Pass Health Foods turned into a tasting ground for kids on Saturday, as families filed in to try organic snacks, kid-friendly supplements and a few sweet treats.
The natural foods store, 7228 W. College Dr., hosted its first Back to School Sampling Day with 10 different foods for children to try.
Samples included Annie’s organic cheddar bunnies and fruit snacks, natural jerky, and homemade rice crispy bars made with vegan marshmallows and gluten-free cereal. A peanut butter and jelly cracker snack showed kids how simple after-school treats could be.
Parents had more than 20 children’s supplements to sample, from chewables to liquids designed to support focus, immunity and overall nutrition.
Harper, 8, and Benjamin, 6, Jenkins, of Mt. Greenwood, at Pass Heath Foods Back to School Sampling Day on Saturday. (Photo by Kelly White)“We wanted to give families an easy way to see what their kids actually like,” said Carolyn Johnson, co-owner of Pass Health Foods with Liz Ryan. “Most kids don’t eat a perfect diet, and supplements like multivitamins or omega-3s can help fill in the gaps.”
Rebecca Zylstra of Palos Heights, who attended with her three children, said the event was a welcome return.
“We came to Pass Health Foods before for their Honey Tasting event and loved it,” Zylstra said. “When I saw this advertised on Facebook, I knew we had to come.”
Pass Health Foods has been entirely women-owned since 1995, when sisters Joanne and Theresa Callaghan bought the store. Johnson, the niece of the founding sisters, now runs the business with Ryan, a longtime family friend. “We’re grateful to continue the wonderful business Joanne and Theresa started,” Johnson said.
Johnson said many parents are looking for healthy snack alternatives that aren’t packed with preservatives or artificial colors. “Good nutrition is incredibly important for kids because they have growing bodies,” she said. “It can help with concentration, focus and keeping their immune system strong.”
The tasting tables were stocked with donations from national brands, and brand ambassadors from Mary Ruth’s Organics and Coco5 poured samples and answered questions.
It was the first time Pass Health Foods hosted a kid-centered event, and Johnson said she hoped families enjoyed it enough to come back.
For those who missed Saturday, more events are already on the calendar: a local honey tasting on Sept. 13, a fall-flavored snack day Oct. 4 and the annual gluten-free baking contest Nov. 8.
Co-owners of Pass Health Foods, Carolyn Johnson and Liz Ryan. (Photo by Kelly White)
There were plenty of delicious healthy snacks to sample at Pass Health Foods on Saturday. (Photo by Kelly White)
Pass Health Foods hosted a kid-friendly tasting in Palos Heights with snacks, supplements and community events planned for fall. (Photo by Kelly White)
Related