News Summary
Sonya Patel from Cleveland has introduced ‘Bold & Airy Bites’, a new line of allergen-free freeze-dried snacks tailored for children with food allergies. Motivated by her experiences as a parent, Patel’s snacks are designed to be healthy and safe, addressing the scarcity of nutritious options during travel. With unique flavors like Banana Pudding and Piña Colada, the snacks have gained traction in local retailers and online. Patel’s commitment to providing enjoyable snacks reflects a growing demand for health-conscious food options.
Cleveland — Sonya Patel, a Cleveland-based mother, has launched a new line of allergen-free snacks aimed at children with food allergies, called Bold & Airy Bites. These freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks, created under her company PUR Spices, became available to the public in June 2023. The snacks are specifically designed to cater to the dietary needs of children with food allergies, offering a healthy alternative free from chemical additives.
Patel’s motivation for creating this product stems from her personal experience as a parent of children with food allergies who participate in sports. Recognizing the challenge of finding nutritious snacks—especially while traveling for activities such as soccer tournaments—Patel decided to address this issue by developing her own line of snacks. Her focus on healthy options was fueled by frustration over the limited availability of allergen-free snacks, particularly at convenience stops.
Bold & Airy Bites showcase unique flavors that include:
- Banana Pudding: Ripened banana slices with vanilla bean and cinnamon.
- Piña Colada: Pineapple dusted with coconut.
- Sweet Beets: Roasted beets with fennel, orange, and a touch of sea salt.
- Chai Apple Pie: Apples tossed in chai masala and date powder.
- Pineapple Mojito: Pineapple with a hint of mint.
Each snack is produced through a careful freeze-drying process that varies based on the ingredient, ensuring safety and quality without contamination. Patel chose to self-manufacture the snacks, a decision she refers to humorously as potentially “the dumbest business move” she could have made.
Prior to starting her snack line, Patel built her career in consulting and participated in the Teach for America program in New York. She also has a background in creating globally inspired sauces and spices, having operated PUR Spices since 2019. Originally from Solon, Ohio, Patel aimed to introduce her children to the diverse flavors she experienced growing up while ensuring those flavors met their dietary restrictions.
After spending nearly three years in the Central Kitchen’s Incubator program—where she learned food business practices and how to produce shelf-ready products—Patel expanded her operations and opened a manufacturing facility in Bedford Heights in 2023. Her commitment to improving the food industry extends beyond her products; she is also a founding member of Wonder Women of Food in Cleveland, which supports women in the food business.
Currently, Bold & Airy Bites are available in several independent retailers, including Market District, Heinen’s, and Fairfax Market. The snacks can also be purchased online and are offered as grab-and-go options at hotels like TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Going forward, Patel plans to expand the variety of flavors available and introduce seasonal drops for Bold & Airy Bites, continuing her mission to provide safe and enjoyable snack options for children with food allergies. Her efforts reflect a growing demand for diverse, healthy snacks in an increasingly health-conscious marketplace.
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Additional Resources
- Cleveland.com: NE Ohio mom entrepreneur creates allergen-free snacks
- Wikipedia: Food Allergy
- Fox 8: Bold & Airy Bites
- Google Search: Healthy Snacks for Children
- Cleveland Magazine: Designer Ingrid Porter Reinvents Her Living Room
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food
- Cleveland.com
- Google News: Food Entrepreneurship
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