The widespread use of technology makes it possible to provide the public’s need for food convenience and variety brought on by fast-paced lifestyles at a comparatively low cost. Globally, online food delivery is expanding quickly. However, the public’s awareness of the nutritional quality of food seems to be declining. As a result, consumers are left to watch their food and nutrition intake in fear of declining health and developing diseases.
Anner Turner saw this nutritional problem within her close circle, prompting her to take action. Anner grew up in Alabama, eating great, hearty meals with her family. However, seeing friends and family eating unhealthily made her inspect her unhealthy ways as well. As she continued to learn about nutrition, Anner decided to change her lifestyle, starting with a 21-day fast in January 2021.
Challenges from the change in her eating habits continue as Anner intends to live a healthier life with better food choices without giving up on eating her favorite food. During this time, she discovered the lack of healthier options for gravy and sauces, a significant part of the cuisines she enjoyed with her family. So, Anner took matters into her own hands by creating better food options.
Along with her childhood friend Dellesa Johnson, Anner and Dellesa started the company Southern Belle Gardens. They hope to provide people with healthier yet delicious choices through their first-ever product, the Southern Belle BBQ sauce. Unlike most sauces with high sodium and a lot of sugar, the Southern Belle BBQ sauce is a nutritious organic sauce made with fresh ingredients infused with turmeric, ginger, and honey.
Although adding condiments or sauces to meals gives them an extra kick, ready-made sauces can contain surprisingly high fat, sugar, and salt. Consuming excessive amounts over time can harm one’s well-being. Moreover, people tend to overlook the number of sauces they consume. They may choose a healthier meal but add a lot of flavor enhancers. For example, there are about four grams of sugar per tablespoon of ketchup, while one tablespoon of barbecue sauce contains about five grams. The amount of sugar in these condiments is considered high since, on average, the daily intake of sugar should be around 30 grams, and one tablespoon is not the size these sauces are consumed. The high consumption of sugar is one of the significant problems that Southern Belle Gardens wishes to deal with since excessive sugar intake can cause higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease connected to an elevated risk for heart attack and stroke.
“The sauce caters to health-conscious individuals that want to take charge of healthy options with experiencing the taste without expanding the waist. Our number one goal is to create a sauce low in sugar and sodium, which is the number factor in heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure,” shared Anner.
Southern Belle Gardens advocates lifestyle changes in the form of a nutritious diet, hoping to develop more organic and healthy products to expand the brand in the near future. In fact, the creators are aiming to put their products up on the shelves of local grocery stores in the next five years. With its inspiring advocacy to provide healthier options, Southern Belle Gardens will undoubtedly make great strides in the industry.