Kaua‘i resident and entrepreneur, Adam Collins, has created a superfood snack that is as nutritious as it is delicious. Developing the sustainable, healthful and tasty food product comes from a sincere desire to share his own knowledge of nutrition, based
Kaua‘i resident and entrepreneur, Adam Collins, has created a superfood snack that is as nutritious as it is delicious. Developing the sustainable, healthful and tasty food product comes from a sincere desire to share his own knowledge of nutrition, based on solid food science with the island and beyond.
Collins created Superfood Snacks: The Chocolate Goji Treat after putting together his own power-packed combination of foods for a long hike. To sustain energy, stamina and focus, while feeding the body and brain on a deep cellular level, Collins has seen the proof of his superfood potency through laboratory studies as well as testimony from his octogenarian grandmother — who energetically claims she is ready to come out of retirement, kicking up her heels.
“Over the past 10 years,” said Collins in a recent interview, “I was looking into different ways to stay healthy through food, just for myself. I had grown up in a healthy household where my mother was pretty conscious of nutrition.”
Collins’ father had diabetes, making his family very aware of the power and effects foods have on the body.
Collins described what the typical modern-American diet often yields: “I had chronic low energy, and I often felt sick. I took it upon myself to figure it out.”
Exploring both vegetarianism and veganism, Collins explained that it wasn’t until he delved into live and raw foods that his health really improved. From there, he began searching the globe for traditional “superfoods” that most often are whole, raw and live food products used in holistic medicine and the daily diets of indigenous peoples.
“Eventually coming into the knowledge of superfoods, I set out to find the best foods I possibly could,” he said. For Collins, “best” also meant for the farmer and the planet, “organic and fair-trade as well.”
Collins described what other raw-foodists know: “You find that a little bit goes a long way. There is a common illusion of the actual amount of food we need to consume to be sustained, I realized it was the quality, not quantity that is most important.”
When Collins began to see the incredible improvement in health he had gained, he wanted to act. “Seeing the benefits, I wanted to create a company that could bring these foods to more people.”
The birth of Superfood Snacks soon followed, yet not before several years of developing the recipe, the sourcing for fair-trade and highest quality organic ingredients, as well as bio-degradable and compostable packaging.
The recipe for Chocolate Goji Treats was assembled soon after a lengthy hike taken by Collins.
“I had thrown a bunch of my superfoods together, as a trail-mix, all loose in a bag. The mixture sustained my entire trip and came in handy when I met a few other weary hikers. The 15 ingredients in the mix pepped them up too. When I came home I started realizing I could help other people with this type of nutrition and began playing around with combining the ingredients to actually make one product.” he explained.
Describing the final incarnation of the superfood treat, Collins said, “it’s more like a truffle rolled in coconut, but has the antioxidant punch of these amazing ingredients.”
Collins began sourcing his ingredients and soon found a manufacturer whose own philosophy of fair-trade and sustainable agriculture made a perfect match for the business.
“Our goji berries are from the original Tibetan strand of the plant, the organic cacao from Ecuador, everything we use, even the pure brown vanilla powder, is raw, unprocessed and sustainable,” said Collins.
Perhaps the most challenging for Collins was developing his packaging.
“It took two years to get the packaging right. We went through so many hurdles, so many nay-sayers, but finally we have the very first 100 percent biodegradable and compostable packaging on the market,” he said, “including the actual film used to print the image on to the package. Sustainibility is extremely important to us.”
What many modern nutritionists are discovering in the benefits and power of certain natural foods, has been known and practiced by traditional cultures around the world since time immemorial. Regarding food as life-sustaining medicine, rather than an entertaining past-time, can change our perspective on how to feed ourselves and families.
Collins emphasizes that by buying organic, fair-trade foods is good for both the individual and the planet at large.
“Farmers that get paid fairly for their labor, are happier as they do their work, they are happier because they can support their family, and that love goes into the food we eat,” said Collins. “It’s just the right thing to do.”
Getting his Chocolate Goji Treats tested at a professional laboratory was a crowning moment in the process of making them. “We actually print the results on the front of the package,” said Collins. “I want people to know that this is a wonderful snack for kids, adults, the elderly … for school, for the gym, for lunch.”
Incorporating superfoods into a balanced diet can make noticeable and powerful changes in the body and mind normal functions.
“We live in a fast-paced society,” said Collins. “People eat what is quick and available. I hope this is something that can be a healthy and more potent alternative to other mainstream snacks.”
Moving to Kaua‘i three years ago from Steamboat Springs in the Rocky Mountains, Collins loves the island and is excited about his ability to bring this product to our local food stores.
Papaya’s, Vim & Vigor, The Chi Center in Lihu‘e and Healthy Hut in Kilauea are the Kaua‘i retailers.
Collins also recently signed a contract with Whole Foods, the Mainland natural food store chain, which will soon carry Chocolate Goji Treats in its Southern Pacific region.
“I am not a certified chef, I didn’t go to school — I grew up with amazing chefs in both my grandmother and mom. But this all came out of a desire to take care of myself and my own health. Now I’m happy I can share it,” said Collins, the sole creator of this globally minded, deliciously addictive, new superfood, born on the island of Kaua‘i.
• Keya Keita, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 ext.257 or kkeita@kauaipubco.
com.
