We were lucky to catch up with Sophia Malek recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sophia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Our mission at Bad Nutrition Chia Pudding is to create inherently nutritious foods unabashedly delicious. As a reformed nutritionist, I was fed up with the black and white mentality surrounding food morality in the nutrition, culinary and CPG worlds. Creating Bad Nutrition Chia Pudding is my way to reclaim the word ‘bad’ when it comes to foods and bodies- I like to think of it as my official break-up letter with diet culture!
Sophia , 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?
As a nutritionist, feminist, mother and general hell raiser, I was fed up with diet culture. I was tired of being told how my
body should look to make other people comfortable and I felt like- probably- I wasn’t alone. I also really love Chia Pudding.
Cue: Bad Nutrition Chia Pudding.
We’re here to build a brand for the rule breakers, the weirdos, for those who refuse to accept the status quo. We take inherently nutritious chia seeds and make in-your-face, unabashedly delicious chia seed pudding to nourish your body and your cravings.
I am so proud of Bad Nutrition- It’s been my chance to reclaim the word bad in so many ways. I am reclaiming the word bad when it comes to food morality- both in my own body and in how diet culture shows up for countless other women. I am reclaiming bad in how I always felt about my own sense of style, creativity and never feeling like I really fit in. Bad Nutrition has allowed me to go on a journey of self love, actuality and fulfillment that I never really saw coming but am so insanely thankful for.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
When planning to launch Bad Nutrition, I was so worried about production and operations. I was nervous I didn’t have the technical skills, it sounded really difficult and also… boring? I railed against it and realized, the capitol needed to go straight to comanufacutirng was just too high for my business model. I also knew I was a bit of a control maniac when it came to the texture, flavor and ingredients- many things you have less control of with a co-man. Ultimately, I began self manufacturing our chia and the first production run was a 17 hour shift (that my husband and I did together)! I think the stress and trauma of that shift will forever live in my bones! I learned so much in that single shift and every shift after- from how to use a steam kettle, the mechanics of pneumatic pumps and the best fill temp for my cups. So. Much. Learning. I would not go any other way now, the lessons you learn and mastery of your product through each production run is so imperative to handing off the recipe when you eventually scale and now, I sort of love production days!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Though not a traditional business book, Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad taught me the importance of quieting that loud fear of failure that often stops you from taking big leaps of faith. Her story inspires me to live everyday, not as if its my last, but as if it’s my first. People who create from a place of passion, authenticity and love inspire me to show up every day and to build my own business from a place of making the world better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.badbrand.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badnutritionchia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadNutritionChia/
Image Credits
Leesa Morales