Wake Up and Read the Labels‪!‬ Jen Smiley

The food industry has long recognized the consumer demand for clean, healthy snack options. However, many store-bought snacks, while appearing healthy on the surface, contain hidden sugars, additives, and preservatives. Solely recognizes these needs and is up to the challenge. They lead the clean snacking movement by offering simple, transparent, and delicious snacks made with whole, organic fruits. Their commitment to using only a few natural ingredients sets them apart from other brands that rely on artificial ingredients.
In this episode, Jen talks with Simón Sacal, Founder and CEO at Solely. With more than 20 years of experience in the food industry, Simón is a pioneer in creating healthy snack options. He started Solely by inventing a technology to make fat-free potato chips and has since expanded the brand to include fruit jerky, gummies, dried fruit, and pasta. Simón's mission is to provide consumers with clean, nutritious, and guilt-free snacks made from ingredients that humans have used for thousands of years.
Simón talks with Jen about how Soley uses real ingredients, like organic fruit, to create their fruit jerky, gummies, dried fruit, and pasta. Simón also shares how he sources organic fruits and the challenges in developing these products. He highlights the significance of organic farming in ensuring that the fruits used in their products are free from harmful chemicals.

Key Takeaways

[01:30] - An overview of Simon's background and how Solely got started.

[02:59] - The fat-free movement.

[05:04] - The challenges of creating clean and simple snacks.

[07:21] - The challenges companies face in creating clean snacks.

[09:18] - Solely's source for organic fruit.

[11:15] - Solely's fruit jerky products and their taste profile.

[14:57] - How Solely's fruit gummies are produced.

[16:02] - Harmful ingredients in popular fruit snack brands.

[20:13] - How Solely produces its pasta options: spaghetti squash and green banana.

[23:34] - The best way to get Solely products.


Quotes
[04:08] - "At Solely, we go far beyond better for you. We do good for you. So, we only have food that humans have been eating for thousands of years and that we know nourishes and is good for you." ~ Simón Sacal
[09:34] - "Being close to the farmers is a huge part of the business in many ways. It makes it sustainable. It makes it human. It makes it work. It's the only way you can really control the fruit and make it long-term sustainable." ~ Simón Sacal
[10:19] - "Sometimes, you think you're eating clean because the ingredients look clean. But if you have a lot of pesticides on the product, it could be even worse than having something that is not perceived as clean. So, we make a huge effort to go organic." ~ Simón Sacal

Links 

Simón Sacal on LinkedIn

Solely Fruit Snacks

Solely on Amazon

Jimbo's Naturally

Costco

Kroger

Albertsons

Target




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Have you ever craved more snacks after eating one? That's because sugary snacks often leave us wanting more. But Bearded Brothers offers a refreshing change in the crowded snack market by providing healthier options.
In this episode, Jen talks with Nick Meyers, President of Bearded Brothers, about how his journey into Bearded Brothers began, why organic ingredients are essential to their mission, and their special Yo bars designed for kids.
In this episode:

[01:49] - How and why Nick got involved in Beared Brothers.

[05:25] - Why organic ingredients and clean labels are important to Beared Brothers.

[13:36] - Nick talks about Beared Brothers Yo Bars for kids.

[17:27] - Where you can find Bearded Brothers.


Quotes
[03:53] - “You look on the back, you read the ingredients, you know the ingredients, and not only do you know them, you feel good about them.” ~ Nick Meyer
[09:27] - “You want to eat clean and feel good about it, but you want to enjoy your food too.” ~ Nick Meyer
[12:29] - “When we created a lot of these bars, we wanted to stick to the cleanest ingredients possible.” ~ Nick Meyer

Links 

Nick Meyer LinkedIn

Bearded Brothers

Breaded Brothers Instagram

Costco

Amazon

Whole Foods Market


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Get 25% off your Bearded Brother purchase. Use the code Wakeup at https://www.beardedbros.com.

Chronic pain often serves as a wake-up call, signaling the need for lifestyle and diet changes. While these kinds of changes can be tough, Addison LaBonte is on a mission to make it easier with better-for-you desserts made with real ingredients.
Addison is the founder of Sweet Addison’s. Her life took a turn when she was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, a painful condition that forced her to change her lifestyle. Unable to run, she tried a gluten-free diet and healthier eating habits out of desperation. When she found relief, it sparked an idea – why not create delicious cookies that fit her new lifestyle?
In this episode, Addison talks with Jen about her journey to healing chronic pain by changing her diet, the benefits of going gluten-free, and creating Sweet Addison’s..

Key Takeaways

[01:40] - How Addison was diagnosed with compartment syndrome.

[07:31] - Who should explore gluten-free.

[08:27] - Why Addison named her cookie company Sweet Addison’s.

[09:25] - Products made by Sweet Addison’s and their ingredients.

[19:22] - Why Sweet Addison’s doesn’t compromise on flavor.

[24:23] - Sweet Addison’s mission.

[25:28] - Where you can find Sweet Addison’s cookies.


Quotes
[05:20] - “To say that becoming gluten-free and reading food labels was life-changing is an understatement for me.” ~ Addison LaBonte
[07:31] “When people say, do you think everybody should become gluten-free? I say honestly, yes.” ~ Addison LaBonte
[20:08] - “One of the biggest feedbacks I get from people is, I can't believe that something this healthy can taste this good.” ~ Addison LaBonte

Links 

Addison LaBonte Instagram

Sweet Addison’s

Sweet Addison’s Instagram

The University of Maine

Chips Ahoy!

Mrs. Fields

Famous Amos


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Get 10% off your Sweet Addisons purchase!
Use code: Wakeup10 at https://sweetaddisons.com.

As a water sommelier, Martin Reise spends his days creating content about water and sharing his knowledge with others. As a child, he noticed that water could have different tastes, sparking his curiosity. Disappointed by the limited water options available in restaurants, he decided to take matters into his own hands. 
Martin reveals some surprising truths about water. He explains why certain types, like alkaline water, may not be as beneficial as they seem. He also sheds light on the practices of major water brands, exposing how some of them bottle purified tap water and market it as something more. He believes that the best water is pure and natural, without any additives. He is skeptical of labels like "alkaline water" or "vitamin water," urging consumers to be wary of marketing gimmicks.
In this episode, Jen talks with Martin about his journey into this unconventional career, the complexities behind water labels in the grocery store, and the secrets of water tasting.

Key Takeaways

[01:33] - How Martin became a water sommelier.

[03:46] - Why some people are more sensitive to the taste of water.

[06:15] - The most hydrating types of water.

[13:00] - How to choose water at the grocery store.

[15:33] - Martin breaks down different types of water.

[22:05] - Martin’s take on infused water.

[23:54] - Why Martin doesn’t drink distilled water.

[25:18] - How purified water is affecting people’s health.

[26:36] - Martin talks about water intoxication.

[30:08] - Martin discusses his book and water-tasting box.

[37:44] - Should you filter tap water in your house?


Quotes
[07:11] - “Electrolytes is just a fancy marketing word for minerals.” ~ Martin Reise
[16:32] - “All these water producers are thinking, how can I convince the American people to buy tap water in a plastic bottle.” ~ Martin Reise
[23:58] - “Distilled waters are for small appliances, I’m not a small appliance.” ~ Martin Reise

Links 

Martin Reise Instagram

Martin Reise Youtube

Martin Reise

Die Welt des Wassers

Pepsi

Coca Cola

Costco

FDA

Vitamin Water

Smart Water

Essentia Water


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Opting for plant-based alternatives often seems like a health-conscious decision. But what if these seemingly harmless swaps are actually posing hidden risks behind the scenes?
Brooke Harris, food lover and Founder of Goodmylk, previously thought switching to plant-based milk was always a healthy choice. But when she started having health problems from plant-based milk, she knew she needed to make a change. 
That's what led her to create Goodmylk, a dairy-free milk substitute that tastes great. Unlike many other plant-based milks with added sugars and palm oil, Goodmylk’s products are made from simple ingredients like dates, tigernut, Himalayan salt, sprouted almonds, and oats. Brooke also shares some of her unusual health tips, like cold plunging, red light therapy, and putting onions in socks before bed to help reduce inflammation. 
In this episode, Brooke talks with Jen about the hidden truths about plant-based milk, wellness tips to improve overall health, and how she created a better plant-based milk alternative. 

Key Takeaways

[01:31] - What is Goodmylk Co. 

[05:20] - Common ingredients in most plant-based milk.

[08:07] - The simple ingredients in Goodmylk.

[14:10] - Why dairy-free milk is called milk.

[18:13] - Brooke’s wellness hacks.

[24:23] - Where you can find Goodmylk creamers. 


Quotes
[03:53] - “Goodmylk launched with this idea of getting better, clean as close to homemade as possible plant-based milk.” ~ Brooke Harris
[09:10] - “We have this crazy idea that instead of adding a bunch of weird ingredients to make something that is similar to a milky substance, almonds have a lot of fat and protein in them.” ~ Brooke Harris
[10:37] - “Every step of the decision-making around making products filters around me being sick and wanting to create better options.” ~ Brooke Harris

Links 

Brooke Harris Instagram

Brooke Harris LinkedIn

Goodmylk Co.

Ritual Coffee Roasters

Folgers Coffee

So Delicious

Almond Breeze

Oatly


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Cheese cravings are among the toughest to shake. But imagine enjoying pepper jack, spicy queso, cream cheese, and smoked pimento without the discomfort of dairy. It might sound too good to be true, but thanks to Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, it's not.
Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, Owner of Darë Vegan Cheese, talks with Jen about her journey from formulating vegan cheese in a tiny blender at home to growing a fully-fledged business. Her vegan cheeses can be enjoyed without the cons of dairy. From playful recipe experiments to bold flavor combinations, Gwendolyn has reimagined cheese alternatives that even dairy lovers enjoy.
In this episode, Gwendolyn talks with Jen about the inspiration and process behind creating vegan cheese, the benefits of dairy-free cheese, and the challenges of competing with larger brands. 

Key Takeaways

[01:23] - The story behind the name, Darë Vegan Cheese.

[02:17] - How Gwendolyn fell in love with vegan cuisine.

[05:02] - How Darë Vegan Cheese got started.

[05:57] - Why cashews work well as a dairy cheese alternative.

[06:48] - Why people should go dairy-free.

[08:57] - A deep dive into Darë Vegan Cheese ingredients.

[12:01] - Where you can find Darë Vegan Cheese.

[13:05] - Darë Vegan Cheese's core brand values.

[15:14] - The challenges of competing with large brands.

[16:55] - Gwendolyn’s vision for Darë Vegan Cheese.

[19:04] - How to join the Darë Vegan Cheese affiliate program.


Quotes
[02:47] - “It was like the coolest challenge as a chef, to take what people are used to eating and making it healthier.” ~ Gwendolyn Dare Hageman
[13:20] - “Our number one brand value is to create a workplace where people want to be.” ~ Gwendolyn Dare Hageman
[14:14] - “We want to be a fancy cheese, but we also want to be down to earth.” ~ Gwendolyn Dare Hageman

Links 

Gwendolyn Dare Hageman LinkedIn

Darë Vegan Cheese

Whole Foods Market


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Jen on Instagram

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