Thanks Whole Foods! Off To A Strong 2009

15 states, 100 plus stores, and moving as planned! Thanks to Whole Foods, our expansion to the entire Midwest, Northeast, and Southwest Regions has 2009 off to a strong start!

Check out our where to buy page for a retailer near you! And let us know what you think of the product (email me at dmazarakis@tulafoods.com). It's still early, so we are listening and making adjustments accordingly!

My Take On "Tips for Entrepreneurs"

I was flipping through my Alma Mater's Entrepreneurship Newletter. Their fall issue offered 7 tips for entrepreneurs. I found them to ring true; so thought I would add a little color based on my (now 18 month) adventure!

1. Just Do It

Yes. Take the risk. Follow your dreams. It's amazing and incredible! If you are anything like me, you won't ever look back. BUT...do think through best case and worst case scenarios, especially worst case scenarios. There are A LOT of difficult days. Knowing what is the worst that can happen is comforting. The way I see it, if things don't work out as planned, I'm financially poorer, intellectually richer, hundreds of times more marketable, and incredibly happier than I would have been had I stayed in my corporate job.

2. Get Good Legal Counsel

Absolutely. Let me know if you need a referral!

3. Invest Your Own Money -- It disciplines you

Yes. If you really want discipline, start your business during a recessionary period!

4. Surround yourself with good people -- both heart and mind are important

This resonates most with me. Both the right team at work and at home are critical. At work, knowing you an rely on smart, honest leaders and colleagues is reassuring. Having the right support network at home just as important, if not more. The encouragement of loved ones is truly make or break because it is a tough road!

5. Never carry the burden of being the smartest person in the room.

True. But more importantly remember to trust yourself. You may have surrounded yourself with a smarter team; but if it's your baby, at the end of the day, you need to feel good about it.

6. Learn to micro-manage initially and try to unlearn it later

The earlier you can understand when to delegate and when to take the reigns the better. I'm still waiting for the day I'm even close to mastering!

7. Be shameless about asking for help

I couldn't agree more. But ALWAYS remember that your turn will come. Make sure you, too, offer your help freely when asked!!!!

Of course, I have to add own piece of advice. HAVE FUN! It you aren't having fun, why in the world did you start this adventure in the first place. For me, in spite of all the ups and down, I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I'm having the time of my life pursuing my dream and creating something out of nothing that will help people eat and live better! And thanks to everyone who is helping making this happen! It isn't possible without you!

Whey Protein Spas – The Next Big Thing?

Today Brian and I had another interview on whey protein and our Better Whey of Life™ brand. This time it was for Food Product Design, a trade magazine whose article is to be published in April.

One of the first questions asked was whether consumers are looking for "back to the basics" when it comes to nutrition or are they looking for healthy, functional ingredients that are more like "bells and whistles" (implying that whey protein is a "bell an whistle").

This question made me realize that it is not well know that whey protein is both "back to basic" nutrition as well as a "functional" food. We all know that I have been touting whey protein's functionality for promoting lean bodies and for helping lose inches around the waist. What you may not know is that whey is a centuries-old cure! Whey was used in Ancient Greece as a reliable remedy for many diseases. Centuries later, Whey Inspired Spas were created in Switzerland, Germay, and Austria in the 1800s. Evidently, they were frequented by royalty.

Since the Better Whey of Life™ brand is about a better life, I think Spas may our next Big Thing! Okay okay...we have to sell some yogurt first :).

If you are interested, you can check out Dr. Mercola's view on whey protein, both its basic nutrition as well as its functional benefits!

FLAX: Another Way To Enjoy Plain!

Because it has the most protein and least sugar, I eat one of my Plain Yogurts daily (although I think my record is six...that story and the ramifications thereafter are for another time)! I am therefore, constantly finding new ways to enjoy my Plain Yogurt.

Over the holidays, my brother's fiance told me to put flax seed on my yogurt. I said that I already get my Omega 3s through daily supplements.  She told me I should eat it for the fiber. After visiting a store, I found ground flax, toasted flax, plain flax, flavored flax, every flax you could imagine. It touted Omega 3s, fibers, lignans, etc. I bought the toasted flax, but knew I needed someone to demystify the flax out of it!

Thanks Nutrition Diva . You had a great piece a few days later that helped me make sense of these little guys that look like sesame! If you have the time, check it out. If not, here's what I learned: flax does contain Omega 3s, fiber, and lignans, but you need to ground it to enjoy its benefits. Either ground it yourself, or buy it pre-ground. Either way, ensure that it is ground fresh (no more than two weeks old). 

Since then, I have pulled out grandmother's mortar and pestle (that she carried all the way from Turkey). I ground my toasted flax each morning (it takes a total of 1-2 min -- same time it takes to heat the water for my tea). I throw it into my plain yogurt, add a little agave nectar, and Whola...I have an even more nutritionally delicious start to my day! Plain, certainly doesn't have to be boring...just look at the flax!

Recipe:

• One cup plain BWOL yogurt

• 1 Tbsp Ground Toasted Flax Seeds

• 1 Tbsp Agave Nectar (doesn't spike your GI as much as honey)

Approximate Nutrition:

• 200 Calories

• 20g Protein

• 6g Fiber

• 4g Fat (the good stuff from the Flax Seeds)

• 13g Sugar (low GI fro the Agave Nectar)

Shiny Happy 2009!

We Greeks have a fabulous New Years Day tradition! Every New Years, we hide a shiny coin in delicious, sweet baked bread. The bread is then blessed, cut, and distributed among family and friends. The person who receives the piece with the coin is said to receive good luck throughout the year. In an attempt to buck tradition and ensure as much good luck for all, my Dad decided he would secretly insert several shiny coins in many different breads and sweets throughout his house. Of course, that increased my chances by 300% and I did receive one of the coins!

If that is any indicator, its going to be a good year! On this first real workday of 2009, I received two new accounts to carry our product, closed the 2008 books (at least for our business plan purposes), finished my investor presentation, and approved a revised formula for the peach-mango yogurt (I didn't like the taste of the mango pieces in the "old" formula). All that with still some time to connect with friends and write a quick blog. You may ask what about the daily work-out...after all, I'm promoting a fitness yogurt and a Better Way of Life? Firstly, I don't work out daily...I'm a 3-4X a week girl. And, secondly, you can't do everything in one day. Some things are better left for tomorrow!

Happy New Year To All! May all our days shine as bright as one of Dad's (many) 2009 lucky coins.