Last Updated on April 27, 2022 by Colleen
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.
It`s important that food manufacturers use good manufacturing processes and allergy protocols to keep your food safe! Better yet, look for facilities that are free from your allergen. ZEGO is made in a facility that is free from the top 14 allergens and corn. We know that even a crumb counts!
#FoodAllergy #FoodAllergyAwareness #FoodAllergyAwarenessWeek
May 14
Do you know the top 9 foods most likely to cause a food allergic reaction? ๐ฌ
#FoodAllergy #FoodAllergyAwareness #FoodAllergyAwarenessWeek
May 12
Different vibes, same great product.
Double Protein Organic Oats, online or at a store near you.
May 8
Did you know that our founder Colleen was diagnosed with #celiacdisease when she was a teen? Because of her experience with her own malnutrition, she was inspired to make sure everyone has the right to safe, healthy, nutritious food.
May 7
Did you know how common food allergies are?
Here are some FACTS from FAACT!
**Food allergies affect as many as 32 million Americans, including 26 million adults and 5.6 million children.
**Approximately 7.6% of children and 10.8% of adults here in the US have food allergies.
**Food allergies are more prevalent in children than in adults, but many affected children can "outgrow" food allergies with age.
**According to the CDC, the prevalence of food allergies in children increased by 50% between 1997 and 2011.
**Among children under 18, it is common enough that there are about 2 students with food allergies in every classroom!
#FoodAllergyAwareness #FoodAllergyAwarenessMonth
May 4
Did you know that May is both Celiac Disease Awareness Month and Food Allergy Awareness Month? ZEGO has always put the food allergy and celiac community first by providing a superior, delicious, nutritious line of products that are safe for people avoiding top allergens and gluten.
We spend every May spreading awareness for these conditions, sharing facts over fear.
We can`t wait to share more with you, so follow along on our social accounts for the month of May!
May 1
Weโve learned so much about FIBER this month, and we hope you have too! To round-up our month dedicated to fiber, weโre throwing a fiber-packed giveaway! Enter to win a case of our DOUBLE PROTEIN ORGANIC OATMEAL. Each serving of these high-quality raw gluten-free organic oats contains 5 grams of dietary fiber!
TO ENTER:
1. Like this post
2. Make sure youโre following us here on Instagram
3. Comment with your favorite way to eat oats
US residents only, 18+, not associated with Instagram. We will only reach out via this account if you are the winner.
Apr 30
On April 29โ30, 300+ farmers, investors, researchers, retailers, and supply chain leaders will convene at Brooklynโs Newlab for two days of panels, workshops, and community building around the future of regenerative food systems at Regenerative NYC, by Why Regenerative.
We`re a proud sponsor of Why Regenerative and have our Regenerative Organic Oatmeal on their online Regenerative Market!
At Regenerative NYC, the sessions span everything from soil carbon verification and agroforestry market-building to regenerative dairy transitions and farmland investing โ with speakers from Whole Foods, Thrive Market, Bel Brands, ROA, Textile Exchange, Eileen Fisher, Fresh Direct, Builders Vision, the Rockefeller Foundation, Niman Ranch, Mad Ag, and more.
Don`t miss breakfast, you`ll have a chance to try our ZEGO oats! We`re catering the breakfast each morning.
Apr 29
Is there such thing as too much fiber?
While we recently highlighted how great fiber is, and how most adults in the US need to be eating more of it – can there be too much of a good thing?
YES! Especially when you add too much fiber to your diet too quickly. This can cause gas, bloating, and and other GI side effects, like diarrhea. And if you add too much fiber with not enough water, there`s even a risk of intestinal blockages.
That`s why we say start low and go slow to introduce more fiber into your diet. Have a question about fiber? Ask your dietitian!
Source: Time Magazine, "What fibermaxxing gets wrong about fiber."
Apr 28
โจ Add, Don`t Restrict: How to Boost Fiber โจ
Start your day off with a bowl of oatmeal, and boost the fiber by adding fresh fruit and seeds. Add some carrots to your mid-day snack. Add in some kale in your next sautรฉ. Think about all the places you can ADD FIBER, not subtract it, from your existing meal plans.
Apr 27
Celebrate #EarthDay this week at Lassen`s locations across the Los Angeles area, Santa Barbara, and Bakersfield! We`ll be on promotion, and you`ll find us handing out oatmeal sample packets at select locations this week!
Find a Lassen`s near you!
๐ Wilshire La Brea
๐ Echo Park
๐ Los Feliz
๐ Simi Valley
๐ Lancaster
๐ Oxnard
๐ Ventura
๐ Santa Barbara
๐ Santa Maria
๐ San Luis Obispo
๐ Bakersfield
Apr 20
Today is #WorldIBSDay and we`re celebrating with a big bowl of gluten-free organic ZEGO oats. Oats contain fiber, which keeps the digestive tract in check. Dietary fiber helps things run smoothly…all the way through! If you have iBS, make sure you`re working with a great dietitian who can point you in the right direction when it comes to an IBS-friendly diet that can include oats!
Apr 19
You`ve heard that fiber is important, and that most Americans aren`t getting enough of it in their diet. But how can you really tell if you`re getting enough fiber? How can you read a nutrition facts panel to tell if you`re eating enough?
According to the FDA, the daily value of dietary fiber is 28 grams per day. Keep in mind that this is based on a 2,000 calorie diet and doesn`t take into account your calorie needs – so it might be slightly higher or lower.
A nutrition facts panel on any packaged product, like our oatmeal, will show you how many grams of fiber are in each serving and compare that agains the daily recommended value. For our oatmeal, each serving contains about 5 grams of dietary fiber, or about 14% of your daily recommended dose of fiber.
A bowl of our oatmeal is a great way to start your day with fiber and protein. Look for other whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts (depending on your dietary restrictions) to fill the rest of your fiber needs!
Learn how to read a nutrition facts panel and learn more about fiber from the FDA!
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/interactivenutritionfactslabel/dietary-fiber.cfm
Apr 17
Itโs National Banana Day!
Thereโs nothing like the comforting aroma of banana muffins baking in your kitchen. These Gluten-Free Banana Oat Muffins are not just a tasty treatโtheyโre packed with fiber, protein, and essential nutrients to fuel your day.
Find this recipe and more on our website!
#NationalBananaDay #GlutenFreeRecipe #organicoats
Apr 15
Are we truly feeding our soil, or just feeding our plants? Learn more from the frontlines of farming on this Food Gossip short!
Apr 13
Swap your beige processed breakfast like white toast for some color! Add some muesli or superfood to a bowl of seeds and nuts and freshly cut fruit. Not only is this more appealing to your eyes (and your stomach), but youโll increase your fiber too!
Apr 11
Did you know that April is National Organic Breakfast Month! This theme was started to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle and to encourage all of us to start our mornings with wholesome, organic food options. Not only are our ZEGO oats certified organic, but they are purity verified. They`re tested for over 500 pesticide and herbicide residues and heavy metals. You know your oats are the purest they can be for the best way to start your morning!
#OrganicBreakfastMonth #CertifiedOrganic
Apr 7
Happy Easter! We hope your basket is filled with lots of yummy allergy-friendly treats.
If the Easter Bunnyโข๏ธ ๐ฐ left you any extra carrots, you`ve got to try our Oat Carrot healthy cookies. Head to the blog to get the recipe!
Apr 5
What is Fiber?
Did you know that there are TWO types of fiber – soluble vs. insoluble.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water in your digestive tract, forming a gel that slows digestion. It helps to lower your cholesterol, reduces your risk of heart disease, and stabilizes blood sugar.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve, adding bulk to your stool to help it move through the digestive system.
Many foods contain both, and both are important for your overall health!
Reference: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983
Apr 3
Today is April 1st and itโs no joke that today weโre celebrating sourdough!
April 1st is National Sourdough Bread Day, and weโre all about that #glutenfree sourdough.
Did you know that you can use our oats to make sourdough starter? Our double protein oats are raw, which means that the active enzymes can start to ferment and make sourdough starter at a quicker rate than heat-treated oats. Make into a flour or use the oats themselves to make a starter, or to add to an existing gluten-free sourdough starter. Learn more on our blog!
Apr 1
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Organic Double Protein Oats 1 bag$8.99 -
Organic Plant Based Protein Powder (15oz bag)$29.99 — or subscribe to save 10%
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Organic Gluten-Free Muesli: Nut Free Cinnamon Twist (13oz)$9.99 — or subscribe to save 10%
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Organic Double Protein Oats 5 bag case$44.95 — or subscribe to save 5%
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Organic Gluten Free Muesli: Apple Cranberry (13oz)$9.99 — or subscribe to save 10%
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Organic Plant Protein (5 bags, 15 oz each)$149.95 — or subscribe to save 5%
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Organic Oatmeal Superfood Blueberry Lemon Poppy 1 Bag$8.99
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Organic Oatmeal Superfood Cinnamon Spice 1 Bag$8.99
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Regenerative Organic Oats 1 bag$8.99
