Goodbye Kookie Karma

Years ago a client told me about a healthy chocolate chip cookie. The second this client left my office I was tracking down these “Holistic Chocolate Chip” creations. I was so bowled over when I first tasted this kookie that I wrote a love letter to it (I know). Over the years, I developed a friendship with Juli, the owner of Kookie Karma. I could tell over the phone and via email she was a good egg (bad analogy). At the same time, clients and readers were falling in love with Kookie Karma kale “krackers”, their kookies and really everything they produced. At the office, we joked about the delays we experienced receiving some of our orders. We always chalked it up to the care it took to produce such amazing small-batch products and also, let’s face it, that the company was based in California. In retrospect, there may have been more to it.

A short time ago, I realized I hadn’t been in touch with Juli in a while, and reached out. She responded and explained she had made the tough decision to close Kookie Karma. She attached a link that I’ll share with you. I found her words so relatable whether you’re a business owner or a mom,  if you’ve even been blindsided by a new passion or had to say a difficult goodbye. Here is Juli's story:

Dear Kookie Karma,
On a beautiful Saturday at the Santa Monica farmer’s market, where the fruit and veggies were bountiful, people were friendly, hippies were frolicking, the air was salty and fog was blowing in, I picked up a cookbook.

A book, for a self-proclaimed “chef”, looked extremely enticing. Every recipe was full of bright plant foods, beautiful salads, and pizza topped with flowers(?!), gorgeous meals with the simplest ingredients. As I read the book I realized that each recipe was made with ONLY raw fruits and vegetables. No dairy. No animal meat. No sugar. No butter. No eggs. Not only did I buy the book, but I also decided to try this raw food ONLY lifestyle for one week.

I headed straight for my kitchen and I followed recipe after recipe. I can’t even begin to explain the way I felt. I didn’t cheat one time {note: I even brought my own salad dressings to happy hour with my girlfriends and they were definitely annoyed with me at this point}. Meals were in Tupperware containers and were ready to grab out of the fridge. Nothing went in my mouth that came from a package, not even chewing gum. I ate REAL, non-cooked, energy filled, sprouted, fresh, organic food for seven whole days.

The results: Endless energy. Smooth skin. 5 lbs. dropped {not a goal, just a side effect}. My Eczema cleared {all gone and doctors had told me it would never go away and just gave me steroid creams}. I felt light and airy. Slept like a baby. I was happy and energetic. No brain fog. No headaches. NO PMS!!

I had been working in an attorney’s office and had a bad case of the office blues and those seven days of eating a 100% raw diet motivated me to leave my job and return to school to study nutrition. A year later Kookie Karma was born. Using my cooking experience and nutrition knowledge, I created my own “packaged snacks” to sell to stores. My “kookies” contained no dairy, no sugar, no gluten and no soy.

I didn’t see another product like this on the market and I figured if I felt this good eating this way, so would everybody else. I lived and breathed my business. Sweat. Tears. Hours of baking. Deliveries. Web design. Package design. Sales. Marketing. Email after email. You name it.

I landed Whole Foods Market as one of my first customers, which then led to me building my own commercial kitchen. It was a dream come true. Despite the long hours, I could still make my own hours which allowed me to have fun on the side. A 24 year old’s dream!

Sales went up, Kookie Karma was named a “hot item” by In Style magazine in 2006 and I was named one of the Top 20 Entrepreneurs in their 20s by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Then… I fell in love. I was not only distracted by a man but suddenly I wanted different things in my life. In fact, it wasn’t long before we were starting a family. Thinking everything would be fine and I could make it work, my employees could handle it, I could bring my son to work. You know, all those thoughts you have before your big wake-up call {the day the baby arrives}.

I remember being on the phone with the bank, computer on my lap and my newborn baby at my side, and they informed me that due to the declining economy, my line of credit was being revoked.

A year later, I was in the same boat but with a 1 year old running around and another newborn on my lap. I was checking email just hours after the birth of my second son and back in the office a week later.

My passion for health food wasn’t fading but my drive to be an entrepreneur was. I didn’t want to wear all the hats; juggle cash flow, stay on top of the bookkeeping or answer the never-ending phone calls. My interest, my head and my HEART were someplace else. Kookie Karma had became nothing but stress for me.

Over the next few years, Kookie Karma grew a little but I had stopped taking a salary and I needed investors. I didn’t have the time or energy to search for them, my focus was elsewhere. I tried to sell, but the business needed funding to keep going another month.

Eventually, it died.

A slow painful death at that.

Kookie Karma has been a huge part of me. It’s the only real career I’ve known. It has defined and shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve learned more from running my own business than any business school could teach me, I’ve met the coolest people and had the same, wonderful staff for over seven years. I have received the BEST thank you letters from people who have enjoyed my products. In fact, it was often those messages that kept me in the business longer than I should have been. 

But I realized that my past had to die before my new life could really start. I couldn’t handle being a CEO and a mom. That realization was HUGE. My kids are my passion now. Forget trying to expose the WORLD to health food, it’s a challenge just trying to expose my sons to it!

I am still blogging at PUREmamas and consulting. Someday I’ll start another business, but for now I’m just wearing the mommy hat and it is by far the hardest yet most fulfilling one yet. I’ve definitely gone through feelings of guilt and failure and disbelief. I never thought I’d be saying goodbye to Kookie Karma.

I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything was the way it should have been. And it is how it should be. I made a choice. A big huge choice and grew from it. Pain, stress and hardship make our souls richer.

Goodbye 20′s.

Goodbye Kookie Karma.

And THANK YOU!

Juli

I loved this letter and thought you all would too.

Questions for you. Does this leave you sad that Juli had to choose or do you see it as her embracing “her new life” as she said? Do you think you can be equally passionate about motherhood and a business or career? Work lives and personal lives? Does Juli’s story about going “raw” make you want to experiment with your own diet, to dive into something different?

My favorite quote:

“ I realized that my past had to die before my new life could really start.”
Two pieces of news. First, I emailed with Juli yesterday and she's completely content with her decision though she wishes she could have sold the business (somehow I feel that was meant to be). And second, we have a new feature called Thin and Thifty with one item on sale at the Foodtrainers' store each week. Too bad it can't be Kookie Karma.

Fox News calls Adele fat, her response more newsworthy

Surprisingly, the dress is not Chanel

About a year ago, Karl Lagerfeld was blasted for calling Adele fat. In a conversation about pop stars he said “the thing at the moment is Adele. She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face.” The outcry after this comment should’ve served as a warning but Fox news didn’t seem to care (or they were hoping for a controversy of their own). The day after this year’s Grammy Awards they ran a five-minute “news” segment with a nutritionist about Adele and Kelly Clarkson’s weight.

I understand a discussion about celebrities or other public figures and weight. I recently wrote about Governor Chris Christy and whether weight should affect his potential presidential run. And I have posted about Kelly Clarkson as her songs and quotes have given the virtual middle finger to critics and their comments. What I don’t have any patience for are unfounded assumptions about people based on their weight.

The Fox segment’s nutritionist Keren Gilbert mentioned “if these women walked into my office and said they wanted to lose weight I wouldn’t kick them out.” First, the difference, as we discussed last week, is that these women as far as I know have not walked into Ms Gilbert’s Great Neck office. And if Adele did seek out a nutritionist, she may wish to discuss postnatal nutrition (helloooo). Ms. Gilbert then pointed her skinny finger saying “we’re a nation of excuses” their weight sends message “I don’t need to address these issues; I could be overweight like her.” I could dissect these comments all day long but Adele’s commentary is much more profound and definitely classier than anything I could say.

I recalled an interview Anderson Cooper did for 60 Minutes with Adele last year. I was so impressed with her as she offered the most sincere responses to tough, personal questions. She said she never looked at magazines and thought “I have to look like her to be a success”.  She also mentioned, as advice for young girls “if you want to change something about yourself, learn to appreciate yourself first.” She wasn’t standing on a soapbox for loving yourself no matter what. Rather, she said it’s ok if you want to make changes but the key, something Adele seems to have in spades, is caring for yourself.

How do we imbue young girls with that? Or adult women for that matter? How do you become immune to all the "body" stuff surrounding you?

And there’s more, Adele also takes on the issue of sexiness. She has said even if she had a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit figure, she would still wear "elegant clothing". In another magazine she was quoted saying, “'I don't want to be some skinny mini with my t*** out. I really don't want to do it and I don't want people confusing what it is that I'm about. “ In a time where JLo’s dress is slit up to her cha cha (sexy or slutty?) and Kate Upton is pretty much topless (in Antarctica!) on the cover of SI, isn’t modesty the most refreshing message of all?

And because I couldn’t resist, the expert in the Fox segment has this photo on her website? I wonder what she’s offering in that nutrition office she mentioned.

Does this photo say "let's talk about fiber?" Um no.

Do you think being in the public eye automatically makes you a role model? Do you think, as Fox suggested, overweight celebrities give others excuses to remain overweight? Would you feel differently if it were a rail thin pop star? Would to go to a health professional where "sexy" is part of their appeal? What is your favorite Adele song?

I love this song so much, Adele the pop world needs more "Someones Like You". 

Fat on Facebook

I received the following email from a loyal Foodtrainers’ reader:

Just last night I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and I came across a photo of my friend’s child, above the photo she had captioned "My Big Guy".  My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets because she had this child only 2 years ago and he is GIGANTIC, and by gigantic I mean OBESE.  This isn't like a home-grown, strapping, Midwestern farm kid who has been drinking natural cow's milk and eating kale grown outside in the garden, this is a Brooklyn kid who must be raised on ALL processed foods.  I immediately texted my best friend who is really close with this friend. She wrote back to say, "I know!  I am thinking about what to say to her now because something has to be said!!!"

What would Lauren do?  Do you have the conversation, or do you avoid it and watch your friend's kid get diabetes and asthma?  

What I would do, as a nutritionist, may be different from what you choose to do. I do not offer unsolicited nutrition advice, as professionally, I feel readiness is everything. Advice is taken much more seriously in my office than it is at a dinner table or schoolyard. I think your question is a great one for a few reasons. First, early childhood weight is often ignored or dismissed as “baby fat” while babies and toddlers, like the rest of our country, have been getting larger. One in 10 children under 2 years old is overweight. Additionally, many friends and relatives reading this struggle with the same “do I say something” question.

I reached out to Dara-Lynn Weiss, a parent and the author of the thought-provoking new book The Heavy, for her opinion on this. The Heavy documents Dara’s efforts to help her 7 year old lose weight. Last year I blogged about a Vogue article profiling Dara and her daughter Bea.

Dara’s response:

I am no expert on childhood obesity, pediatric nutrition, or child psychology. But as a mother who went through the trial of having an obese child, I do have an opinion about what you and other parents in your situation should do: nothing.

In my memoir about helping my child overcome obesity at a young age (The Heavy: A Mother, A Daughter, A Diet -- A Memoir), I consider various reasons why parents' job of helping a severely overweight child is so unexpectedly difficult. Some of those reasons are:

1. We're scared to talk to kids about their weight, and to intervene in a very sensitive and challenging area of their lives. 
2. While we are subject to the judgments and criticisms of our peers for having an overweight or obese child, we fear the backlash that may accompany our decision to help a young child lose weight. 
3. The information provided by experts on how to help our child often has little or nothing to do with our individual child's situation, making us feel like we're doing something wrong when we fail to heed that advice or find it doesn't work for our families.

I can see that you care about your friend, and are operating out of genuine concern for her child. I think you are worried she's guilty of issue #1 (afraid to intervene), but I would suggest you try to avoid being one of the people contributing to issue #2 (judgment by peers). I respect that Lauren, who does have actual expertise in the area of nutrition, doesn't provide unsolicited advice to people without understanding the specifics of their bodies and lifestyle. It is all too easy to criticize others -- I know from having been on both sides of the judgment coin -- and to feel you know what's best for them without having a full understanding of their situation.

In this case, you are making judgments about a two-year-old child's diet ("he must be raised on ALL processed foods") and health prospects (taking "diabetes and asthma" as a given in this child's future) based only on a Facebook post. There may be medical issue or a reasonable developmental explanation around this child's weight. Perhaps the mother is already concerned about or even addressing her child's weight, and she is merely expressing her love for her baby on Facebook, not making a public declaration of obesity acceptance.

I appreciate that you want to help. As the mother of a child who suffered from obesity and still works hard to maintain a healthy weight, I strongly believe that the only person who should tell a parent that his or her child needs intervention with weight is a medical professional who has an ongoing relationship to the family. As a friend to the parent of an overweight or obese child, the best thing you can do, in my opinion, is support your friend's efforts to help her child -- whenever and however she decides to do so -- and spare her any unsolicited judgments and advice. I'm sure she's getting enough of those as it is.

 Wow, thank you Dara. I have a few additional thoughts. While we both agree saying something isn’t necessarily the right move, you mentioned support. If you are to support someone you have to be in contact with them. Perhaps open the door with “how is everything going? Your photo made me realize we haven’t been in touch”. If someone is looking to spew, that’s all they need to hear. I also thought a lot about Dara’s opinion of “expert’s advice” and it’s something I often think when I read books on children’s nutrition or parenting. I feel like screaming, “it’s not that easy.” And talking about weight and food is far from easy.

Thank you for this question, if any of you have articles or questions you’d like me to cover, send them my way.What would you do if faced with a similar situation? Have you ever addressed a friend or family member’s weight before they broached the subject? Would it be different if this were an adult?

Happy Valentine's Day, Dave Linn (Jen Linn's husband) wrote the most beautiful piece about her. This is love and a must read (with tissues ready). Miss you Jen and your dancing always.

Giveaway news: the winner of the Chocolate giveaway is Kathy (from beautypalatte blog) and the winner of Sex Again is Meg. 

Chocolate Knight and Giveaways

Evolve Truffles, our #1 this year

I apologize. I know many loyal Foodtrainers’ blog readers are single and Valentines Day is especially annoying with the hearts, the love, the whole thing. I’m married so who am I to complain about the day of love, right? Monday, we sent out our February Chocolate Newsletter and I was in the office talking about the week’s schedule with Carolyn and up popped this on my screen.

I’m going to take the boys to the Rangers/Islanders game on the 14^th, is that Valentine’s Day? Have an extra ticket, let’s all go.

Let’s dissect. A loving father sees two New York hockey teams are playing each other next week. He plans to take his children and perhaps one of their friends to the game. He starts to enter it in his calendar and has a strange feeling something else is happening that day. He has four tickets and reasons that inviting his wife solves any potential conflict. Plus, in his male mind, is there really anything more Valentiney than Madison Square Garden, beer and beer? After many years together, I can totally laugh at this but let’s be clear I’m not going to the game. When I posted this on FB a friend suggested a spa night but I have a better idea. Chocolate Night. Let me tell you who’s invited.

Numi Chocolate Pu Erh Tea

Pu Erh tea is a fermented black tea that has been shown to improve weight loss.  Numi infuses their pu erh with cocoa taking "healthy chocolate" to a whole new level. And Numi wanted one of you to sip this tasty tea too, more on that below.

Evolve

These truffles are gluten free, soy free and dairy free. They are also low calorie with two approximately 100 calories but that’s not the whole story.  The co-creators of Evolve truffles started making them as an experiment and let me tell you, they are a home run. They are insanely delicious with flavors ranging from coconut to bacon (nitrate free, not to worry). If I were presented these as a gift, I would change my thoughts on Valentines day. Feeling unloved? Evolve has generously offered a $25 gift card for one of our readers.

Sun Warrior Chocolate Protein

I am a smoothieholic and this is one of my favorite ingredients. It's not your run of the mill protein powder. It’s raw, vegan and also non-GMO and soy free (very important when it comes to protein powders). I love to blend Sun Warrior with homemade almond milk, fresh mint, kale and avocado. Vitamix romance at its best.

Dark Chocolate Kind Bar

Perhaps you know about Kind bars but did you know a handful of their bars have less than 5 grams of sugar? I'm crushing on their Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan bar. These treats may be the only reason to go to Starbucks.

Cocoa Pili Nuts

A client brought these back from a trip to Asia and I was swooning from the first bite. Pili nuts are super nutritious loaded with magnesium and omega 3s and taste similar to macadamias. To top it off they’re dusted with cocoa. No more boring almonds, these are are heavenly.

So, whether you’re single or married or somewhere in between, whether you love Love Day or hate it chocolate (good, dark, high quality) never lets you down. One lucky reader will receive a Chocolate Care Package with each of these treats. To enter comment below and tweet about chocolate love @Foodtrainers by Sunday February 10th.

 And get this. When I joked to the boys about the hockey game my younger son looked at me and said “I’m not going”. I asked why not and he said “I’m going to stay with you on Valentines Day". Love.

Are you a Valentines Day lover or hater? What will you do on Thursday?And what about chocolate? What’s your favorite healthy chocolate?

Sarah Jessica Parker Used to Eat Everything

We all have a friend or know someone who eats whatever they want to and never gains weight.  In fact, many of my clients are tormented by their spouses or coworkers who appear to always say, “yes please” and remain thin. Skinny bitches without even trying. Where is the justice? After years of trying to make sense of these metabolic freaks I have come to a few conclusions.

First, and I know this may not matter when your focus is your skinny jeans, we all have arteries. Your husband who has dessert every day and sister who warmly receives and enjoys the breadbasket still have insides. Rest assured that unlimited butter or sugar or booze has side effects even if you cant see them, even if they’re undetectable for years. I sometimes worry about the “naturally skinny” people because our weight-obsessed society (hand raised, I have a role in this fat focus) tells them they can eat anything. I watched a provocative (thought not as provocative as the BDSM show) episode of Lisa Ling’s Our America in which she profiled families with obese children. In one family, it was the 100-pound four year old wearing a ventilator to bed for his sleep apnea that made the mother change the family diet. His three slender siblings should thank him for that. If all the kids were normal weight the Dorito diet would endure.

Second, not everyone who appears to eat whatever they want eats whatever they want all the time. I remember a friend of my mother’s growing up who would come to dinner on the weekend. This lean, stylish woman would out eat everyone.  When I mentioned this to my mother she said, “she doesn’t eat like that all week.” Some people have a system where they hold back certain days so that they can let go on others. And frankly some people just want it to appear that they don’t have to watch their weight as if there’s something wrong with being careful.

And Sarah Jessica…adorable, smart, lean and as if that doesn’t make her enviable enough she seemed to be an eat everything/not get fat gal and she’s not even French. Over the years, I’ve noted mentions of dinner party menus and favorite foods and there was never anything remotely healthy in her recaps. Meat, potatoes, cheese you name it and yet she never stuck me as one of those phony “I eat soooo much” celebrities. Sarah Jessica was recently interviewed by Kelly Ripa (I DVR a lot of shows but watch selectively) and Kelly joked about SJP’s eating. Kelly even remarked “she not only eats carbohydrates but asks for seconds” and then Sarah muttered something under her breath but I heard it, she said “well it’s starting to catch up with me.” I don’t mean this in a terrible way but as a fan of justice for all YES!

I know you may be reading this at 25 and 40-something seems a long way away but in one way or another eating crappy food and thumbing your nose at healthy anything has its price. If the grass, or in this case food is “greener” on your side of the fence and you’re annoyed by that don’t be. Your arteries, perhaps your children and your clothes when you’re over 40 will thank you. 

Who is the person in your life who eats whatever they want seemingly unscathed? Are you envious? Have you seen Our America or other shows on OWN? Do you care that it's starting to catch up with Sarah Jessica?