“What we eat - and how we eat it - matters more than we ever imagined.”
Can the way we chew really change the world? It might sound far-fetched, but a casual conversation with Pear Chatlaong, co-founder of Chew Green, reveals how our eating habits can have far-reaching consequences. From personal health to planetary well-being, it’s clear that what we eat - and how we eat it - matters more than we ever imagined. As Pear puts in, “your chews matter.”
From Bananas to Big Ideas:
Before founding Chew Green, Pear was a typical workaholic. Meals were rushed, sleep was scarce, and work took precedence over everything else. Sound familiar? Her diet matched her lifestyle: fast, convenient, and not exactly winning any nutrition awards.
Then came the wake-up call. Literally. A sudden blackout jolted Pear out of autopilot. “I thought I was fine,” she says, “but my body had other ideas.” This was her lightbulb moment - time to switch things up.
Instead of a total life overhaul, Pear started small, gradually shifting towards healthier choices. Little did she know, these baby steps would eventually lead to Chew Green.
By paying attention to what she was putting into her body, she was becoming more mindful of her chews. Then came the banana revelation. Her mom’s sun-dried bananas - no added sugar, no fancy stuff - turned out to be surprisingly delicious. “This is how good real food can be!,” she recalls.
This simple snack sparked a major shift in Pear’s food philosophy, setting her on the path to creating Chew Green and proving that eating well doesn’t have to be complicated or boring. Who knew a bunch of bananas could bring such big changes?
Beyond the Bites: Voting with Your Chews
Over the years, Pear’s Chew Green journey opened her eyes to a bigger picture. “Every bite we take is like casting a vote,” she says with a grin. “We’re voting for happier people and a healthier planet.”
“The food industry arguably has the most profound impact on both the people and the planet,” Pear explains. “As the population grows, so too must the food industry expand, inevitably becoming an even larger force in our lives.” This growth amplifies the impact of our food choices - what we eat, how we make it, and how we consume it all have consequences.
Pear’s vision for Chew Green extends beyond creating tasty, healthier snacks. It’s about inspiring people to make more mindful food choices in support of more mindful cultivation and production. “We want people to savor the story behind their food,” she says. “Where it comes from, how it’s made, and the impact of those processes on our health, the health of the people who make them, and the health of the planet.”
Growing a Sustainable Future
As the company grows, so does its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. Chew Green partners with growers and producers who share values for quality, sustainability, and authenticity. “As we visit farms and plantations all over the country, we're constantly inspired by the passion and dedication of the people we meet,' Pear shares. This approach not only leads to more people- and planet-friendly agriculture but also preserves beloved local plant varieties and inspires new flavors and textures.
“It’s a journey,” Pear admits. “We’re learning and improving as we go. But we believe that by making mindful choices in our own operations, we can inspire our partners and customers to do the same in their daily lives. If we don’t change from small points, how can the big picture change?”
Little Big Chews: Your Chews Matter
Pear highlights how our food choices are interconnected with larger issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. As consumers, we have the power to make a difference.
“Every time we choose to put something into our mouth, we're setting a trend,” Pear confirms. “We're consciously deciding what kind of business practice or company we want to support.” However, we need to realize our power - knowing we can lead the market in whichever direction we want. “This is not to say you shouldn’t consume, but rather to consume mindfully,” Pear says, “because your chews actually matter.”
A Journey Of Meaning
When Pear took her first step towards a healthier lifestyle, she couldn’t have imagined where it would lead her. In a business world often characterized by deceit and cut-throat competition, we were curious about what kept her motivated.
“As a Buddhist,” Pear shared, “I’ve been taught to ask what gives meaning to life, rather than what’s the meaning of life. What meaning we give to our life is our own choice and actions. Since day one, my husband and I really believe we’ve found something that gives meaning to our lives. This is something worth putting our effort into, both from a business perspective and as a way towards a livelihood in harmony with our ideals.”
“When I look at the people around me, the people who constitute my little world, my real world, I’m only affirmed in my belief that each one of us has the capacity to make our own real world better,” she continues. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s the meaningful mission and the direct experiences in your life that make difficult days easier. “Some things just need to take time,” Pear concludes with a smile, “because we never know - good things take time”
As Pear’s journey shows, every mindful chew is a step towards a better world - for ourselves and for our planet.
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