shammas

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What has being a mother of three taught you that you wish you had known before? 

I have always wanted to be a mother and knew it was my path. In a way, I have been planning for this all my life.

I think it’s important to recognize the parent you don’t want to be, while focusing on the parent you do want to become, without losing sight of the good qualities our parents had with us while avoiding those we do not wish to repeat. Many people spend so much time focusing on the mistakes of their own parents that they forget to remember the good points that their parents were able to pass on.

One of the most important lessons that being a mother has taught me is that of adaptability. I love planning, but you cannot plan it all with children and sometimes you must just let life unfold. You can go with the waves.

You need an infinite amount of patience. You must be positive and above all full of love. I think the only thing I wish I could have known from before being a mother is that it’s okay to reassure even when you aren’t sure yourself.

Your children need love, comfort, and hope, and our job is to give that to them all the time, from a very young age.

Tell us more about your certificates in Plant-Based Nutrition. What is the most important thing you learned? 

I think that learning is one of life’s greatest gifts. So too is humility. However much we learn, there is always more knowledge and wisdom out there, and I never stop searching for it.

I love healthy eating and reading about all the latest non-biased research. I strongly believe that veganism and living with a wholefood plant-based diet is the only way forward for a sustainable future for our planet – it’s a winner for our bodies, mind, soul, the earth, and above all, animals.

I’m excited to be constantly learning, reading, and researching, although my time is very limited. I love being able to support and coach a small number of individuals to lead a healthier life.

As there is a limited number of clients I take on, my community, Farah’s Club www.farahs.club which is accessible to all at an extremely low monthly fee, is packed with so much energy, easy recipes, and healthy living tips.

What was the motivation behind starting a Facebook Group during COVID-19? How did you come up with the name and what is the vision behind your group? 

I was actually researching Facebook marketing techniques and decided to launch a group on what I cook at home.

Many people asked me, ‘What do you cook at home for your family?’ My reply was always “I cook vegan,” hence the name was an easy choice. It snowballed within days to reach thousands and was especially busy during the pandemic when everyone was home and cooking. Everybody was trying to be healthier.

I did daily cooking ‘lives’ along with interviews presenting notable vegans and experts from around the world. It was a fun time, and the group is still very active.

What is your favourite recipe from Cook Vegan, and can you describe the health benefits? 

I think one of my favourite new recipes is my chickpea stew with soya chunks – it’s just so wholesome and delicious. I must have shared close to a thousand unique recipes and ideas over the past (nearly) three years through my platforms, books, YouTube, and newspapers, and I love them all.

The benefits of chickpeas are immense, from being a great protein source to supporting bone health and so much in between. This, added with benefits of soya chunks, which include hormonal balancing properties and all the fibre and nutrients from a huge array of vegetables, makes it an absolute winner for me.

It is complemented by the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories in onions and garlic with all those herbs and spices thrown in… And it’s so easy to make!

How do you think you will change the opinions and attitudes people have towards health and food? 

I think there are many people who are simply defensive about the food they are used to eating, but deep down most people know in their conscious that it’s harmful to them in some way and is horrible for animal welfare.

Once people feel that they aren’t being attacked, they are more open to change. Nearly all my followers are not vegan themselves. They are at various stages of their food journeys and looking for a healthier and kinder way to live. I try to encourage people to make small changes at their own pace.

Every meal makes a difference and I’m really proud that so many have tried my recipes. I’m delighted that a lot of people are feeling confident after watching my talks and joining my community to make a difference. They are striving to become a better version of themselves.

Where are the next steps for Cook Vegan facing? Where do you see its influence growing the most in the next 5 years? 

Cook Vegan has already expanded into Farah’s Club community, and I’m really looking forward to Farah’s Club reaching thousands of people around the globe. I am hosting both online and physical events and look forward to having the opportunity to run these events in Cyprus, the UK, and other countries in the near future.

The club is for non-vegans and anyone on a journey to reach their best potential.

The members are all interested in healthy food and healthy living. They would like to learn what fruits & vegetables and whole foods have to offer them. I’m here to enable their journey and give them lots of inspiration. It’s amazing to see people cure themselves of all sorts of ailments and simply feel happier, healthier, and have more energy.

Tell us about Farah’s Club. Part of the vision is not sacrificing your social life for nourishing your body. Can you describe this movement and is this focus becoming a trend? 

Absolutely, you should not have to sacrifice your social life or any part of your life to reach your full potential and be healthy and happy. It’s all about introducing new, better, and cleaner foods into your diet and lifestyle rather than subtracting.

By introducing foods that will make you feel better, slowly but surely, you will stop craving unhealthy options while also educating yourself on easy recipes, nutrients, and kinder ways of eating and treating your body.

There’s a lot of information in Farah’s Club, from a free Starters Kit eBook to weekly recipes and interviews with industry experts and much more.

You wrote a poetic story book called Theo The Pig. Can you share with us the vision and impact of Theo The Pig? What is your favourite theme or quote from your book? 

Theo The Pig is my labour of love. I’m really proud of this book, which was so well received by experts and industry leaders, including The Vegan Society, Ocean Robbins from Food Revolution Network, and Happy Cow.

It’s an example of never giving up on what you believe in.

I wrote this story in my head, then put it to children’s paints and paper, and one thing led to another: I ended up illustrating it all on my own. It’s a non-judgmental story showcasing how we can be kind to all, including farmers, and that there is a better way out there.

I love the entire book, including the recipes, but perhaps my favourite quote is “So, let’s all stand next to them and show them the way. There are so many more riches in living this way.” It applies to standing next to individuals, businesses, and big corporations, everyone, and demonstrating that there is indeed a kinder and healthier way to live.