Between 2005 – 2006, I was working more and more with the out-patient cancer community.  I had a series of conversations with patients about the need for nutrition during cancer treatment and found a trend – patients had an altered sense of taste, specific texture and nutrition needs but no food products that met their need.  Then one day I had a conversation with a young business woman suffering with cancer.  I was giving her the usual nutrition tips such as blend Ensure with fruit and ice cream or milk this will help with your protein intake.  Much to my surprise, this young woman (mid 30’s) slammed her hand on the desk and told me “I will not walk into the board room with a can of Ensure!”  So I asked what she liked to eat and she mentioned nutrition bars but complained they were too hard and dry to consume at the time.  It dawned on me, I should make a nutrition bar that has as much flavor as possible, was not granola based and offered a balanced nutritional panel.  I also wanted to make a food product that didn’t tell the world “I have cancer”.  Instead, I wanted to empower patients to live as full life as much as possible.  So, in 2006 I stepped into the kitchen to address the cancer patient’s unique challenges regarding taste, texture and nutrition. 

As a result of treatment, cancer patients often suffer with a decreased sense of taste (either a decrease in taste sensation, the elimination of one or more of their tastes such as savory or sweets, or a metallic taste presents) therefore, I created the most flavorful bar I could possible make according to the people that matter most, cancer patients. 

Once I had the taste down, I worked on the bar’s texture.  Again, as a result of treatment, patients may suffer with a decrease in saliva production (dry mouth), mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or all three plus plain old fatigue with eating.  Cancer is cruel! Therefore, I created a bar without granola yet, still dense enough that it has a “bite-into-it” sensation.  Keep in mind; eating is an emotional experience that gives us a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing.  It was important my patients have that same experience.  I even put a few rice crisps in the bars so the patient would hear a “crunch” when they bite into the bar.  But I didn’t stop there!  I then baked the bar like a brownie. 

Once my focus group members said the taste and texture were on target, I set out to make a bar with a solid foundation of nutrients.  I worked with nutritionists and scientists to create a custom blend of vitamins that would withstand the baking process.  Then we added protein – a critical element for any cancer patient.  You will notice, that I have not mentioned preservatives.  That’s because I refuse to put any artificial preservatives in the product!  The only preservatives in my bars are the ones naturally found in each ingredient.  As a result the product only has a 3 month shelf life.  For those skeptics out there, this is a good thing!  You don’t want to eat something that can survive a year in your cupboards.  The end result is a bar that looks like a brownie, tastes like a freshly baked brownie and is nutritious. 

My attention to the cancer patient’s needs did not end there.  When it comes to packaging, most wrapped products announce the population they serve such as “low carbohydrate” or “heart healthy”.  But the patients I spoke with just wanted to feel normal.  It’s bad enough they have cancer; they don’t necessarily want the world to know about it.  So I designed the package to be enticing but not announce that it was created for cancer patients.  On the back panel, you will find a story about the product but other than that, you would never know. 

In addition to this, most packaged food has a metallic interior.  For folks suffering with a metallic taste sensation as a result of treatment, I didn’t want them to open my bar and see a metallic interior – again, eating is an emotional experience.  So, I worked with the printing industry to create a package that has a white interior.  The result is a beautiful package that is healthy looking and visually appealing but doesn’t announce that it was created for cancer patients.  It’s a good thing, because since our launch we have a growing number of busy moms and dads, teenagers and athletes buying the bars too. 

When I started this process I was working for the leading non-profit organization in the country.  But, I could not work 80 hours a week for them, obtain my masters and bring Sable’s Foods to market.  I made a very risky decision, with very little money to my name and no food product experience, to quit my job.  To survive, I opened a small consulting firm to financially support me as I worked tirelessly to make my dream come true.  To this day, I am still a one-woman show running both companies because I know this is a good product and cancer patients need options. 

For me, this product is about meeting the needs of cancer patients and anyone else in need of Nutritional Empowerment.  It is important to give back to the cancer community and to participate in the fight to find a cure.  That is why I donate “a bite of every bar” to cancer research programs.  I do this by (1) donating bars to cancer centers or non-profit fundraising events, (2) participating in numerous non-profit fundraising events (walk/runs, etc.), (3) I developed an affiliate program so non-profit organizations can sell the bars raising funds for their mission, and lastly, when the company is profitable, I will cut a check to cancer research programs annually. 

            I’ve always carried a money clip and one day I simply woke up with an idea to add a bottle opener to a money clip for convenience.  After about 20 handmade prototypes I came up with the perfect angle to grip the bottle cap.  I then had to complete my R&D and with a couple of friends opened several cases of beer over a weekend to make sure it really worked.