Janie Hoffman is the founder and CEO of Mamma Chia. A company that started on a small farm in rural San Diego. Janie, facing her own health issues began to research and experiment with different superfoods. During her quest toward health, Janie found chia — tiny powerhouse seeds that she fell in love with.
Janie quickly discovered this amazing little seed was providing a powerful vitality boost and was instrumental in addressing some challenging health issues related to longstanding autoimmune disorders. Once Janie began to incorporate chia into her daily diet noticed an increase in her vitality, energy and strength. She became so enchanted with these little seeds that she began adding them to everything in her kitchen and giving away chia treats to everyone she could, but it was her chia beverages that became the biggest hit with her friends and family.
In addition to finding the beverages to be fun and delicious, they also experienced a noticeable increase in energy. It was inevitable that in the summer of 2009, Mamma Chia officially launched as the first organic, chia-based food and beverage company.
Our HL&S staff are big fans of Mamma Chia drinks and we couldn’t wait to conduct an interview with Janie for an inside look into her company and what’s to come!
Read Janie’s exclusive interview with HL&S below:
- HL&S: Chia seeds are taking the health food scene by storm, but it’s a fairly new food for some. When did you learn about chia seeds and why did you decide to create your company around them?
Janie: It has been my mission to share the magic of chia with the world ever since those tiny seeds changed my life. For over 20 years my life was shadowed by physical challenges from a variety of autoimmune disorders. I tried everything I could to heal myself, including harsh drugs and various dietary options. Then a friend introduced me to chia. Once I incorporated chia into my life – combined with an organic diet – I went into complete remission and my health and vitality were restored. It was then that I realized my life purpose was to spread the magic of chia and create a brand that would make organic, healthy foods and beverages available throughout the world
- HL&S: Tell us about that as well as the benefits of eating chia seeds.
Janie: Chia is one of the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet. Those tiny seeds are packed with Omega-3s, fiber, protein, calcium, iron and more. Chia seeds have 70 percent more protein than soybeans, 25 percent more fiber than flaxseed, 600 percent more calcium than milk, 200 percent more potassium than a banana, and 30 percent more antioxidants than blueberries. They truly deserve their “superfood” status?
- HL&S: What is the mission of Mamma Chia and how are you implementing that?
Janie: Our mission is to honor and uplift both the soul of humanity and the soul of the planet. For us, that means making organic products that are both healthy and delicious – while maintaining our commitment to being a conscious and sustainable company. We give one percent of our total sales to organizations that support healthy, local food systems. Mamma Chia is also a Certified B Corporation, a member of 1% for the Planet and a founding member of Slow Money.
- HL&S: You have quite an array of products now. What new products are you most excited about and why?
Janie: We are really proud of the fact that we offer products that are both delicious and nutritious. One of our newest products is our Chia & Greens Beverage. It comes in four flavors and has one of the lowest amounts of sugar and the highest amount of nutrients in the green drinks universe. We’re also excited about our Chia Vitality Bars with only four grams of sugar. One would never imagine that they contain such a low amount of sugar as they are so tasty. Many so-called “healthy” bars contain double that amount of sugar or more, and our Chia Vitality Bars are among the few organic bar choices available today. Plus, ours are boosted by nutrient-rich chia seeds, nuts, quinoa, sorghum and other beneficial ingredients. Both of these products have won awards for taste, quality and innovation.
- HL&S: Tell us a little about your books and how they can support someone wanting to boost their wellness factor.
Janie: I wrote the books because of a strong desire to share my story in the hopes that others might benefit from my experience. My first book, Chia Vitality, outlines a 30-day plan to boost energy and vitality. It’s a combination of yoga, meditation, service and, of course, chia, working together synergistically to change your life. My second book, The Chia Cookbook, is a collection of delicious chia-based recipes that take you from breakfast to dinner, and even happy hour and dessert.
- HL&S: What are some key factors that have led to the success of Mamma Chia and what can we expect in the future?
Janie: Mamma Chia has, and always will be, an authentic brand that continues to adapt and evolve in order to exceed customer expectations. We love our Mamma Chia community and feel that their enthusiasm about our brand has been a crucial part of our success. We’re very connected to our social communities on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and more recently, Snapchat, and we truly value their support. Mamma Chia will continue to introduce new foods and beverages powered by chia while never losing sight of our mission.
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