Whether you’re trying to get your kids to eat healthier, looking for a guilt-free dessert or avoiding processed foods, Paleo Passion Foods has an answer to your cravings. The company, founded by Martin and Kim Sands, who have lived in Greenwich for twenty-five years and raised their four kids here, includes a line of ice pops, grainless granolas and nut butters—all gluten-and dairy-free, with no added sugars and many are vegan. The pops, which were introduced in late 2014 and first hit the supermarket shelves locally at Whole Foods, manage to sneak in nutritious superfoods such as chia seeds, flaxseeds, green tea, pomegranate, kale, spinach and sweet potato. Flavors ranging from apple crisp to strawberry passion are all delicious enough that kids will enjoy them as much as you do; these pops get their sweetness from pear or pineapple juice or other fruits.
“Our brand is all about healthier, cleaner quality foods, free from all the bad stuff that you shouldn’t be eating,” says Martin. That means no chemicals, no dyes. “When you walk down the supermarket aisles today, the big buzzword is a clean label, meaning you can read the side panel and actually know what it means.” Paleo Pops caught on quickly and as the company developed new flavors, it also added other foods to the brand, including a baked Grainless Granola made from walnuts (high in omega-3s) and almonds as well as ingredients like shredded coconut, maple syrup, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed and nut butters made from unblanched almonds.
Today, the brand is carried in more than 3,000 stores around the country and appeals to a diverse audience, from fitness fanatics to diabetics to vegans to the average person seeking a nutritious alternative. As large chains and even drugstores have been picking up on the healthy-eating craze, Paleo Passion Foods will soon be available at an even wider range of stores including Walmart. Plans are in the works for snack-sized packaging and other brand extensions including frozen meal entrees, nut butters, cookies and bars. “Fast food is here to stay. Everybody’s on the go and in a rush, so the idea is to give people something as healthy as possible in that category,” says Martin. “We’re super excited about our growth.” paleopassionfoods.com
DON’T-MISS TREATS
1. COCONUT CRAZE
If you love coconut desserts but not the high calories and sugar that go along with them, try Kim’s Kokonut pops. Kim, the company’s cofounder and nutritional adviser, spent ten months working with her team to develop a coconut pop that’s creamy and sweet without being loaded with calories or sugar. The pops are also dairy-free.
2. KID FAVORITE
A classic summertime flavor, the Strawberry Passion Pop gets sweetness from apple juice and passion fruit; kids will never know that the popsicles also contain healthy flaxseeds.
3. CHOCOLATE FIX
The Choco-Nuts flavored Grainless Granola made from walnuts blended with shredded coconut and dark chocolate (cacao powder, cocoa butter and wildflower honey) also contains sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.