This is how a cancer diagnosis turned into a mission of spreading the power of a plant-based lifestyle.
One in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer annually throughout the United States. In 2003, Amelia Kirchoff faced this reality while living on her working farm in Viola Wisconsin. When someone receives a cancer diagnosis their world changes, and Kirchoff’s diagnosis was no exception.
With help from her daughter Jola Sonkin, Kirchoff decided to fight cancer with a macrobiotic, plant-based diet in addition to a local lumpectomy. In the face of adversity, the two bonded, fought cancer, and Kirchoff won.
“Over the course of that year, I gained more and more confidence in the fact that food and what we put in our bodies is really important, and it was a huge wake-up call,” Kirchoff said.
How a Cancer Diagnosis Became a Recipe for Success
During her battle, Kirchoff created the MacroBar recipe in her Wisconsin family farm kitchen. In the years following, Kirchoff and Sonkin began spreading the message of the benefits of a plant-based diet, balanced lifestyle, and conscious practices through GoMacro.
Since the brand’s launch in 2004, it has grown from selling MacroBars at local markets throughout the Midwest to national distribution in more than 25,000 locations.
The mother-daughter owned business now offers 16 delicious flavors. The two newest additions — Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Maple + Sea Salt — helped meet consumer demand for more nut-free MacroBar options. Prioritizing the needs of their growing consumer base is essential to the brand’s mission, which includes several soon-to-be-announced product innovations in 2020.
All of the seed and nut butter-based nutrition bars are made with simple, sustainably-sourced ingredients. The bars are certified organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and soy-free. They’re made without refined sugars, additives, or preservatives, and also come in nut-free and FODMAP-suitable varieties.
‘Feel Good While Doing Good’
Alongside their mission to spread the power of a plant-based lifestyle, the GoMacro team wants to help build a stronger community by giving back to local and national organizations. It’s part of their “feel good while doing good” mission.
GoMacro gives a portion of its proceeds to four organizations: Feeding San Diego, a leading hunger-relief charity; Solutions For Change, a San Diego-based non-profit that helps families rebuild their lives after homelessness; Farm Sanctuary, America’s first shelter for farmed animals; and the Keep A Breast Foundation, which empowers young people with breast health education and support.
GoMacro wants to tread as lightly as possible on the planet. It cuts food waste, uses alternative energy, and has planted more than 45,000 trees.
GoMacro is actively working toward becoming a zero-landfill manufacturer by using 100 percent post-consumer recycled packaging materials. It donates 100 percent of its unsellable bars to food banks throughout the U.S. and gives all its food scraps to local farmers.
Sonkin said the journey from her mother’s diagnosis to now has been a meaningful lesson.
“An amazing lesson that my mom has taught me, and that I want to teach my children,” Sonkin said. “Is when you have a challenging moment, don’t feel defeated, use that challenge as an opportunity to do something good. Turn it into something good, and make a difference in someone else’s life.”
You can learn more about GoMacro and purchase its vegan protein bars on its website.
This is a sponsored post.
