A Fresh Start, With Georgia Flavors

My pre-holiday to-do list usually starts with good intentions: buying more vegetables, regular gym visits, and eating out less. Working from home often means regular pantry breaks to find something to munch that cures my writer’s block. So a few months ago, instead of grabbing the usual bag of chips, nuts and chocolates, I turned to the 2026 Healthy Brand Showcase held at Chamblee’s Distillery of Modern Art.

The event showcased around a dozen brands across food, beauty and wellness, and these five businesses inspired me to refresh my pantry and keep Georgia entrepreneurs on my shopping list.

Celpo: Rethinking the Snack Drawer

Celpo snacks. Photo credit: Celpo Facebook

Crunchy and healthy without the additives, Celpo’s FabuLentils Sea Salt crisps earned a spot on my desk for crunchy afternoons. The company combines red lentils, organic sunflower oil and sea salt to deliver 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 94 calories per serving. Its green-pea SereniPeas Sea Salt crisps offer 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

The European manufacturer launched its U.S. operations in Flowery Branch in September under CEO Monika Vintrlíková. The vegan, gluten-free, protein- and fiber-rich legumes became light, crispy chips that left me feeling guilt-free. They are mainly sold online.

G Ann’s: A Family Project Takes Root

G Ann’s juices are clean and refreshing. Photo credit: Sucheta Rawal

Tiffany Ellis, founder and CEO of Decatur-based G Ann’s Cold Pressed, began by making juice for her family. After thyroid surgery in 2012, she made juicing part of her routine as she looked for ways to get her son interested in fruits and vegetables. Sharing recipes with friends and coworkers helped her grow the business.

Ellis named the company to honor her late mother, Gillian, and incorporated her family’s Miami roots into its colorful packaging. As a self-juicer, I rarely buy store-bought brands because of the added sugars, but I was very impressed by the naturally flavored blends that G Ann offered. My favorite was Mint to Be, a refreshing take on a mint julep without the alcohol, though the Pineapple Refresher was a close second because it tasted just like the real fruit. Juice can contribute nutrients, but I would keep whole produce on my plate for fiber and avoid treating a bottle as a detox or meal replacement.

G Anns juice family. Photo credit: Sucheta Rawal

Mama Geraldine’s: Preserving a Family Recipe

Cathy Cunningham wants you to eat cheese straws made with real cheese. Photo credit: Sucheta Rawal

With a Swedish grandma and a Newnan-raised mother, Cathy Cunningham grew up loving home-cooked, natural food. So when she unwound after her workdays in Atlanta radio with a glass of wine and store-bought snacks, she decided the world deserved better cheese straws. She launched Mama Geraldine’s in 1994 and soon made them the country’s best-selling cheese straws.

You can taste real cheese in the crispy Aged Cheddar cheese straws. I love that they also offer gluten-free cheese straws, which are commonly included at my house parties.

Loco 4 Lucuma: Childhood in a Pint

Lucuma a superfood ice cream. Photo credit: Sucheta Rawal

Chef Anthony Rendic told me that he first learned about the superfruit lucuma during childhood visits to Chile. I have eaten the fruit during a visit to Peru but never saw it in Atlanta until I encountered ice cream company Loco 4 Lucuma. The ice cream tastes rich like caramel, but also contains fiber and antioxidant plant compounds, including carotenoids and polyphenols. Lucuma is nicknamed “the gold of the Incas” because of beliefs about fertility and longevity, along with its natural yellow/orange flesh. While I tasted most of the flavors, Just Lucuma was my favorite because the fruit has a strong creamy flavor on its own. They also offer a vegan option made with coconut milk.

Rendic makes it in small batches in Kennesaw and sells it at Buckhead Butcher Shop, farmer’s markets and at some Latin restaurants. The company also ships pints nationwide.

Abby J’s: More Reasons to Cook

Abby Jackson with her cookbook. Photo credit: Sucheta Rawal

With a passion for food, cooking and recipe development, Abby Jackson built Abby J’s Gourmet around her North Georgia roots and her experience feeding guests at Blackhawk Fly Fishing on the Soque River. Her farm-to-table bean and jalapeño salsa is not just a great snack when topped with organic corn tortilla chips; it is also fat-free, low-sugar, low-carb and gluten-free.

The showcase also advertised complimentary signed copies of her Farm Style Living cookbook, which offers nearly 100 recipes.