We’d love to hear more about your personal and business journey which inspired you to create Mothers Mylk. 

Alana: I’m a Naturopath and own a women’s health clinic in Brisbane. I’ve seen major gaps in our healthcare system which leads mothers to feel depleted and increases their risks of developing postpartum health conditions like postpartum depression. I had my first baby boy in 2021 (at the same time we were writing our first book Nourished Postpartum). Since then we’ve developed our pregnancy nutrition course, postpartum depletion course and so many more mini-courses to support mamas to and through motherhood. 

Shannon: Back when I had my first baby in 2020 I had no idea what to expect, nor was I provided the information I needed to support myself through such a transformative time. Sadly I experienced an array of postpartum health conditions including depression, depletion, anxiety, thyroiditis… the list could go on! It was supposed to be the best time of my life but it ended up being the darkest time of my life. By educating myself I learnt that there were many preventative strategies to these conditions which if I had access to could have changed my entire postpartum journey. I didn’t want any mother to have to go through the same experience I had, and so Mothers Mylk was born! 

What do you wish people knew about the 4th trimester? 

The fourth trimester is such a transformative time for a mother. We wish that mothers and their families were provided education on the hormonal, social and physical changes that will be experienced during this time. Understanding Matrescence and preventing Postpartum Depletion could be one of the best things to research during pregnancy. Everyone plans for birth, but very few plan for postpartum. Our book and courses cover all the information you need to know!

What are your top 3 tips for new mums? 

1. Ask for help (people often want to help, they just don’t always know how!)
2. Research Matrescence and Postpartum Depletion
3. Eat protein with every meal (it will support your energy, mood and brain function) 

What inspires you? 

Alana: My clients and our mama community! The strength and courage that the mothers around me have teaches me so much and gives me so much strength. 

Shannon: My past experience with postpartum depletion/depression and knowing that sharing my story can help other mums. 

Best advice you’ve been given? 

Alana: Ask for help. My sister told me this when I was pregnant with Hudson. She said no matter how hard it is, you need to ask for help when you are struggling. Her voice pops into my head every time I need help and gives me the courage to ask for it without guilt! 

Shannon: Don’t forget to put your own oxygen mask on first. 

What’s your favourite recipe to make with our Mylk Bases?

The Nutty Acai Bowl recipe! It’s delicious and the Mylk Bases make it so creamy – they’re  the perfect base!

Special offer: Use the code ULUHYE for 15% off the Mothers Mylk range here.

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Find out more about the people behind Your Food Collective, what they love about our Mylk Bases and scroll down for a special discount off your first YFC order.

Can you tell us more about Your Food Collective and the inspiration behind it?

Cousins Cara Cooper and Lauren Branson believe in the power of good food to nourish both our bodies and our planet. As busy mothers, the pair are passionate about feeding their families well, and nourishing their children in a way that echoes their own enjoyment of food while educating them about the role of nature in feeding all of us. Cara, Lauren and the whole team are excited about the role that good food from healthy soil can play in saving our planet.

What do you love about Ulu Hye Mylk Bases? 

We love the taste and versatility of Ulu Hye Mylk Bases along with the opportunity to save money and reduce packaging.

Can you share your favourite Mylk Base recipe with us? 

We’re so lucky to have access to fresh, seasonal and local fruit and veggies. The Nut Mylk Base makes it so easy to throw some yummy strawberries, banana and a touch of honey to whip up a delicious smoothie.

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Find out more about the incredible work CERES Fair Food are doing to inspire and educate others, what they love about our Mylk Bases and their go-to recipe below. Hint: it’s a chickpea sweet treat.

Can you tell us more about CERES and the inspiration behind it?

CERES was established in 1982 and has grown over many decades to include an online grocery, nursery and bookstore, urban farms, ethical wood merchant and education centre.

CERES Fair Food, one of the biggest social enterprises part of the CERES portfolio was founded by GM Chris Ennis 12 years ago. CERES Fair Food delivers organic produce and ethical grocery Monday to Saturday in Melbourne. When you shop with us at CERES Fair Food, 100% of the profits go to CERES Environment Park and the CERES School of Nature and Climate. Since opening, we have contributed over 2 million dollars and taught over 1 million students about how the Earth works and hands-on ways we can take care of it.

We exist because we want to make food fairer and work towards a fairer future. Find out how you can make a difference by simply shopping with us here.

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Part&Parcel is an online store that offers a curated selection of organic, sustainable and Aussie made household staples at the best prices – we spoke to Founder Dan about what inspired him and his wife Lia to create Part&Parcel, what they love about our Mylk Bases and their go-to recipe. 

Hi Dan, what inspired you to create Part&Parcel? 

Well-being has always been important in my personal life. When it came to buying nutritious and ethically sourced food for my family, I was amazed at how expensive and confusing this type of shopping could be. I’d go into my local health food store, feel totally overwhelmed, spend $100 and leave with four products.

So, when I was a stay-at-home dad, with my first son, Eli, I found myself driven to make healthy eating more accessible. I didn’t want geography, price, and knowledge to deter people from shopping this way and on my long pram walks, I started to sow the seeds of what is now Part&Parcel. 

Can you tell us more about Part&Parcel? 

Part&Parcel is your local business where you can afford, access, and appreciate the value in choosing quality organic and Australian-made products.

Before any item hits our virtual shelves, we research every ingredient, health-benefit claim and customer review. Not to mention carefully testing the product’s quality for ourselves. When we choose a brand, it isn’t just because they make a wonderful product. They also need to make it wonderfully. Our members can shop comfortably knowing that their products are sustainably made, ethically sourced, and carefully researched and tested. In short, we are an essential base for a wholesome home!

What do you love about Ulu Hye Mylk Bases? 

Firstly, it’s the mylk base concept that we fell in love with. It offers a sustainable style of homemade mylk that is fresh and waste-free. Secondly, there are no exaggerated health claims. Above all else, our members love them. Month-after-month, regardless of season, they’re a solid seller. 

Can you share your favourite Mylk Base recipe with us?

My wife Lia and I are busy parents, so we love some good Overnight Bircher using Ulu Hye’s Nut Mylk Base. It’s a fun dish to involve our kids, Eli and Tai in.

The night before, we chop the fruit and nuts and do all the mixing. We combine oats, dried fruits, a bit of cinnamon then soak them in Ulu Hye Nut Mylk. Then, we add some grated apples into the mix and refrigerate overnight. We serve with a splash of Ulu Hye Nut Mylk and a drizzle of honey. A very simple but delicious breakfast that tastes like a treat. 

Score $15 off your first Part&Parcel order (min. order $99) with the code ‘ULUHYE’ here.

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(Image: Co-Founders Vasia and Heidi in 2017 at Ulu Hye’s first office)

Hey Heidi, how does it feel to be in your 5th year of business?

It’s such an awesome feeling, given the challenges of the past few years with the pandemic and the competitiveness of the food and beverage industry in general. We’re proud to still be 100% Aussie owned and operated, stocked in 600+ stores across the country and most importantly, growing – not just our range, but our customers. Plus, we have so many exciting things happening this year, from new flavours to a B Corp certification and plenty more surprises!

What does it mean to be stocked at Woolworths? 

Being stocked in the majors is a dream come true. Being able to help fight this war on waste through major distribution makes our mission even more possible.

Is there anything you wish you knew in your first year of business? 

It’s good to have a timeline but we’ve learnt to be flexible! Things take time, especially when you’re creating a product that doesn’t even exist. From brainstorming the concept to working with food scientists to have a tangible product ready for market, and fine-tuning it, it was quite a lengthy process but obviously all worth it. 

What’s a motivational quote that keeps you inspired? 

A mentor once told me to always bite off more than I could chew and then chew like crazy, which has always inspired me to just ‘go for it’ even though it seems impossible! 

Do you have plans beyond Australia that you could share with us?

We sure do! We’ve got a lot happening behind the scenes with hopes to enter the UK market first and then keep going from there!  

Where do you see Ulu Hye in 10 years?  

My dream is to see our Mylk Bases become a household staple, just like bread and traditional milk. I hope that plant-based food and drinks become mainstream and that our attitudes toward sustainability are more positively ingrained i.e. being a no-brainer and a natural part of everyday living. 

Want more? Read our founder interview with Heidi here and find out what it’s like to start a business with your bestie!

The post Celebrating 5 Years of Ulu Hye appeared first on Ulu Hye.

Hey Heidi! Can you tell us about your professional journey so far? 

Prior to Ulu Hye, I worked in both the sustainability industry, as well as the food and agricultural space. Combined, these roles gave me enough confidence to give Ulu Hye a crack! Running Ulu Hye is hard work but incredibly rewarding. To be honest, it doesn’t even feel like work, which can also be a curse. 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

I actually wanted to be a makeup artist! I love the creativity behind it even though I don’t wear any. You know I’m going somewhere special when I put mascara on. 

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias. What are two key issues that you’re passionate about when it comes to gender bias in the workplace? 

Ah, where to begin… Definitely the gender pay gap. Women are just as hard-working and more often than not, are juggling the running of a household too. Also, workplace discrimination against mothers – I have seen friends try to return to work after having children, but to their shock, have had their roles made redundant or their role restructured in a way that wasn’t viable for them to return.

We’re curious to know, what’s it really like starting a business with your best friend? 

It’s so good and so hard! Sometimes it’s hard to treat them like a colleague rather than a close friend, especially in times of high stress but there’s nothing better than working alongside your best mate. 

What’s been your proudest moment so far? 

You might be surprised by my answer, but the proudest moment so far would have been when I overheard two women discussing our product. One woman was sharing with her friend how great our Mylk Base was and explaining how to use it. It was very surreal and definitely a pinch-me moment!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt with Ulu Hye? 

So many! Triple check everything, trust your gut, don’t be too proud and outsource talent to fill in the holes that aren’t your expertise. 

Who’s your biggest inspiration? 

I know it’s cliché but my mum is my biggest inspiration. She was a single mum to three children and we never felt like we went without, be it material possessions, time or holidays. She’s amazing and I hope I can be half the mum she is.

What’s your secret to success? 

There is no secret, you get out what you put in.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to start a business?

Just give it a crack! 

We know you’re an avid reader, what’s on your bookshelf at the moment? 

It’s true – I read one book a week! Recents reads are ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens, ‘The Alice Network’ by Kate Quinn and ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely FIne’ by Gail Honeyman.

And we have to ask, what’s your go-to Ulu Hye recipe? 

Easily the salted caramel slice, although I adapted it and made a base using oats and dates instead of nuts.

Okay, final question, where do you see Ulu Hye in 2022 and beyond?

This year we have big plans for Ulu Hye and hope it gains enough momentum to soon enough become a household name and a pantry staple in every kitchen in Australia.

Check out our Mylk Base Range here and help us prevent cartons and containers from entering Aussie landfills today – better for you, better for the planet.

The post #IWD2022 Interview with Co-Founder Heidi appeared first on Ulu Hye.