Our Story
The Granola Family was born from two dreams: first, to start a business that would grow together with our young family; and second, to make a grain- and gluten-free, minimally processed, nutritious, irresistible granola we knew was possible but could not find in any store.
We always wanted to start a business where we were making a physical product. We have backgrounds in management consulting and technology (along with a few other career blips), and we couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something missing from our work lives - we sat at our computers all day, took calls, and never felt that the work we were doing was meaningful. It was tough feeling that we couldn’t include our children in what we did every day. We wanted them to learn real-world skills like accounting, cooking, conversation, community-building, organization, and planning. This business would be the best of all worlds.
We made at least 1,000 batches in those early days as we relentlessly perfected our ingredients, process, and spice mixes to produce our four signature granola flavors: Grain-Free Vanilla Almond Crunch, Grain-Free Peanut Brittle, Grain-Free Brownie Brittle, and Grain-Free Gingerbread Spice. Our family, friends and neighbors tried every single batch as we experimented, tested, and improved our recipes until we were satisfied that they’re perfect as they are.
Our Granola
We promise - you have never tasted anything like our grain-free, gluten-free, vegan granola. Here’s what makes it so dang good.
Real Ingredients, Minimally Processed
When we developed our recipes we knew we wanted to feel good about sharing it with our kiddos. That’s why everything we make is only sweetened with organic, pure maple syrup - no coconut sugar, maltodextrin, brown sugar, corn syrup or artificial sweeteners here. Plus you can’t beat the rich, deep flavor of real maple syrup.
We don’t use any grains or oats in our granola, not only to provide a grain-free alternative but also because oats are often used as filler (they’re much less expensive than nuts and seeds so companies are eager to include them). We use a wide variety of nuts which form the heart of our granola to give your gut a wide variety of fiber to thrive on. They’re only pulsed a few times in a food processor, similar to chopping them up roughly by hand. You won’t find any dubious fats here, either - the only one we use is unrefined, organic coconut oil.
Finally, we round out the delicious base recipe with raw sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and unsweetened flaked dried coconut. Add few spices and salt to balance out the flavors, and that’s it!
Uniquely Nutritious
On average, our granolas have twice as much fiber, protein, and iron compared to the leading granola bar you’d find in the grocery store. Those are packed full of odd sugars and unrecognizable ingredients, preservatives, “natural flavors” (whatever those are), and oats. They are also processed into much finer, smaller pieces, destroying the physical nature of whatever fiber they claim to be present, which inhibits the fiber’s ability to slow down sugar absorption in the gut.
With our granola, you don’t have to sacrifice deliciousness for nutrition. You really can have it all!
It’s All About the Clusters
Everybody knows the clusters are the best part! Our granola comes out in one giant, beautiful, unbroken sheet, which we try to disturb as little as possible. We break up the granola only enough to fit it into the bags. You will still get some smaller pieces at the bottom, but we do everything we can to maximize your “cluster” experience. (Those clusters are so much easier for little hands to hold for snack time! Daily quote from my 2-year-old: “One in each hand, please.”)
Dehydrated (Never Baked!)
In the spirit of minimally processing our granola, we dehydrate it rather than bake it. We’ve found that this gives it an exquisitely lightweight texture that you won’t find with other granolas. It takes a full two days to make it, but it’s totally worth it!
Made by Real People
Okay, we confess! We use a kitchen-counter food processor to roughly chop the nuts before hand-mixing the ingredients. But every step of the way our granola is stirred, weighed, pulsed, crumbled, packaged, and sealed by a real human being who cares deeply about making the best granola you’ve ever tasted.
Simply Irresistible
What good are any of the above qualities if the granola doesn’t taste amazing? We have lovingly crafted every recipe to bring out the most delectable flavors possible and strike the perfect balance of rich, sweet, salty, nutty, and crunchy.
Our Values
Nutrition First
On average, our granolas have twice as much fiber, protein, and iron in them per serving as the leading brands do. We never use oats or grains as cheaper fillers, so all our granolas are naturally gluten- and grain-free and packed with flavor. You will never find Flour, Canola Oil, Soy Lecithin, Baking Soda, Preservatives, “Natural Flavors”, or any of those unreal ingredients in our granolas. We only use unrefined coconut oil and pure organic maple syrup to hold it together; everything else is nuts, seeds, spices, and vanilla extract.
We will never sacrifice nutrition for cost - every bag is packed full of good-for-you, real ingredients you can feel good feeding you and your family (we enjoy our granola nearly every day).
Community and Family
Whether your family is biological or found, we believe in the power of connection and relationships. A portion of every sale is donated to United Community, an organization dedicated to helping neighbors and families local to our base of operations in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Uncompromising Quality
We source organic ingredients whenever possible, and spot test every single batch to ensure perfection. There were many decision points along the way where we had to choose if we would sacrifice quality for cost, and we chose not to. Our prime directive was to ensure we would always feel good sharing the food we make with the people we love. To do that, we had to ensure we were getting the freshest and realest ingredients possible. Our granola will always pass our highest standard: “Would you feed this to your kids?” You will never find preservatives or other additives here. It’s freshly made and carefully packed so you get the best we have to offer.
Sustainability
We source local Virginia ingredients whenever possible and work hard to minimize waste in packaging and production by using unbleached boxes, kraft-backed packages, and recyclable black ink.