Business owners close bakery after changing eating habits

history_grrrl
history_grrrl Posts: 216 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I’m fascinated by this story of a Canadian couple who ran a successful chain of bake shops for a dozen years but felt compelled to shut down because they no longer want to promote unhealthy eating habits. (The story includes some audio that people can probably listen to even if you’re not in Canada.)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/bittersweet-ending-bakery-shutting-down-after-owners-stop-eating-sweets-1.7046121

I don’t live in any of the cities where this company operates, but the story makes me a bit sad - probably because I’ve learned from MFP folks with more wisdom than I that losing weight doesn’t have to mean giving up everything you love. At the same time, as a sweets fiend, I do feel there are certain things, like ice cream, that I simply can’t have in the house unless I can plan for eating them without feeling bad about it.

The story is complicated by this interview last year with the woman owner, for whom baking and starting the business helped turn her life around.

https://www.beforeithappened.com/post/from-living-on-the-streets-to-making-1-million-in-sales-with-chick-boss-cakes-rebecca-hamilton-episode-32

Anyway, I find the whole story makes for some interesting food for thought.

Replies

  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,957 Member
    I don't know... I don't think baked goods and sugar are inherently bad for you. Too much of them is. But if you, as owner of a business decide you yourself don't want to eat the products you produce anymore then that's a completely different story.
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,854 Member
    I find it sad too. Sweets can have a place in a healthy diet, eating healthy isn't about demonising single foods, it's about finding a balance...

    If I were her I would rather have looked into pivoting the business a bit: finding healthier versions (alternative sweeteners, lower calorie versions) and perhaps savory baked goods too.
  • history_grrrl
    history_grrrl Posts: 216 Member
    Oh, I just realized that the print story doesn’t include a key piece of information from the audio interview that really struck me - and is really why I posted it: the owner says she has lost 70 pounds since starting the bakery. Definitely worth listening; not sure why CBC chose to leave that out in the text summary.
  • VegjoyP
    VegjoyP Posts: 2,772 Member
    First off I commend these people for thier ethic and think it's fantastic on several levels. I agree with yiraia. I also don't think adding sweets regularly is optimal or necessary, however making healthier versions, swapping sugar and other tactics go a lot farther. I think what would have been awesome is if they xhanged thier branding and made it into a healthy bake shop with sprouted grains, no sugar, hi fiber, etc. although that may not be something they are accustomed to.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,229 Member
    Hopefully they don't find out that their existence on the planet is contributing to global warming. :#

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