Teaspoon of Love Cookbook founder Kenneth E. Savage III continues to expand his mission of strengthening communities through food education, wellness programming, and creative outreach. With a focus on consistency and service, he balances the growth of both his businesses: Teaspoon of Love, and I Create—while building partnerships that bring culturally tailored wellness resources to neighborhoods across the country. His vision emphasizes meeting people where they are, adapting tools to each community’s needs, and inspiring individuals to take small but meaningful steps toward healthier living.
In an exclusive interview with the nation’s premier faith-based and professional newspaper for winners, Anointed News Journal, Savage shares his commitment to community-centered wellness and his determination to make nutrition education accessible, adaptable, and empowering for all.
Collins:
Who is Kenneth E. Savage III?
Savage:
That’s a really good question, especially as we’re coming to the end of this year and reflecting on who I am and who I’ve been throughout this year. Ambitious, diligent, community-minded — an individual who wants to be better than the me of yesterday and support others in doing the same for themselves. I love business at its core: the good, the bad, and the indifferent. Any chance I get to communicate with someone expressing their goals, chasing a dream, or establishing something, I light up immediately because it’s a passion of mine. I do my best to pour my ambition, focus, and diligence into them.
Collins:
You also mentioned your father, your family man. Tell us about that.
Savage:
I have a wonderful wife and two kids. My wife: Damaris Seguinot; My daughter: LaDarris; She is eight years old. That’s my girl, my firstborn. She’s me in female form, and we are definitely battling. I see all the benefits and all my weaknesses in her. It’s nice to be able to try to mold that clay, knowing the potholes I tripped into. And then my son, Kenneth E. Savage IV. We didn’t do it right three times over, so I’m giving him that pressure. But he is the kindest, most gentle individual I’ve ever met. He is his mom’s spitting image. We were blessed not only with both genders, but with the ability to have two children who are exact opposites. He’s a wonderful young man. He’s six, and he’ll actually be seven at the end of this month. Yeah, we’re in November now. Goodness gracious.
My kids are the greatest thing I’ll ever do, and everything I do is directly for them — trying to give them something, to be that next piece of the foundational pyramid so they have something higher to start with.
Collins:
So you are also the author of a great book called Teaspoon of Love Cookbook, Volume #4. Tell us about Teaspoon of Love Cookbook and what motivated you to write this book?
Savage:
So the Teaspoon of Love Cookbook is really a wellness guide. Not only do you get recipes from the cookbook, but you gain an understanding of the healthy ingredients as well. It’s one thing to say, “Hey, this is a healthy meal,” but what does Swiss chard actually do for the body? It helps with inflammation, and it helps with diabetes support by slowing digestion, and so on. So now you have that knowledge as you’re cooking. When you go back out to shop, you’re looking at the ingredients a little differently. You’re able to connect your personal ailments and your personal health goals to specific ingredients and understand how they can support you.
There’s also a good amount of additional information about taking what you’ve learned from cooking and saying, “How can I do this differently?” Maybe you like your eggs fried a little harder, or you like certain things prepared a specific way. Now you can adjust recipes to fit your style, learn different techniques, and put them to good use.
Teaspoon of Love itself was born out of COVID. I Create is my marketing company, and we were approached to support Roots to Prevention, which was part of PBCIP. Roots to Prevention, “RTP” — was created to address food insecurity. At the time, pre-COVID, we were brought on to help with marketing, event marketing, and outreach because everything in the world was still normal then.
During COVID, Roots to Prevention decided to launch the Farm to Door initiative. They had produce and items that, when you talk about food insecurity and food access, some communities and individuals had never seen before. And if you’ve never seen something before — let alone cooked it, cut it, or stored it — you’re naturally hesitant. Why would you want it?
So we decided that when they supplied this produce fresh from the farms, people needed a cookbook to go with it. And we took it a step further. Let’s not just give them recipes — let’s give them knowledge behind the ingredients. Let’s give them, more or less, a workbook they can enjoy. We wanted it to be family-focused. Our cookbooks remain bright-colored because we try to attract children.
As a father, I learned quickly: whatever my kids want, I’ll go get it for them. And if they’re pulling out this cookbook because they want to help me cook and be in the kitchen, I’ve realized they’re more willing to try new things. So we wanted the cookbook to come full circle — a recipe guide, a wellness guide, and something people can reference.
Collins:
I’m glad you mentioned that this book was designed for families, because that was my next question. Who is this for? As you look through the book, you see a lot of families together in the kitchen. Also, you have the book half in English and half in Spanish. Why was that so important to you?
Savage:
We also wanted to add Mandarin Chinese, but then we realized the book might get a little too big. Really, we just wanted to reach everybody. It goes back to that question you asked — who I am and the people around me. Let’s not get it twisted: I did not do this on my own. There were many individuals and organizations that supported this as it grew. But it was about making sure no one felt left out. We wanted this to be utilized by everyone.
Collins:
You mentioned that this was an effort of many people who stood with you on this project. I noticed that this is probably the first book I’ve ever picked up where the author’s name is not present. So again, I’m going to ask you — why was that important to you?
Savage:
Because it’s not about credit. It’s not about ownership. It’s about moving forward. It’s about being a resource, being a stepping stone. I mentioned it with my children — and I can do that for someone else as well, being a piece of the pyramid that allows them to step a little higher. You can’t claim you’re for the community, doing something for the community, being a resource for the community, and then try to take the shine. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to step into the shadows and receive love simply by seeing the growth, the usage, and the changes in people’s lifestyles.
Collins:
Okay. So let me go back to the beginning again. Being as though you were inspired to create this cookbook, I would assume that you’re very talented in the kitchen and at culinary.
Savage:
Slightly, not bad if I say so myself! But what inspired me was the need… being purely honest with you — the need. I think it’s easy to have conversations with folks, especially for a person like me who loves to talk. We can sit here and talk all day, but if we have that all-day conversation, it’s easy to forget. It’s easy not to add it to the list or incorporate it. So, we needed something beyond the phone call, the conversation, the notepad. We needed something physical. It also made things real for individuals in general. It’s different to talk about “the couch talk,” as a great friend of mine, and huge contributor to the cookbook, co-founder of the cookbook — Justin would always say. A lot of us would say, “Yo, let’s not have this couch talk. Let’s be active.” And I think taking the element of making something real, something you can put in people’s hands, opens the mind.
Collins:
What can one expect when they read Teaspoon of Love Cookbook?
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Savage:
Not your average cookbook. As you’ll see, you’ll get past the table of contents and realize this is more than just a couple of recipes. You’re going to get knowledge about specific ingredients. You’re going to get hand-holding features like QR codes that take you to our website or YouTube channel, showing you other families cooking on the whim. I hope you’re going to be empowered and confident to tackle not only the recipe you’re looking to cook, but also to experiment yourself.
It’s meant to be a supportive tool. Something you feel comfortable keeping on the kitchen table even after you clean up. It’s a reference guide. It allows you to jot your own notes and say, “I never had fennel before, but after cooking this recipe, I’m now interested in making a fennel recipe myself.” And now you’ve learned how to cut it, cook it, store it — and you can truly utilize this to help you grow and potentially change generational curses if necessary.
Collins:
It has often been said that when people eat food, sometimes something is missing from the meal. And it’s also been said that when you’re familiar with some of your favorite dishes, and then you go back and they don’t taste the same, that word “love” pops up, which many people believe is the secret ingredient to the best tasting food. With Teaspoon of Love Cookbook, what compelled you to choose that name?
Savage:
Because it’s the truth. You said it. We have to get outside of the whole fast-food conversation. We understand what life and society put us through and the timing constraints we face. But no teenager is going to be able to put love into that hamburger when they don’t know you from a can of paint.
Let us all take a moment, close our eyes, and go back to when our grandmothers, our grandfathers, our mothers, our fathers, our caretakers were in the kitchen for a specific celebration. Those are times we may have taken for granted. But the truth is, that kitchen wasn’t warm because of the heat — it was warm because of the love they were putting in. The nourishment, the care in every cut and every slice.
I think the name was simply the truth of that. We all have to remember these things. Remember that what you put in your body matters. Love your body. And as you’re going through the processes of shopping, which none of us enjoy — and you’re figuring out a meal every day, which we also don’t enjoy — find the love in it. Whether you turn cooking into a passion or simply find love in providing for yourself or others in your household, find that love.
Collins:
How can people get a copy of Teaspoon of Love Cookbook?
Savage:
We are on Amazon, so feel free to search Teaspoon of Love Cookbook on Amazon. All of our versions are on there, from the first through the fourth. We’re working to continue our process of releasing a cookbook every June, so be on the lookout for the fifth one in June of 2026.
What I would love for folks to do is call their municipality, call their local community organizations. That’s who we want to partner with. Because the truth of the matter is our community deserves these things — just like our communities deserve nourishment, healthy access, food access, and the elimination of food insecurity. They deserve to have this bridge and this tool that teaches us how to utilize healthy ingredients.
So contact your local organization, your church, your municipality, and tell them that Teaspoon of Love is looking to support — because this should be on everyone’s doorstep and eventually in their kitchen.
Collins:
What’s next for Kenneth E. Savage III?
Savage:
Great question. Having this interview near the end of the year is a blessing. Honestly, consistency — to remain consistent, to continue working on my emotional foundation, because those ambitions and aspirations can definitely start to take a toll on the mind. I want to continue to grow both my businesses, Teaspoon of Love and I Create, to support my wife and family, and to continue supporting the circle. There’s a lot of brotherhood and community here.
I think being able to take the cookbook, the cooking challenges we do on our YouTube channel, and our “Veggie Q’s,” where we go out to the communities during the spring and summer months to give people an opportunity to taste different vegetarian and vegan options — remaining consistent with all of that, adding more partners and more communities to our schedule — that is the focus and the goal.
Learn more
Collins:
Okay. And when you say grow your two companies, Teaspoon of Love is one and I Create is the other. Are you available to do lectures and workshops, and if so, how can people reach you?
Savage:
Absolutely. I’ll start with our website, www.teaspoonoflove.org. For Teaspoon of Love, you can reach us directly there — all of our contact information is included. If you’re interested in reaching out via email, our direct email is heretohelp@teaspoonoflove.org — as in “we are here to help you.”
We are absolutely open to meeting anyone and everyone. One of the things I mentioned about the goal of Teaspoon of Love, the cookbook, and the organization itself, is that we want it to be the skeleton framework. Each community that opens the door to Teaspoon of Love puts on the muscles, ligaments, meat, and skin to fit their community. The cookbook we distribute in Camden is not going to be the same one we distribute in California. We need to meet communities where they are.
So we’re 100% open to cooking demonstrations, conversations, programming, and support in any way. If there are programs out there fighting food insecurity, and if this can be a tool to support new opportunities or strengthen grant applications, we would love to find ways to make it fit their community. Absolutely.
Collins:
The Anointed News Journal has over 180,000 readers. In conclusion, what do you want to say to the readers of The Anointed?
Savage:
First and foremost, congratulations to The Anointed. That is a task, and to remain consistent at that level is a blessing in its own right.
I think it’s important to remember that it’s way more than one person. I may be here speaking on its behalf, but there are so many people and organizations that have supported Teaspoon of Love and its growth and development. So no matter who you are or what your focus is as you read this, understand that there are people out there who want to support your goals. They want to be there. They want to help.
And secondly, Teaspoon of Love really is about the people — all my people, of all shapes, colors, sizes, genders, and backgrounds. What we put in our bodies matters. What we do in the kitchen matters for those who watch us.
This is going to continue to adapt and grow with every volume to be that tool — that wellness guide, that resource — that is enticing to the youth who may be looking over your shoulder or under your arm, and something that allows you to slowly adjust the areas you may need to improve when it comes to health and what we put in our bodies.
Conclusion:
Savage’s work through Teaspoon of Love continues to evolve as he partners with communities, churches, and organizations to fight food insecurity and inspire healthier lifestyles. His mission is rooted in service, empowerment, and the belief that every community deserves access to nourishment, knowledge, and tools that meet their unique needs. As he presses forward with new cookbooks, demonstrations, and outreach, Savage remains committed to supporting families, uplifting neighborhoods, and helping people rediscover the love that begins in the kitchen.
By Chris Collins
