Well Told with Tara Tomulka, founder of Rawcology

After leaving a career in corporate communications to become a Certified Nutritional Practitioner, Tara Tomulka launched Rawcology to create healthier, better-for-you snacks using organic, plant-based, low sugar and superfood ingredients. In living a plant-based lifestyle for years and experiencing the positive changes that having a holistic approach to health can have on your mind, body and spirit, Tara wanted to create a business that would empower individuals to find joy in eating real, whole foods and plants as much as possible. We chatted with Tara to learn more about the benefits of raw food, her thoughts on “superfoods” and how she’s been keep healthy during this time.  

For a limited time, receive a sample of Rawcology’s Chocolate with Raw Cacao Raw Crunch Granola as a gift with any purchase of $50 or more.  

At Rawcology, in addition to superfood coconut chips, you offer raw granola, can you explain some of the health benefits of raw food?

Raw food is real food in its natural, unprocessed state. We dehydrate all of our products at low temperatures for optimal nutrition, crunch and flavour. Heating food at high temperatures can deplete vitamins, damage proteins and fats and destroy enzymes, which benefit digestion. 

The biggest health benefit of raw food is that you are consuming living enzymes and food in its natural state with all of the nutrients intact. Raw food is energizing, immune boosting and rich in nutrients so that you can feel your best. 

We also follow raw food principles, including sprouting our sunflower and pumpkin seeds that we use in our products. Nuts and seeds contain enzyme inhibitors so the process of soaking our seeds overnight before production removes these enzyme inhibitors and allows the seeds to become living foods, unlocking their full nutrition potential and improving digestibility. 

We hear the word "superfood" tossed around a lot these days; what makes something a superfood to you?

Superfoods are nutrient-dense, functional foods that are beneficial for your overall health and immunity. While there is no official criteria for what foods get “superfood” status, usually they have exceptionally high antioxidant power, are rich in fibre, a rich source of one or more vitamins or minerals, or have some unique beneficial plant chemical that can’t be found elsewhere. We incorporate superfoods in our products that are not typically eaten in the average diet. These include raw cacao powder, maca, acai, wild blueberry powder, camu camu, matcha, turmeric, nutritional yeast, and sprouted seeds. Readers can find more details on how each of these superfoods can support immunity on our website. 

Unlike most conventional granolas, yours is grain-free. Why did you decide to make your granola with a coconut base?

Great question! All other grain-free granolas available in the market are nut based, most commonly made with almonds and/or cashews. Rawcology products are free from the top 11 allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts and gluten, so that everyone can enjoy them regardless of dietary restrictions. In order to keep things allergy friendly, coconut provides the perfect grain-free base to a granola along with a mix of sprouted sunflower and pumpkin seeds. The benefits of coconut are plentiful; they are immune boosting, fibre rich, naturally low in sugar, packed with vitamins and minerals, and contain healthy fats. The fat in coconut is largely in the form of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are not stored as fat in the body but used as a quick source of fuel to power you through the day. 

Personally, what's your favourite way to enjoy your granola? With a plant-based yogurt, in a smoothie bowl?

My favourite way to enjoy our granola is with coconut yogurt, fresh berries and a drizzle of nut or seed butter. But when I'm really busy, it makes the perfect desk snack that I know is actually nourishing. Simple and delicious :)

What’s one thing that’s been keeping you “well” these days?

Carving out time for a 10 minute morning meditation session through the Calm app has been keeping me sane these days! I find it makes a world of a difference to have that quiet time to myself in the morning to clear my thoughts and get ready for the day. I do it while sitting on my couch, with my dog cuddled up beside me and my warm coffee in hand. It works wonders!