Our Story

I clearly remember the moment, I was shopping in our local supermarket with my toddler, pushing my cart past a big display of instant Macaroni & Cheese.  I loved Mac & Cheese as a child, and now as a mom I longed for a fast and nutritious way to feed my son on those days I didn’t have time to make a meal “from scratch”.  Out of nostalgia, I paused to pick up a box and looked at the ingredients.  Not only did it have dairy but many of the ingredients looked like something I might see in my college chemistry classes.  I returned the package to the display and kept moving. 

“Why does eating healthy need to be so difficult?” I wondered.  Oh, how I wished I could utilize the common instant options on the shelf, not just Mac & Cheese but other products, what a time saver that would be!  But as I thought about the health of my growing child, I knew that was not the best option for our family. I had learned too much about nutrition since I was younger. I physically felt the myriads of benefits of transitioning from my previous “Standard American Diet” (aka “SAD”) to a whole food plant-based diet.  I observed the differences of adult friends who grew up on whole food plant-based diets compared to friends who grew up on and still eat a standard American diet. 

I had a similar experience with waffle mixes. My two-year-old son LOVED when I made him waffles from scratch in the morning but boy did it eat up precious time to measure out every ingredient during our busy morning rush!  The store-bought versions just didn’t compare with our home recipe: either they were low on fiber and protein or had other ingredients we wanted to avoid.  Over time, I realized I could prepare our home mix ahead of time so that in the mornings I only had to add water, blend, and pour it into the waffle maker. 

Before long, the idea of Wholesome Plant Pantry was born for the busy parents, professionals, athletes, and any other health-conscious people who are seeking nutritious, real food options.