Join Colleen and Evolve CPG founder Gage Mitchell as they talk about food and politics and how consumers must drive the change to a cleaner food system.
From the Podcast Recap at EvolveCPG.com
“The general trend towards healthier living and better information about nutrition has many layers, with one of the main tenets being an increase in transparency from food brands about the ingredients used and their sources.
Today we are joined by Colleen Kavanagh, the CEO and Co-Founder of ZEGO Foods, to talk about how the company is enabling its customers to live healthy and fulfilling lives, and supporting achievement on multiple levels.
Colleen shares some of her personal journey with nutrition and how this led into her career, the important shifts in the industry in recent years, how public policy fits into the picture, and the central theme of transparency at ZEGO! So, for a great check-in on the present and future of the world of healthy foods, be sure to listen in with and see what Colleen has to say!’
Key Points From This Episode:
- How customer action can quickly impact the industry and make a meaningful change!
- Advice from Colleen around the legalities of going to market and a safe marketing plan.
- Colleen’s background and how her own celiac disease diagnosis led her getting into nutrition.
- ZEGO Foods’ process to becoming a B-Corporation and the processes around certification.
- Pesticides and diseases; the research that has illuminated the dangers of what we consume.
- The launch of ZEGO Foods and how Colleen formulated the vision for the company.
- Concerns about safety and assurances related to allergies and ingredients lists.
- The centrality of the testing process at ZEGO Foods and bringing these practices up to speed.
- Information on A Better Course, Colleen’s school nutrition program!
- Thinking about the next few years at ZEGO; the two current goals of the company.
- How local work in San Francisco deeply impacted Colleen’s philosophy.
We’re officially announcing Pumpkin Season with this Gluten Free Pumpkin Banana Baked Oatmeal 🎃 Save, Share and Tag us @zegofoods
INGREDIENTS
2 cups Zēgo Double Protein Oats
1 cup pumpkin purée 🎃
1 ripe banana 🍌
2 Tbsp coconut oil (or other oil) melted
1 1/2 cups coconut milk or any dairy free milk 🥥
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp pumpkin spice seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp flaxseed meal
3 Tbsp hemp seeds
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans substitute: pumpkin seeds if you have a nut allergy
METHOD
– Mix wet ingredients
– Add in dry ingredients and mix
– Fold in chopped nuts or seeds
– Add to 4 greased ramekins or use an 8×8 baking dish
– Bake 350°F for 30-35 minutes
– Let cool for 10 minutes
– Top with dairy free vanilla bean yogurt and sprinkle of cinnamon
Store covered in refrigerator and enjoy all week!🤤 Don’t forget to save and tag us when you make this delicious recipe!
What do Sacha Inchi Seeds and FISH have in common???
Sacha inchi seeds look like an almond and historically have been grown in Peru as an important superfood source.
Here's where the fish comes in. These seeds are a fantastic source of Omega 3s – they are so high in Omega 3 that the raw seed smells like fish 🐟 !!!
But don't worry – your ZEGO protein powder doesn't smell like fish. It has a delicious yet subtle earthy flavor that blends perfectly with all your recipes.
We make our delicious ZEGO protein powder out of Sacha Inchi because:
– it's a whole food protein that allows you to digest around 30% more than an isolate like pea protein
– it's sourced from small organic farms
– the amino acid profile is an 87 on the PDCAAS (for all you protein buffs out there 💪)
– it is a seed so it is a great option for those with allergies!
Pro Tip: to complete the protein profile of any vegetable protein (so in our case to get your PDCAAS 87 to a 100), combine with some chia seeds, spirulina, or a small amount of animal protein.
You know what's way better than your typical grocery store trail mix?
ZEGO Mix-Ins! You can enjoy them in so many ways:
– as a nut-free trail mix
– top your cereal or yogurt with nutrition, flavor, and crunch
– add to salads and superfood grain bowls
– mix into your stuffing for Thanksgiving
– grind into a flour and use as a paleo friendly muffin or pancake mix
– dress up your oatmeal to add flavor, vitamins, fiber, and protein
They come in 3 delicious flavors; apple cinnamon, chocolate chip and cranberry!
Need some 🍂🥾🔥 inspo? These Marshmallow treats by @krystenskitchen are the perfect cozy, fireside snack! If you're looking for an easy treat, check out this recipe:
Ingredients:
1 bag Zego Apple Cinnamon Mix-Ins (also delicious with Chocolate Chip or Cranberry Mix-Ins)
1.5 cups of Dandies Mini Marshmallows
Method:
1) Melt marshmallows either in microwave or stovetop (use low heat with lid to prevent scorching).
2) Stir in Mix-Ins. Quickly add to a parchment paper lined baking dish and allow to set.
3) Mixture will harden and become firm very fast. Put in refrigerator to harden more if slicing thin for fondant.
See the full recipe with the link in bio –>
ZEGO officially has a New York State of Mind!
Find our Double Protein Oats and Muesli in NY at your local @topsmarkets 🌻🌻🌻
Something about September just makes us want to bake some apples! Check out this delicious Gluten Free Apple Crisp recipe made with our Double Protein Oats from @sweetorganicliving It's packed with flavor, protein and fiber!
INGREDIENTS
6 delicious apples, peeled and chopped or sliced
2 tbsp date syrup
1 tsp ground cinnamon,
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
pinch of kosher salt
Mix in 2 Tablespoons of ZEGO Gluten Free Double Protein Oats
For the Topping
1 Bag Apple Cinnamon Mix-ins
1/2 cup vegan butter or regular butter
2 tbsp date syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch sea salt
3/4 ZEGO Gluten Free Double Protein Oats
METHOD
🍎Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and Set aside.
🍎In a mixing bowl, peel and chopped or sliced apples, add date syrup, 3/4 tsp of the cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir and combine and transfer to baking dish
🍎In a processor or mixing bowl, add topping ingredients, date syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and butter, and if using a processor, let it pulse for 30 seconds until it becomes combined. Mix ingredients in a bowl and add oats after and incorporate them.
🍎Spread topping over apples in the baking dish, and gently pat it to be even. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.
🍎Let sit for about 10 minutes for the apples to absorb any water at the bottom. Serve with your favorite vanilla ice-cream and enjoy!
Don't forget to save and tag us when you make this perfect fall recipe 🍂🍎🍁
So how do you know you have a bag of high quality, fresh oats?? Our founder @Colleen_Kavanagh_z breaks down how we make sure that you’re getting the highest quality oats every time you shop with ZEGO.
Speaking of shopping ZEGO – don’t forget you can find us in store at Sprouts, Hannaford, Tops, select Whole Foods and online with Swell Score and zegofoods.com!
NEW PRODUCT ALERT!!
We have the *perfect* back to school snack coming to you soon! Can you guess what our powerful new secret ingredient is going to be?!
Drop your guesses in the comments ⬇️ and make sure you're following ZEGO to see the big reveal! 🍒🍎🍓
Hello to all our Milk and Egg allergy friends! We know your allergies don't get talked about very often so we want to do a little spot light on each one for awareness! We see you 👀 and we're here for you! ZEGO proudly manufactures our bars in Top 9 Allergen free facilities and our bags in Top 14 Allergen Free facilities.
So here's a few facts about Milk and Egg allergies:
🥛Milk allergies are not actually the same as being lactose intolerant. A milk allergy is a function of the immune system where a lactose intolerance is a function of the digestive system.
🥛 About 2.5% of children under 3 years old are allergic to milk.
🥚 About 2% of children are allergic to eggs but about 71% of kids outgrow the allergy by 6 years old!
Tell us in the comments ⬇️ do you or your children have a milk or egg allergy? Did they when they were younger, but they've grown out of it now? Can they tolerate baked eggs?
If you find it hard to get in your protein each day, you’ve got to try this tip from Colleen.
Just mix 3T of our organic Pure Protein with water, stir, and drink!
It’s great for after a workout or to add some heft to vegan lunches and breakfasts🥣
No funny after taste, no artificial anything, loads of good quality protein🎈
This month the White House is holding a national nutrition conference to discuss the future of federal nutrition programs, like school lunch and breakfast, WIC, and SNAP (food stamps).
This is a unique opportunity to refocus these programs to bring about healthier people and planet.
ZEGO and the nonprofit we support, A Better Course, are dedicated to improving nutrition for people experiencing food insecurity in our country.
Our founder Colleen worked on these programs for many years both as a Congressional staffer and as a nonprofit advocate. She lead an effort to put together these recommendations we sent to the White House this summer.
The success of these programs need to be measured not just by the number of people and amount of macronutrients but also for both nutrient density and toxic residue level on the food they provide.
Nutrient density is down dramatically over the last few decades (for example in the case of barley, 50%). Then, we need to set targets and tasks for increasing density and decreasing agricultural toxins through regenerative farming practices.
We invite you to read our recommendations and offer your feedback because at ZEGO we know we are better together.
Review the submission in the link in bio and leave a comment below or send feedback to community@zegofoods.com 💚
Last weekend our founder Colleen went with a bunch of mission driven company founders, investors, and farm enthusiasts to Rusty Hinges Ranch and Tara Firma Farms with the Slow Food Nor Cal investor group called Slow Money.
So many of us long for closer connection to farms and animals. What a great way to support these farms while scratching that itch!
If you live near Petaluma, CA, be sure to stop by and sign up for their CSAs ❤️
Thank you Slow Money for this amazing event!
We're thrilled too, Rebecca! We know those pea protein powders can have hidden toxic residues, like lead and glyphosate. We're so glad you found our Organic Sacha Inchi Protein Powder.
If you want to learn more about the hidden facts you need to know to pick the best protein powders, check out our blog linked in bio.
Did you know that ZEGO Double Protein Oats are fantastic options for baking at home 😍
You can add them to any of your favorite baked goods in order to increase the protein, just ground them down as a flour or add them in whole.
Check out our delicious baked goods at zegofoods.com to see how we add protein with our Double Protein Oats. You'll find super yummy recipes like French Toast Baked Oats, Banana Oatmeal Gluten Free Pancakes, GF Cranberry Pecan Protein Muffins and so much more!
Have you found us in Sprouts yet??
They have a great everyday price of just $6.99 and sometimes we put secret sticker coupons on them for $1 off ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you @celiacandthebeast for this reel!!
Move over Grandma, this is not your morning bowl of oatmeal! Colleen was inspired by Joshua McFadden's "Grains For Every Season" cookbook and whipped up this gluten-free, rice-free Risotto!
⠀
Why make risotto with our Double Protein Oats?
— 3x the protein of white rice
— 4x the fiber of white rice
— no arsenic worries like you have with rice and low glycemic
⠀
INGREDIENTS
+ 2 cups ZEGO Double Protein Oats
+ 3 cups roughly chopped mushrooms
+ 4 cups roughly chopped onions
+ 1/3 cup roughly chopped garlic
+ 2-4 Tbsp butter, ghee, or other fat
+ 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese or sub with nutritional yeast to taste
+ 7 cups chicken or veggie broth. Start with 1TSP and taste before adding more.
+ Fresh herbs: We use 2 huge sprigs of thyme, 1 small sprig of rosemary and top with chopped parsley or basil.
+ Salt and pepper to taste (salt level will depend on saltiness of your broth)
⠀
METHOD
– Combine mushrooms, onions, garlic, fat, and 1 TSP of salt (you can add more later if needed) in a large sauté pan or small dutch oven. Sauté the mixture until the mushrooms have sweat (released their water) and the onion is somewhat soft. Cover with a lid if you want to quicken the process.
– Toast the oats in another skillet with 2 Tbsp fat and a bit of salt. Don’t stir too often or it will take too long to toast. Wait 30 seconds between stirs. It can darken quickly once you start to see the color change, so watch to make sure it doesn’t burn. Pour into a bowl.
– In your vegetable pan, add 2 cups broth and bring to a boil.
Add toasted oats and stir until the liquid is somewhat absorbed—but keep the mixture soupy, better to have too much liquid than too little. Lower your heat if it’s cooking too quickly (the broth is disappearing too fast). Keep adding broth one cup at a time until it’s the consistency of a moderately thick soup. It’s okay not to use all the broth or to use more.
– Turn off heat under the pan and stir in cheese or substitute.
– Salt & pepper to taste.
– Remove from pan into serving dish so the oats don’t over-absorb the delicious broth.
– Sprinkle with chopped herbs and serve! Save, Share, Tag @zegofoods and Enjoy 😋
How does ZEGO Double Protein Oats stack up nutritionally? We have about
. . . 3x the protein and 4x the fiber of brown rice
. . . 30% more fiber of other oats
. . . 2X the protein of other oats
. . . 30% more iron of other oats
. . . purity protocol gluten free, glyphosate free, and top 14 allergy free
Not to mention we purity test our oats for over 500 toxins!
Makes you really want to try some right? Get a free bag this month with your purchase of $50 or more on our website!
Use coupon code AUG1OATS.
Have you heard the Heal Thyself Podcast with Dr. G? If not, here's your chance!
Our founder Colleen partnered with Dr. G on episode #161 and they talked all about how toxic pea protein can be, how to read heavy metal reports and how to demand change as a conscious consumer.
Check out the Heal Thyself Podcast to hear the full episode.
We believe the truth is powerful, and can bring about a dramatically cleaner food system and planet in the next 5-10 years. Wondering how??
It's simple. Consumers have a right to know about what's in their food, and they need to demand transparency from brands. And, we're not just talking about the basic facts about how their food is sourced and manufactured.
Brands need to be testing their products for agricultural toxins and sharing their data to their customers. After all, how can you be your best self if your food has toxic residue that is harming your health?
That's why we encourage you as the consumer to demand the transparency and honesty you deserve from all your favorite food brands, just like we offer on everything we make at ZEGO.
If you love @just.ingredients as much as we do, be sure to tune into this podcast interview Karalynne Call did with our founder, Colleen Kavanagh
🌻@colleen_kavanagh_z🌻
You'll find them on Episode 65 revealing surprising truths behind food regulation in the U.S.
If you are new to Just.Ingredients, be sure to follow her on IG and listen in on her podcast episodes! She covers many levels of information on purity and health in an easy to digest format 😍
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Organic Gluten Free Oats (14oz bag)$7.99 — or subscribe and save 10% -
Organic Plant Based Protein Powder (15oz bag)$29.99 — or subscribe and save 10% -
Organic Gluten-Free Muesli: Nut Free Cinnamon Twist (13oz)$9.99 — or subscribe and save 10% -
Organic Double Protein Oats 5 bag case$39.95 — or subscribe and save 5% -
Organic Muesli: Apple Cranberry (13oz)$9.99 — or subscribe and save 10% -
Organic MixIns Chocolate Chip 7oz 1 bag$9.99 — or subscribe and save 10% -
Just Fruit Bar Pear 12 bar box$19.99 — or subscribe and save 10% -
Just Fruit Bar: Raspberry$21.99 — or subscribe and save 10%
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