Kroma is the hottest thing in wellness right now (and personally we all love it!) What inspired you to create this business?
Thank you, that means a lot. I’ve been in the wellness industry creating “cleanse programs” and healthy foods and beverages for nearly 13 years. Much like my last superfood company, Beaming, Kroma was designed to help people experience the power of food as medicine while giving you the lifestyle tools to thrive every day. I’ve been on a personal mission to help empower people with their health and to realize how much we actually can control our well-being just by the choices we make every day. Because all of Kroma’s foods and beverages are non-perishable and shelf stable, it allows us to reach people everywhere.
We have more healthy options today than ever before, and yet we are also busier, overwhelmed and often confused by all the ‘better-for-you’ options. I believe that we genuinely want to do right by our health, but most of us don’t have the time to figure it out nor even know where to start. As a busy single mom of 3 kids, I know how difficult it is to find time to take care of myself. So much of what I’ve created over the years is what I needed personally and could not find in the market.
Please tell us a little bit about the Kroma Reset, and why you might recommend it to the ONDA customer. It seems like an ideal way to start the New Year...
I am really excited about our 5-Day Lifestyle Reset because it is a completely new approach to “clean eating” and has allowed me to evolve my wellness philosophies to be even more relevant to where we are today. I have never believed in starvation and deprivation programs that require you to drink water and cayenne pepper all day, or consume just juice or follow extremely low-calorie protocols. I find most of them are doing more harm than good and missing the bigger point.
Instead, I am more interested in what happens after a cleanse/reset/detox because that is where real transformation happens. We all think we want the quick fix, and while a 3 or 5 day cleanse program may help you shed a few pounds, what did you learn? What new healthy habits and choices are you continuing to incorporate into your everyday life? Usually none and you are right back where you started within a few days, any weight you may have lost included. I’ve always been more focused on creating lifestyle programs that are enjoyable and ultimately reset habits and behavior and set you up for long term success.
I am really excited about our 5-Day Lifestyle Reset because it is a completely new approach to “clean eating” and has allowed me to evolve my wellness philosophies to be even more relevant to where we are today. I have never believed in starvation and deprivation programs that require you to drink water and cayenne pepper all day, or consume just juice or follow extremely low-calorie protocols. I find most of them are doing more harm than good and missing the bigger point.
Instead, I am more interested in what happens after a cleanse/reset/detox because that is where real transformation happens. We all think we want the quick fix, and while a 3 or 5 day cleanse program may help you shed a few pounds, what did you learn? What new healthy habits and choices are you continuing to incorporate into your everyday life? Usually none and you are right back where you started within a few days, any weight you may have lost included. I’ve always been more focused on creating lifestyle programs that are enjoyable and ultimately reset habits and behavior and set you up for long term success.
It isn’t the random program you might suffer through for 5, 10 or 15 days a year that leads to true wellness and vitality. It is the choices you make every day. Kroma’s 5-Day Reset gives you the short term results you are looking for while making the products available after so you can easily incorporate your favorite ones into your everyday life.
What sets Kroma's Reset apart from other cleanses?
Well, I’ll start with the fact that it tastes really, really good. Surprisingly good. I know that is hard to believe given that it is a “Reset” consisting of mostly functional powders that you add water or a non-dairy milk to, but people are always shocked by how delicious and satisfying our lattes, broths, elixirs, morning porridge and, of course, our infamous OMG Cookie Butter is. I have been working with superfoods long before maca, spirulina, hemp seeds and mushrooms were popular, and I have spent years obsessing over how to create products that are highly functional, innovative and delicious using these powerful ingredients. It is an art for sure.
The other, and biggest difference, is our focus on nourishment over starvation. We want to help you thrive in your daily life. We don’t want you to be miserable for 5 days where your family doesn’t want to be around you, you aren’t able to show up for work, nor for your kids or your workouts. Our program is truly lifestyle-based and is delicious, customizable, convenient, and extremely easy to follow.
I do not believe in one-size-fits-all protocols and most of the programs out there assume we are all the same, which we are not. The Kroma program gives you a well thought-out foundational system that is customizable to meet your unique needs and goals. If you are struggling to lose weight because of gut or hormone challenges and have tried everything with no success, you may modify the program to consume a little less and not add any extras but still feel totally satiated. If you just need to reset bad habits and lose a few pounds because you got off track through the holidays or post vacation, you can follow the program as-is. Or if you are extremely active and not looking to lose weight but just want to fuel your body with incredible nutrition for optimal performance, you can add extra protein and fats to achieve your goals.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, the program gives you the tools to carry all the good that you learn during the Reset into your everyday life. How often have you done a program and then had no idea what to do the day after it ended? Because our program is lifestyle-based, you get to start each day with our insanely delicious Beauty Matcha Latte infused with collagen, turmeric, ginger, maca and ‘beauty mushrooms’ which may lead you to ditching your daily coffee fix for our matcha even after the program ends. Or maybe you decide to incorporate our 24K Chicken Bone Broth (or Veggie) because you not only loved it during the 5 days, but because you know how good you felt when you consumed it several times over the 5 days. Or maybe instead of skipping breakfast and eating your kids PB&J sandwiches in the morning, you experienced how satiating (and delicious) our Super Porridge is. The program was designed to set you up for long term success and not just be a one-hit wonder. We meet you where you are and help you along the way to creating a lifestyle of wellness. Every new healthy habit leads to better choices that keep building on themselves.
Well, I’ll start with the fact that it tastes really, really good. Surprisingly good. I know that is hard to believe given that it is a “Reset” consisting of mostly functional powders that you add water or a non-dairy milk to, but people are always shocked by how delicious and satisfying our lattes, broths, elixirs, morning porridge and, of course, our infamous OMG Cookie Butter is. I have been working with superfoods long before maca, spirulina, hemp seeds and mushrooms were popular, and I have spent years obsessing over how to create products that are highly functional, innovative and delicious using these powerful ingredients. It is an art for sure.
The other, and biggest difference, is our focus on nourishment over starvation. We want to help you thrive in your daily life. We don’t want you to be miserable for 5 days where your family doesn’t want to be around you, you aren’t able to show up for work, nor for your kids or your workouts. Our program is truly lifestyle-based and is delicious, customizable, convenient, and extremely easy to follow.
I do not believe in one-size-fits-all protocols and most of the programs out there assume we are all the same, which we are not. The Kroma program gives you a well thought-out foundational system that is customizable to meet your unique needs and goals. If you are struggling to lose weight because of gut or hormone challenges and have tried everything with no success, you may modify the program to consume a little less and not add any extras but still feel totally satiated. If you just need to reset bad habits and lose a few pounds because you got off track through the holidays or post vacation, you can follow the program as-is. Or if you are extremely active and not looking to lose weight but just want to fuel your body with incredible nutrition for optimal performance, you can add extra protein and fats to achieve your goals.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, the program gives you the tools to carry all the good that you learn during the Reset into your everyday life. How often have you done a program and then had no idea what to do the day after it ended? Because our program is lifestyle-based, you get to start each day with our insanely delicious Beauty Matcha Latte infused with collagen, turmeric, ginger, maca and ‘beauty mushrooms’ which may lead you to ditching your daily coffee fix for our matcha even after the program ends. Or maybe you decide to incorporate our 24K Chicken Bone Broth (or Veggie) because you not only loved it during the 5 days, but because you know how good you felt when you consumed it several times over the 5 days. Or maybe instead of skipping breakfast and eating your kids PB&J sandwiches in the morning, you experienced how satiating (and delicious) our Super Porridge is. The program was designed to set you up for long term success and not just be a one-hit wonder. We meet you where you are and help you along the way to creating a lifestyle of wellness. Every new healthy habit leads to better choices that keep building on themselves.
We love all of the Kroma products but have a favorite in mind. If you had to choose, which would your favorite be?
I love them all but I am definitely obsessed with our Beauty Matcha. I can’t wait to start my day every morning with it after fasting. Not only is it delicious but it makes me feel energized, balanced, clear-minded and puts me in the best mood. I know that might sound cheesy and over-promised but almost everyone I know who has had our Beauty Matcha feels the same. Plus it is extremely satiating so it curbs my appetite and helps lower glucose levels which is a really great bonus!
What about a favorite Kroma recipe? We found the section on your site and can't wait to try them all! Will you be adding more recipes any time soon?
While I formulated all of our products (with my daughter ☺), we are now beginning to work with some of my favorite chefs who are helping to co-create recipes with us. There is so much you can do with our broths, Super Porridge, smoothies, OMG Cookie Butter and adaptogen lattes that I can’t wait to expand our recipe ideas! Check out our Baked Super Porridge recipe- it is an all-time favorite at our house!
How do eating clean and using clean beauty relate, in your opinion?
They are 100% interdependent. As we all know, beauty from the inside out. What you put on your skin is as equally important as what you put in your body. You can use the most expensive, clean ingredients on your skin, but if you aren’t mindful of what you are consuming, it will completely impede your beauty efforts. And vice versa. Clean eating is as necessary as using clean beauty products. The two go hand-in-hand. That is why we are so excited to be partnering with ONDA Beauty!
What is your personal definition of clean beauty, and why is it important to you?
Clean beauty, to me, is about empowerment and realizing how much control we have over our health just by being more mindful about what we put on and in our bodies. It isn’t about perfection, but it is about being more aware and making choices that are in alignment with our own personal values while having tremendous respect and gratitude for our health and our environment. Our greatest wealth truly is our health and I think we often underestimate the power we have over it.
We know you're quite busy, and often traveling. What are some of your rituals to unplug, unwind, and reset?
As a single mom of 3 kids and with Kroma having launched only 6 months ago, I will admit that I struggle to find time to unplug, unwind and reset. That being said, I know how important it is to unplug for my own sanity and overall well-being which ultimately allows me to show up better for everyone. Hopefully this isn’t too cliché, but our Kroma products and my daily workout keep me going. I enjoy 5-8 of our products every day which help keep me focused, satiated, and energized. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have them! I also recognize the need to connect with friends and loved ones which fills my soul more than anything. Even if it is only a few hours, there is nothing like disconnecting from work and spending time with the people I adore, laugh, cry, connect, and play with that allows me to have the energy and inspiration I need to go at the pace that is necessary to run the company.
Are you making any New Year’s resolutions for 2022 that you're willing to share with us?
I don’t necessarily make resolutions, but I do always have intentions or even just a word that allows me to align with my intentions for the year. This year it is truly about being present and allowing myself the space to slow down. I have been going at mach speed for many years bringing Kroma to life (and Beaming before this) and I value more than ever how important it is to slow down. There are always more things to do and endless urgent matters, but at some point we all have to disconnect from work so we can recover and reconnect with ourselves. I know for certain that when I make this a priority, not only do I win but so does everyone else around me.
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