Eating on the go can be a challenge when following a low-FODMAP diet. Vanessa Hutchinson, founder of Fodbods, has a solution.
Tell us about Fodbods
At Fodbods, we’re on a mission to fill the world with delicious and healthy snacks that leave you feeling full of energy so you’re free to live your best life. All of our products are thoroughly researched and tested so you can trust that they won’t cause bloating or stomach aches. Our bars are packed with nutrients and we work with dietitians to ensure they have the perfect balance of macronutrients.
Best of all, Fodbods taste incredible. We carefully select top-quality plant-based ingredients and create unique flavour combinations that people love.
What is the Fodbods story?
After years of experiencing gut issues, my life was transformed by the low-FODMAP diet. I have a pretty busy lifestyle and often have to eat on the go. I quickly identified a distinct lack of convenient FODMAP-friendly products, which makes it challenging to follow the diet when you’re out and about. I’d often find myself forced to eat something I knew would make me feel sick because there were no other options.
I began packing my own low-FODMAP snacks wherever I went — usually homemade protein bars that were healthy and filling. After speaking to a number of people and doing some research, I realised I wasn’t alone in this struggle. So I created Fodbods to help people like me with gut issues live life without stressing about food.
How is Fodbods helpful for people following a FODMAP diet?
The low-FODMAP diet is the best proven way to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition experienced by one in five people. Unfortunately, the low-FODMAP diet is quite complicated and can be hard to follow, especially when you leave home and don’t have as much control over what you eat.
IBS is quite debilitating. In addition to the unpleasant physical symptoms, it causes a lot of anxiety. Sufferers are often distrustful of food for fear they’ll have a reaction — they’ll often carry their own food with them or not eat anything at all. Fodbods give people the freedom to live their lives by providing a convenient and filling snack to fuel their days; something that they can trust won’t make them bloated or cause stomach aches.
Why is the FODMAP Friendly certification so important to your brand?
The FODMAP Friendly certification means the product has been independently tested and certified as being low FODMAP. The thresholds for the certification are very low and you can’t know for certain if a product is actually low FODMAP unless it has been tested. The certification gives our products the much-needed trust factor and removes any concerns about IBS symptoms.
What has been the highlight of the Fodbods journey so far?
The biggest highlight so far has been having our bars stocked in David Jones. Their selection process was quite rigorous and they only stock the best products. They’re big supporters of Australian brands and have been fantastic to work with.
But there’s nothing more rewarding than hearing that your products have made a difference in someone’s life. Every kind message and positive review is a highlight — and we’re lucky to receive a lot of them.
What’s next for Fodbods? Do you have any exciting launches coming up?
There are millions of people who suffer from gut issues, and we want to support them with our range of healthy, low-FODMAP products. Our next steps are to launch overseas, grow our team and release some exciting new products. We’re always speaking to our customers and future product releases are directed by them.
Where can we buy Fodbods products?
You can order Fodbods directly from our website or from one of our many stock lists in Australia and New Zealand, including David Jones, select IGAs and at Healthy Life (all listed on our website).
For more information, visit fodbods.com
