Author Archives: Susan

Hail Merry Raw Statement:

Thanks to movies like Food Inc. and Forks Over Knives, and the double-digit growth of the gluten-free market due to an epidemic increase in chronic and autoimmune diseases like celiac and type-2 diabetes, the public has awoken to the health benefits of raw foods. Consumers are looking for quality transportable products that are affordable, taste good, and do not contain refined sugars, oxidized refined oils, synthetic vitamins, GMOs, soy fillers, gluten or animal/dairy products. Hail Merry snacks delivers on all fronts while proudly offering outstanding award winning taste! Safety, quality and dependability of the finished consumer product are of utmost importance to us. We methodically source our ingredients for the same safety, quality and dependability so we can deliver a product that not only tastes delicious but also is healthy & safe to eat. This philosophy and dedication to our consumer is the reason we are not 100% raw. Hail Merry is a RAW OIL story. Let me explain.

As you are probably aware there are two factors that make a food raw, raw oils & living enzymes.  Living enzymes like probiotics are VERY hard to quantify.  That is why we hang our hat on raw oils not enzymes. There is not a standard of identity yet for RAW foods the way there is for gluten-free (Hail Merry is certified Gluten-Free to the highest standards of the industry by its most respected approving authority). We will become involved in contributing to the standards of RAW as an OIL story as we believe it is as critical as the ENZYME story. All Hail Merry products include RAW ingredients. Some of our products are more RAW than others, but they ALL feature RAW oils.

As a raw food enthusiast our brand reflects my own personal lifestyle (which is not 100% raw) and what I prefer in regard to flavor profile and the unique benefits of raw oils.  I do believe strongly that enzymes play a major role in health and vitality.  I prefer to obtain the majority of the living enzymes I consume daily from raw fruits and veggies.  Our foods contain some living enzymes (as opposed to baked snacks) but are in fact more of a raw oil story, since by nature  macaroons, dessert tarts, nuts and granola are considerably low in enzyme payload by nature.   We choose to celebrate the plant based raw oil within the coconut oil, nuts & seeds left in tact from low heat dehydration.

As a manufacturer, we can source raw oils to meet our high quality standards.  The raw cacao industry is not regulated and there is no guarantee that temperature limits to preserve living enzymes have not been exceeded. Manufacturers of raw foods cannot guarantee enzyme levels of their packaged products by the time it reaches the consumer, much like the yogurt industry. Air, light and temperature become factors. We can guarantee the processing of our cold-pressed raw oils.

I also personally believe that raw cocao is toxic when consumed often.  It is not a superfood in the minds of many raw food experts including Jeremy Safron who is very outspoken on this issue.  My recipes happen to be inspired by the highly esteemed raw food chef Matthew Kenney, who uses maple syrup in many of his recipes.  Mathew also owns the raw food culinary school in Oklahoma and is regarded as a leader in the industry speaking at TED conferences etc.

Therefore, Hail Merry is a RAW OIL story.  Raw oils don’t begin to fully oxidize until heated to temps well over 220 degrees.  For the record we dehydrate our foods at 115 degrees.

For example our Meyer Lemon Tarts do contain raw fresh squeezed Meyer lemon juice, which gives the tarts our signature great fresh taste.   We also use organic raw agave in the Meyer Lemon Tart.  As you know there is a tremendous amount of controversy surrounding agave.  At the end of the day we selected the highest quality raw agave on the market to use in this recipe for the flavor profile - yet how raw is the agave truly?  Most agave syrup is processed at temperatures between 120-160F. How many living enzymes really exist in that agave after processing, manufacturing and transportation? If it does not have enzymatic activity, is it raw? As the controversy plays out in the raw food industry, we will continue to primarily use maple syrup as a sweetener.  Maple syrup has a higher vitamin/mineral payload than agave and often a better taste profile in our snacks and desserts. The result is repeat sales and consumer loyalty, lifting the entire raw food market for all manufacturers. If a product does not taste good, it will not have sustainability. I can’t tell you how many raw enthusiasts Hail Merry has as fans, who are happy we use maple syrup in some of our recipes instead of agave.

At the end of the day, there are no official standards for defining raw.  The fact that we dehydrate at 115 degrees to protect our raw plant based oils is how WE lead with raw.  Hail Merry adds an asterisk next to those items in our ingredients that don't contain living enzymes for transparency, however there are still raw plant based oils present.  We believe our customers are educated enough to make their own decisions about how raw a raw food should be to fit their individual lifestyle and philosophy, just as I have done. We believe in our customer and they trust us to deliver high quality, safe, transportable raw, vegan and gluten-free snacks that taste great and make them happy!

Here is a statement I wrote for our website.

Hail Merry foods are not 100% raw.   We feel that we are raw where it counts most -  in the plant based dietary oils found in the nuts, seeds and coconut oils.  Our almonds have been steam pasteurized at 160 degrees, however the oils inside the almonds still remain raw.  Our buckwheat groats, & sunflower seeds, have been soaked prior to seasoning and dehydration for optimum digestion. A diet flush with living enzymes is the key to vitality and longevity. Pair that with raw plant based dietary oils for proper vitamin absorption, and hormone balance and our bodies will radiate with good health.

I hope this helps give you more perspective into our story and philosophy.  There are some living enzymes present in our foods just like other raw food companies, but no company can guarantee how many enzymes are present at point of consumption. We can guarantee consistency, dependability, sustainability and safety to your customers.

Thanks,

Susan O’Brien
Founder, Hail Merry

Hail Merry founder, Susan O’Brien was fortunate enough to attend the Clinton Foundation Health Matters Summit. She worked out with Jillian Michaels and gave President Clinton a sample of our Grawnola. Hail Merry Hails to the Chief! Read the details below.

Reality Check: Huge numbers of aging baby boomers, who by no fault of their own, grew up eating fake mayonnaise and white bread, smoked, drank martinis at lunch, and were told margarine was better than butter, are going to put a burden on our health care and Medicaid system that is so profound it could bankrupt our country.  Younger generations pay into the Medicaid system to cover its elderly but the numbers are now SO lopsided since boomers are having fewer kids that it will take 20 years to even out leaving a huge burden for the next generation.  The US outspends other nations by 850 – 1 trillion for healthcare.  If we don’t begin to change the course of Americas overall health we will have no money left for defense, education, or social security.  Nada folks!  This is really serious and as a parent I am truly concerned for my grandchildren and this nation.

OK, I know that was a pretty heady lead in statement but it was not all gloom and doom at The Clinton Foundation’s inaugural HEALTH MATTERS summit to kick off the Humana Challenge previously beloved as the Bob Hope Classic Golf Tournament in Palm Springs CA.  Bill and his really lovely and articulate daughter Chelsea hosted the event including guest speakers Susan Dell of the Dell Foundation, James Curleigh of KEEN shoes, Goldie Hawn, Dr, Mark Hyman, Billie Jean King, Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Looser, Surgeon General David Satcher 1998-2002 and Dr. Nancy Snyderman the Chief Medical Editor for NBC News to name a few.

It was truly a rock star moment when Bill Clinton took the stage to kick off the event.  No one is more masterful at speaking and engaging a crowd than President Bill Clinton and now as a vegan and he has never looked better.

President Clinton enlisted the aid of insurance industry leader HUMANA to underwrite the event and help lead the cause to effect real change at the corporate level. After all it is corporate America who pays for the nations healthcare (if your lucky enough to have insurance).  American corporations are changing their habits by walking more and eliminating unhealthy snacking during meetings.  The wage disparity in this nation will only continue to worsen if we do not control healthcare costs.  Rising insurance premiums will keep companies from paying higher wages therefore prolonging the recession.  This is real folks -  we all must engage our friends and family to live healthier lives.

Enlisting the help of the food industry will be a much bigger challenge in the coming years that is for sure.  It will be interesting to see how much influence President Clinton will have over the food & drug industries special interest groups who continue to perpetuate the cycle of disease, which is “eat bad foods, get sick, take pills” and on and on it goes.  Bill Clinton already led the cause to appeal to the soft drink industry to lower the sugar content in soft drinks.  As a result our schools have an 88% calorie reduction in school soft drinks.  This proves that we can effect change slowly and diligently.  We are all Americans who want healthier lives for our children and future generations.  Bill Clinton remarked “it is not a Republican nor a Democratic issue to be healthier,  it is an American issue.

Childhood obesity and adult onset diabetes (“Diabesity” as coined by Dr. Mark Hyman) were by far the hot topics discussed.  Chelsea Clinton who serves on the board of the Clinton Foundation lead a panel to discuss raising the bar for healthy schools.  She commented that the average kids in America snacks 3x per day. 50 years ago the average kid snacked 1x per day.  Billy Jean King commented that only 2% of elementary school students in America have access to Physical Education at school.  That is staggering!

Goldie Hawn was there to talk about the MINDUP program she founded that has been implemented in schools across America.  She believes that kids today feel so much more stress than in previous generations. She felt that the imagery seen by our kids during 9/11 would forever scar an entire generation.  She has spent the past 10 years developing a program to give kids self-confidence and tools for living happier healthier lives.  The program starts with teaching kids about their own physiology.  How their brain actually works and how proper diet effects mood and performance in school and in sports.

Susan Dell talked about how important physical activity is to retaining what is learned in school.

Dr Hyman offered insight into how he helped transform Pastor Rick Warren’s 300+ congregation by collectively loosing thousands of pounds.  “Being healthy is a team sport” commented Dr. Hyman.

At the end of the event President Clinton asked how can we work to get more organic foods into the hands of our citizens? I challenge everyone in America to not only reprogram their palates for healthier foods away from fast food, but to rethink their personal budgets. 50 years ago the average American spent 20% of their income on food. Today we on average spend 5%. Healthy foods especially organic, costs more, period! The only way to reduce the cost of organic foods is for people to buy more of them. Chemicals, pesticides & hormones are serious free radicals and disrupters to health that lead to cancer and other major health issues. Think about it - would you rather spend 15% more on your bill at the grocery store and live a healthy life free from medical bills or by contrast, when you hit your 50s be sick and in need of doctors and protracted surgeries? Think of it as a personal insurance policy on yourself. Obesity is not a disease of the poor, but a disease of an affluent society. Third world countries eat foods that they grow themselves not foods from a fast food chain.

There was also discussion about implementing school gardens and teaching children about where food comes from and how it nourishes the body.  Another highlight for me was meeting the founders of a non-profit called The Kitchen Community out of Boulder.  They have designed really cool modular garden boxes for school playgrounds.  Please check out their website http://www.thekitchencommunity.org/support/.

Jillian Michaels put the hurt on 50 or so of the guests before the summit began.  Check out the video.  I can barely walk today!

Susan Obrien

Founder, Hail Merry

Can going gluten-free improve your mood?  If you are one in 10 Americans that suffer from gluten sensitivity- YES. Research has shown that a gluten-free diet improves depression and feelings of sadness.  Music also improves your mood.  Just ask any teenager.  Not only do we experience more positive emotions after listening to music, but our already positive emotions are intensified by listening to music.

So what happens when you combine the gluten-free diet with music- Groovin’ Miracle Tarts! Luckily, I live with teenagers that turn me on to all sorts of music- especially in the kitchen, when we are cooking or eating together. Below is my daughter’s Hail Merry® playlist, favorite songs that keep a smile on our face while the gluten-free snacks feed our bodies royally. Noshing to the Beat!

Every Teardrop is a Waterfall- Coldplay

Knee Deep- Zac Brown Band & Jimmy Buffet

Something Good Can Work- Two Door Cinema

Dog Days are Over- Florence & The Machine

Coastin'- Zion I

Feelin' Alright- Rebelution

On Nature- Matisyahu

You and Your Heart- Jack Johnson

Pumped of Kicks- Foster the People

Good Life- One Republic

Firework- Katy Perry

Patience- Nas & Damien Marley

Hail Merry Miracle Tarts are now sold at New York City’s Organic Ave locations.  I can't tell you how honored we are to be available in what I deem to be the coolest juice bar in the country (equaled by Daily Juice in Austin of course)!

The owner & founder, Denise Mari, is truly America's Rawk Star of the highest order.  Denise founded Organic Ave. out of her DUMBO apartment in Brooklyn, which started out as an organic/raw lifestyle experience of fresh juicing, raw food classes, alternative healing modalities and LOTS OF LOVE!  I have to say, I am in awe of this woman and what she has created!  The store feels like walking into a super clean, intelligently designed and beautiful haven for healthy living.  The brand is simple and easy to interpret which can be difficult with some raw food messaging.

The fresh pressed raw juices are sold in the cutest little glass milk bottles in 14 varieties including Veggie Vibrance, Green LOVE, Master Tonic and even seasonal Watermelon juice – YUM.

The Raw foods are super fresh, culinary by design (not just functional hippy food), tasty and pleasing to the eye (which is rare for some raw foods).

The gourmet raw/vegan packaged products that are sold at Organic Ave. are very well edited by Denise and her staff -  The best selection I have ever seen.  Same goes for the selection of facial and body products.  I am newly obsessed with Tata Harper’s Organic Body Oil.

The elixirs are in little glass vials filled with life giving tonics such as Aloe, Chlorophyll, E3 Live or Wheatgrass.  I added an E3 Live to my Green LOVE juice for an added immunity boost.

To top off my time there (which was for a Hail Merry product demo) I got to meet and hang out with the lovely Organic Avenue Staff.  They are so clear-eyed and happy to be alive.

Organic Avenue makes my heart sing……

Susan OBrien