FOR MOMS, MOMS-TO-BE & TODDLERS 3+ YEARS
Creamy tarts and rich macaroons – because vegan shouldn’t mean deprivation…
THE COMPANY: The story of Hail Merry started on the island of Maui where the founder, Susan O’Brien fell in love with Superfoods and the Raw Foods lifestyle. Having grown up in Texas where her grandparents grew heirloom fruits and vegetables and her uncle citrus fruits, Susan always had a passion for fresh foods and big ideas.
Upon turning 40, Susan decided that she wanted to do something to make herself feel and look better, and so, decided to adopt the raw foods lifestyle for 9 months and as a result, never felt healthier. Upon returning to Dallas, she began to test recipes, vowing to make her creations taste better than what she could find in the market. Using her 3 boys as taste testers, as well as friends and family, she succeeded.
Susan began selling her products in a few local health food stores and quickly gained a devoted following of people who were also seeking good tasting snacks made with pure ingredients. She then trained her children’s nanny, Lorraine, how to prepare the food and package it so that she could spend her time selling and marketing the brand.
After being introduced to Sarah Chapin, who is now her partner and the CEO at Hail Merry, Susan was able to continue pursuing her passion for creating great tasting recipes and marketing the brand to consumers and retailers, while Sarah (who brought 30 years of big food company thinking & expertise in investment banking to Hail Merry), could take over that end. Also joining the Hail Merry team as partner and CPO in the early days was Alison Brushaber. Alison, a food scientist and culinary trained chef, is also a food industry leader with 30 years experience in commercializing food for large brands.
This powerful trifecta of women now leads Hail Merry with Conscious Capitalism as the core of their mission and value system for the company. They also bring their innate skills as intuitive and passionate females who excel at nurturing the company culture to help their own employees find a healthier path in life.
THE PRODUCT: At Hail Merry, they believe that nature got it right the first time. By using ingredients as close to their natural state as possible, they have perfected the art of making vegan treats that are truly to die for. From their macaroon-like Merry Bites to their melt-in-your-mouth Miracle Tarts, you won’t miss the absence of dairy or wheat, or any other processed sugars or grains for that matter.
With all of their products filled with pure, organic whole foods and spices, rather than large amounts of sweetener, nothing is ever too sweet tasting – just perfectly balanced to fill your most delectable [dessert] desires.
And they really do have something for everybody. The Miracle Tarts are available in 6 amazingly delicious flavors, including: Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Almond Butter, Chocolate Mint, Meyer Lemon, Persian Lime, and Coconut Vanilla Crème. Hail Merry has also recently introduced their Mini Miracle Tarts line, which are single serve tarts and come in a pack of 6. These are not only available in many of the same flavors as the originals, but also include Chocolate Chili Pecan (my absolute favorite!), Strawberry Rhubarb, Blueberry Acai and Sweet Potato.
The Merry Bites also come in 6 superb flavors, including: Caramel Sea Salt, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Dark Chocolate, Lemon, Pure Vanilla and Salted Brownie. Trust me, even though you may have one flavor you prefer over another, you won’t be able to get enough of any of their products!
NUTRITION-WISE: It’s safe to say that Hail Merry products not only taste great, they are also good for you! From the ingredients they use, to the cooking methods they have imposed, both the tastes of the foods and the quality of their components are maintained at their peak. In fact, Hail Merry dehydrates all of their snacks and desserts at low temperatures, rather than baking them, in order to protect all of the plant-based dietary oils and fatty acids from oxidation.
One of the most remarkable and versatile ingredients that Hail Merry uses is organic virgin coconut oil. Found in their Miracle Tarts and Merry Bites, coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid that is used as energy in the body. In addition, coconut oil contains lauric acid, the same powerful antimicrobial compound found in breast milk. And although it is a saturated fat, since it is plant based, it does not contain cholesterol.
In addition to the ingredients that they do use, Hail Merry also takes pride in those it doesn’t. In fact, all of their products are Certified Gluten-free, with their gluten-free standard of less than 5 parts per million [of gluten per serving], being the highest in the industry. Plus, no animal parts or other by-products are used in the manufacturing process. All of their products are also free of corn, soy, and starches. Moreover, they guarantee that they only use the purest of ingredients, all of which are non-GMO Verified, Fair Trade, and mostly Organic.
And even though Hail Merry products taste extremely rich, all of their products have a low glycemic load and contain less than 10 grams of carbohydrates per serving. You can even find a decent amount of fiber in their treats, ranging between 2 and 4 grams per serving, thanks to the shredded coconut used in many of their foods. The nuts in Hail Merry products also add a huge nutritional-punch, as they are naturally low glycemic due to their high protein and fat content. Even the crust of their Miracle Tarts is made from almonds (as opposed to wheat or other grains).
And while their products aren’t necessarily low in calories, a little piece will go a long way, helping to satisfy your sweet tooth all while giving you some good nutrition besides. Moreover, their new Mini Miracle Tarts only have around 90-110 calories per tartlet, and 3 of their flavors only contain around 3 grams of sugar (the rest contain between 5 and 7 grams).
*Made without artificial colors, flavorings or preservatives, and filled with all-natural, straight from nature ingredients, Hail Merry’s line of products can be enjoyed by kids and adults of all ages. In fact, the Mini Miracle Tarts are a perfect stand-in for a cupcake and what I give my 3-year old son at friend’s birthday parties (since he doesn’t eat wheat or dairy). However, I still view these as special occasion treats – for little ones – since they are pretty decadent and I don’t want my kids thinking they get sweets all the time. I myself on-the-other-hand, may just have one (or more) on a regular basis ;)…
WHERE TO BUY: To find the retail location nearest you, please visit Hail Merry’s Store Locator.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Many people think that being vegan means that you are willingly depriving yourself of ‘the finer things’ in life. And it’s usually not just meat they are referring to. It’s all of the sweets and pastries that are out there. You know, the ones filled with crèmes and sweet butters, caramels and chocolates…
But if you really think about it, it’s not all the bakers and pastry chefs that actually make the most delectable foods. It’s nature. What [you ask]?! Yes, it’s the fruit and nuts, the oils, natural spices and herbs that truly make an irresistible dish.
Think about it. What season-less dish have you had that really taste amazing?! It’s just knowing how to use these natural [from the earth] ingredients that makes all the difference…
And at Hail Merry, they’ve definitely got this down! They believe that eating foods as close to their natural state as possible is not only more beneficial to the body, but also tastes better. Just try their addictive Merry Bites and Miracle Tarts and you will undoubtedly be screaming “Hail Merry” yourself!
With their perfectly flavored Merry Bites and melt-in-your-mouth Miracle Tarts, there really isn’t a flavor that I don’t like – or an occasion where they aren’t worth eating!
Try one or all of their products today and tell me if these aren’t some of the best treats – vegan and gluten-free, or not – that you have ever had!
For more information about Hail Merry, please visit their website and check them out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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**For the record, I am not 100% vegan. I do eat fish and eggs, on occasion.
