Better Food Stories

Alex Nielsen was a a busy sophomore at the University of California, San Diego, managing an engineering degree, an active social life and running triathlons when he began looking for something (healthy) that would help get him through his demanding schedule.

Caffeine and clean eating quickly became his answer to staying on top of life’s many dimensions. However, biking around campus with coffee quickly became a chore, energy drinks were loaded with chemicals, and energy snacks were filled with sugary syrups and other highly refined ingredients.

That’s when Alex had his lightbulb moment. And, after early three years of experimenting with caffeine sources and natural foods, the first Ritual Energy snack was born in 2016.

Today, Ritual Energy’s products are available around the country on their website, Amazon Prime and across, plus 80 retailers nationwide.

In our conversation, Alex chat about:

You can also shop this brand on Amazon. Here’s my personal recommendation:

Ritual Energy Almond Toasted Coconut

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for support.

Plus, see the stories behind every Better Food Stories podcast guest by visiting adriagreenhauff.com/podcast.

What started as a dream to share part of her Brazilian culture in the U.S. came a reality for Junea Rocha. The entrepreneur and co-founder of food brand Brazi Bites, is making major waves in the frozen food space with her delicious freezer-to-oven cheese bread snacks.

In this episode, I’m excited to introduce you to Junea as we chat about:

-How she and her husband went from making cheese bread in their kitchen to launching in major retailers, including Target, across the nation

-How Brazil Bites ended up on popular TV show, Shark Tank, and what they learned from that experience

-Why Junea decided to go from a successful career in project management to launching a food company.

You can check out show notes to this episode, as well as all past episodes of Better Food Stories on adriagreenhauff.com/podcast. 

 In a world of infinite food blogs and 15-second Instagram videos, being a successful food influencer doesn’t come in easy in 2019 – but it’s also not impossible.

Today on podcast I’m talking to my friend and fellow foodie Kimia Kalbasi, a San Francisco-based food and lifestyle content creator and expert in social media storytelling and community building. 

In this info-packed conversation, you’ll learn: 

We also dive into the topic of fake influencers, fake following and fake engagement and how brands can avoid it.

You can learn more about Kimia at kimiaskravings.com

Raquel Tavares always knew she wanted to create something – from hemp clothing to better  yoga mats, she had notebooks filled with sketches and ideas for products she wanted to invent. 

But it was her love of cooking and mother’s passion for Ayurveda that ultimately led her down the path of food and create Fourth and Heart, an artisanal food brand on a mission to modernize ancient pantry food staples starting with a line of grass-fed spreadable butters known as “ghee.”

In our conversation, we discuss: 

4th & Heart Original Grass-Fed Ghee

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for support.

Plus, see the stories behind every Better Food Stories podcast guest by visiting adriagreenhauff.com/podcast.

Technology continues to impact our lives every single day – and the food industry is no exception. 

Today on the show I’m chatting with Yuni Sameshima, the co-founder of Chicory, a NYC-based technology company that makes recipes shoppable and uses artificial intelligence create digital shopping experiences. 

In our conversation, we chat about: 

You can learn more about Chicory at chicory.co

Melissa Vitelli had a successful career in the New York fashion industry when she found herself looking for a way to decompress from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

As she began enjoying more time enjoying nature on the quieter side of New York state, she got into vegetable gardening. And, the closer she got to her food, the more Melissa began thinking about entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. That’s when she decided she wanted to rewriter her narrative and become a food entrepreneur. And, that’s where her company Jar Goods was born.

Jar Goods creates authentic, clean label tomato sauces made with sweet, vine-ripened tomatoes and NO artificial flavors, colors or artificial preservatives.

In my conversation with Melissa, you’ll learn: 

You can also shop this brand on Amazon. Here’s my personal recommendation:

Jar Good Classic Red Sauce - Case of 6

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for support.

Plus, see the stories behind every Better Food Stories podcast guest by visiting adriagreenhauff.com/podcast.

Inspired by the principles of Ayurveda, longtime yoga practitioner and foodie Josh Ehrenfried sought out to create a cleaner, less sweet food bar that could also be eaten to balance one’s mind and body type. 

Dosha Bar is a mindful snack bar made with organic, unsweetened fruit and seeds – no artificial or added flavorings, no fruit juice concentrate, no preservatives and no powders from a lab. Available in three yummy flavors, Dosha Bar is intended to offer a clean, tasty snack with honest ingredients by harnessing the power of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian wellness system. 

In my conversation with Josh, you’ll learn: 

Want to try Dosha Bar for yourself? Make sure to listen through the end of the episode to learn how you can save 20% on your order. 

When it comes to starting a business, it isn’t always about inventing something completely different. In fact, some of the most successful brands out there built their empires by finding an opportunity to take  something that already existed and make it just a little better. 

For Eugene Kang, the co-founder of Country Archer Jerky Co., that opportunity presented itself during a road trip to the Grand Canyon, where he and his now business partner met Celestino “Charlie” Mirarchi, a butcher and artisan jerky maker who made small-batch jerky by hand and sold it roadside throughout the Southwest.

“It was the most out-of-this-world, mouthwateringly delicious jerky we had ever tasted,” said Kang. “I knew nothing about jerky - or business for that matter - but did know that if I could just package this in the right way, source super clean ingredients, and create a strong brand behind an already amazing product, that everyone from young ingredient-conscious consumers to parents and beyond would take pride in picking Country Archer up off the shelf and sharing with others.”

Twenty-five thousand stores and 155 employees later, I’d say Eugene was definitely right. 

In our conversation, you’ll learn: 

You can also shop this brand on Amazon. Here’s my personal recommendation:

Country Archer Hickory Smoked Turkey Jerky

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for support.

Plus, see the stories behind every Better Food Stories podcast guest by visiting adriagreenhauff.com/podcast.

What do you get when you task three food loving grad students from Portland with coming up with an idea for a business — you get a food company that’s equal parts flavor and personality.

Red Duck Foods is an artisan organic condiment company located in Portland, Oregon.. Now a Certified B Corp®, Red Duck has 11 certified organic products including four ketchups, three BBQ sauces, three taco sauces and a cocktail sauce. 

On the podcast today, I’m chatting Jessica Hilbert, one of the three amazing women who started this very unique brand. In my conversation, we talk about: 

-How Jessica and her co-founders have built a business around making food more fun

-How she and her team raised $25,000 to get Red Duck Foods off the ground 

-How Red Duck Foods is leveraging partnerships to scale their brand and gain new customers 

You can learn more about Red Duck Foods at redduckfoods.com.

Elena Ladoux was a busy attorney and mom juggling a demanding career and home life. Determined to “have it all,” she went on a search for a natural product that would help give her a boost of energy and focus on the days she needed it most. But after years of research and still coming up empty handed, she did what any determined mom would do – she created something herself. 

MommyGo is a  healthier and gentler alternative to the traditional energy shot. Made with ceremonial grade Japanese matcha tea, MommyGO provides hours of calm alertness to power your presence when it matters most. It is packed with antioxidants, is low on sugar and 100% natural.

In my conversation with Elena, you’ll learn: 

... and so much more.

You can also shop this brand on Amazon. Here’s my personal recommendation:

MommyGO Natural Energy Shots – Coconut Lavender 6-Pack

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for support.

Plus, see the stories behind every Better Food Stories podcast guest by visiting adriagreenhauff.com/podcast.