We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janae Cox. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janae below.

Alright, Janae thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Honestly, Clean Monday Meals started from a really personal place. I was diagnosed with celiac disease back in 2014, and then later we found out I also had PCOS. That combo kind of flipped everything upside down when it came to how I ate and what I could put into my body. Suddenly, food wasn’t just food—it was this minefield of hidden ingredients, labels I couldn’t trust, and constantly feeling like I was missing out on the flavors I used to love.

One of the things that hit hardest was realizing how many of the “healthy” or allergy-friendly options out there were still packed with junk—preservatives, fillers, seed oils, soy, dairy, gluten… the list goes on. Even simple things like bouillon or ranch seasoning, which should just be real food, were full of ingredients I couldn’t have. I remember standing in the grocery aisle one day reading the back of a label, thinking, Why is it this hard to find clean, safe ingredients?

That frustration became the spark. That spark turned into a raging fire after my oldest daughter Kolbie (11 at the time) was diagnosed with Type one diabetes and celiac disease shortly after.

I started experimenting in our kitchen, trying to recreate the flavors her and I missed—like that comforting chicken ramen from our childhood, or a classic onion soup mix—just using real, whole ingredients. No junk. No allergens. Just actual food. I would post what I was making online, and the response was overwhelming. People weren’t just interested—they needed it. There were so many families, just like ours, dealing with food allergies, autoimmune issues, or trying to feed their kids better but struggling to find anything that felt safe and still tasted good.

That’s when it clicked. This wasn’t just our problem—it was a bigger problem. And we realized no one was really solving it the way we wanted it solved. So we leaned in. We didn’t just want to make spice blends. We wanted to give people hope—that even with food restrictions, they could still feed their family meals that were simple, delicious, and safe.

What got me most excited wasn’t just creating a product—it was building something that actually helped people. The messages from moms who said our Chicken Ramen Seasoning was the first “instant” meal their kid with allergies could safely eat? That kept the fire burning. Every clean label, every allergen we avoid, every batch we blend small—it’s all intentional. Because we’ve lived it, and we know how much it matters.

So yeah, it started with a personal need. But it’s turned into a mission. And every time someone tells us they finally feel seen or safe or excited to cook again… it reminds me why we’re doing this.

Janae , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Janae Cox, the founder behind Clean Monday Meals—and like most things in my life, this business started in my own kitchen, with my own health, and my own family in mind.

Years ago, I was diagnosed with celiac disease and later with PCOS, which completely changed how I had to approach food. Suddenly, I couldn’t eat the way I used to. I had to relearn how to cook, how to read labels, how to feed my family—especially in a way that wouldn’t make me sick. I missed the comfort foods I grew up on—ranch dressing, warm bowls of ramen, savory soups—and I couldn’t find clean versions of those things that didn’t come with a side of seed oils, gluten, dairy, or other hidden junk.

That’s when I started experimenting with my own blends at home. I wasn’t trying to start a business at first—I was just trying to feel good and feed my family something safe. But when I started sharing what we were making online, the response was overwhelming. There were so many people out there, just like us, struggling to find food they could trust. Clean Monday Meals grew from that simple idea: what if we could take the flavors people love and remake them with real, allergy-friendly ingredients?

Now we offer a whole line of gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, seed-oil-free spice blends and bouillons that are simple, safe, and delicious. Chicken Ramen Seasoning, Ranch, Taco, Onion Soup Mix, Chicken and Beef Bouillon—everything is made in small batches, with ingredients I feel good about feeding my own kids. I also recently released Organic Ramen Noodles that’s sold out every time we’ve had stock. But don’t worry more is coming this month. I also have a Meal Planning app that makes meal prepping, grocery shopping and counting carbs much easier. Lastly, I’m launching the best plant based protein I’ve ever tasted next month and have a line of BBQ seasonings launching next month as well. Just in time for summer grilling.

What sets us apart is that we’re not some faceless brand. We are the customer. I know what it’s like to scan every ingredient list and feel overwhelmed, to not trust anything on the shelf, or to feel like your food choices are limited. So every product we create is personal. It’s tested in my own kitchen, around our own dinner table, and with our own family in mind.

What I’m most proud of? Honestly, it’s hearing from other moms who say, “My kid can finally eat this,” or, “I cried the first time I made your ramen because it reminded me of childhood.” That’s what this is about. Giving people that comfort again—without the compromises.

If you’re new here, just know this: we’re a real family making real food, and we’re here to help you feel good about what you’re feeding yours.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think what’s helped me build a reputation in this market is that I am my customer. I’ve lived this life. I’ve sat in the car after a grocery trip crying because there was nothing safe for me to eat. I’ve felt the fear, the overwhelm, the frustration. I’ve missed out on foods I loved. I’ve navigated diagnosis after diagnosis, trying to heal while still showing up for my family. So when I talk about clean ingredients or allergy-friendly meals, it’s not marketing—it’s my real life. I’ve cried the same tears as the people who follow us. I know what it feels like to want so badly to feed your family well but not know where to start.

But here’s the thing—I didn’t start Clean Monday Meals to make money. That was never the goal. All I’ve ever wanted is to help people on a similar journey feel seen, supported, and empowered. I wanted to create the products I wish existed when I was in the thick of it. And thankfully, my husband Kevin has always reminded me: “Dollars follow value.” So I’ve stayed focused on providing as much value as I possibly can—through our products, our content, and the community we’ve built.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned came from my mentor, Shawn Brenchley. He always says, “If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.” That’s stuck with me. I show up every day thinking: How can I serve? How can I help one more mom feel peace in the kitchen? How can I make life a little easier for someone who’s struggling like I was?

I think that’s what’s resonated with people. Because at the end of the day, I’m not just selling a product—I’m building trust. I’m (aka Clean Monday Meals is) standing in the gap for families who are trying to eat better, live healthier, and feel hope again. And that’s what makes this brand different. This is personal. And I’m proud of that.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is how I used to cook. Going gluten and dairy-free flipped my entire world upside down. Every product, every ingredient, every “go-to” recipe I leaned on had to be re-evaluated. I had to grieve the comfort of convenience and relearn how to nourish myself and my family from scratch. I’ve wasted money on products that didn’t work, cried over meals that flopped, and stood in countless aisles just wishing food could feel simple again. But I’ve learned to be okay with the trial and error. I’ve accepted that this is my new normal—and that doesn’t mean it can’t still be beautiful.

But the truth is, the unlearning didn’t stop in the kitchen. I’ve also had to unlearn a lot of limiting beliefs about myself. I didn’t go to college. I’m “just” a mom. For a long time, I believed that only smart, educated people started businesses. I wrestled with imposter syndrome—still do, most days. But I’m learning that it’s okay not to have all the answers. It’s okay to ask for help. And I’ve been lucky enough to have an incredible support system. My husband Kevin—my best friend and business partner—has believed in me from day one. Our business partner Josh Smith is a constant source of wisdom and calm. And I’ve been mentored and encouraged by people I look up to so deeply: Shawn Brenchley, Jess Toolson & Cody Sanders (Mixhers), Karalynne Call (Just Ingredients), Adam Schanz (Alder), and Todd Pedersen. These are people who remind me that what matters most isn’t having all the credentials—it’s having the courage to serve, to grow, and to show up every day with heart