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20 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 11, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Mom's cereal mix turned out to be top innovation By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER When Julie Arora set on making her mom's cereal something that's available for the public to eat and enjoy, she went to numerous manufactures to discuss Mom's Healthy Secrets. And every time she went she would almost always see a Food in Canada Magazine ­the national business publication for food and beverage--lying somewhere in the manufacturers' office. Julie recalls that one manufacturer even held it up and said, "maybe one day you'll be in there." The manufacturer's prediction was not far from the truth, because, in June, Julie and Mom's Healthy Secrets were featured in the magazine as one of Canada's Top Ten Innovators. `It was really neat to be in this magazine within just two years," smiled Julie. "Our goal was really to be innovative and to give Canadians an option that's truly good for them." Each year, the magazine selects 10 companies that demonstrate innovation, excellent business practices and growth opportunities. Neera Arora, Julie's mom, is happy to see her recipe and her daughter's company on that list. Neera grew up in India where she always ate her grandmother and mother's foods. When she came to Canada she looked for healthy foods for her children. However, she said that when- RENOVATION CLEARANCE SALE Hurry in for y best selection! "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a Julie Aurora with Mom's Healthy Secrets cereals ever she would go out she "It took me eight hours to would see that healthy food make (the cereal) and it would choices were very limited. be gone in half-an-hour," That's when she decided to laughed Neera. make healthy foods herself. Seeing the popularity that "I started experimenting her mom's cereal had with what is good for you and received, Julie, who had come then combine it together," back from America, decided to explained Neera. center her career on her Her experimentation and mom's cereal and make it dedication to feeding her fam- available for the public. ily something healthy, eventu"I believe that we are all ally lead to the creation of a here to share our talents with cereal so tasty and healthy, the world... my goal in my life that almost everyone who time is to share my mom's taltried it was sure to come back ent...to create innovative for more. foods that are genuinely good for you...with the rest of the world. " In 2006, Julie took the first step towards achieving this goal when the production of Mom's Healthy Secretes cereal began with two flavors-- raisin and tropical fruit. Since then, Julie's been taking leaps. She admits that like any other small business, she faced obstacles along the way. However, she says the obstacles thus far have been overcome with the help of those surrounding her. "People are always willing to help someone who is doing something they genuinely believe in," said a thankful Julia. "I've been helped more than I could ever ask. Every step I've taken, I've had someone holding my hand, teaching me how to get to the next level." "I'm on a very steep learning curve. Three years ago I didn't go grocery shopping and now our products are on shelves across Canada," she said. Mom's Healthy Secrets recently added three new products to its line--FiberFit, which contain 12 grams of fiber per serving, OmegaActive, which contains 700 mg of omegas and VitalBerry, which is the first cereal to contain Gogi berries. The three products are different than the original two in their format. For example, they have the flakes that are found in most commercially available cereals. Julie said that Mom's Healthy Secrets' cereal is a product that any mom could consciously bring to the family. "It's all mom approved," she laughed. Julie explained that her mom's primary focus was to create a nutritionally dense cereal or a nutritional dense meal. Only after ensuring the nutritional aspects of the meal would she add healthy options, such as fruits instead of sugar, to make the meal taste good. "The whole process was just a growth experience," she said. "My mom didn't wake up and say I want to sell cereal. She woke up and said I want to give my family something healthy and then she extended that healthy option to everyone else." New ! Location Decorating a bedroom can be expensive BUT not at Halton Linen HALTON LINEN OUTLET 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905-337-2066 INVENTORY CLEARANCE 5 DAYS ONLY JULY 16-20TH Extended Hours Wed.,Thurs., Fri. to 8 pm Brand name bedding up to 70% Off New ! 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