How Chef Soraya Gives Back

Chef Soraya started from a problem that needed to be solved. The fast food, convenience problem -- that is. In our fast-paced world, it can be hard to make time to cook and eat well. Most of us hardly have a few minutes to eat a proper meal, and find ourselves relying on fast convenience foods that are quick and easy but are also sugar-packed, sodium-packed and artificial. We wanted to create a product that was convenient and tasty, but also nutrient-dense.

We decided on beans and rice, the perfect gluten-free, dairy-free staple dish around the world that contains all nine essential amino acids to form a complete source of protein. We created six global rice and bean flavor combinations to satisfy the taste buds, and eventually added in the superfoods quinoa, and hemp seeds to up the protein and to add in some healthy fat! Now our latest and greatest Chef Soraya is a Plant-based Macro-Meal! These just-add-water bowls have not only brought new life into the convenience foods category but they are allowing us, as a company, to give back in great ways. 

When you choose to buy Chef Soraya over other convenience meals, you aren't just choosing a better option for your body, you're choosing a better option that supports the planet. We donate 1% of sales from each Chef Soraya purchase, to our partners in sustainability. Through the nonprofit 1% For The Planet, we are able to donate money to organizations we feel passionate about. 

The organizations that we donate our money to are The Savory Institute, The Slow Money Institute and The Conservation Alliance. Savory and Slow Money both support regenerative agriculture-- a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems. The Savory Institute is an NGO that focusses on "facilitating the large-scale regeneration of the world's grasslands and the livelihoods of their inhabitants, through holistic management." Slow Money Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to "catalyzing the flow of capital to local food systems, connecting investors to the places where they live and promoting new principles of fiduciary responsibility that 'bring money back down to earth.'" Lastly, The Conservation Alliance is an alliance started by outdoor industry leaders to "engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values." As our sister brand is Backpacker's Pantry (gourmet freeze-dried and dehydrated meals for Backpacker's), we feel passionate in protecting the earth and preserving wild land. 

The food industry is quite taxing on our planet. In fact, a quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions come from food. More than half of those emissions come from animal agriculture. This is why we feel proud to offer a plant-based product that helps keep our customers well-fed that also reduces our carbon footprint, as a food company. From our packaging and ingredient sourcing, to expanding our partners in sustainability, Chef Soraya has been and will continuously look for ways to be more environmentally conscious. Stay tuned for more updates about how we are evolving into the best brand that we can be for our customers and for the planet.