Our names are: Joanna & Anissa Benadrete.
Our stomping ground is: NYC.
We’re known for being: Co-founders.
We’re talking about: Days Off Bites—our clean label, adaptogenic chocolates.
You can find it at: daysoffbites.com.
Before we launched this, we were: Joanna was in venture capital at Loeb Enterprises and Big Idea Ventures, and Anissa was at JP Morgan and a co-founder at Maison Flaneur.
Our interest was sparked when: We both grew up in a healthy household. Joanna’s passion for wellness peaked in her college and post-college years. While in venture capital, she became a certified integrative nutritionist. She wanted to help people live happier, healthier lives, starting with the food they eat. It’s her goal to make the healthier option the one consumers want to choose, which is why she makes healthy chocolate that tastes just as good, if not better, than mainstream chocolate.
What inspired us to start this was: We were disappointed by the lack of truly clean label snack options available in the market. We both wanted a snack that wouldn't cause them the stomach aches, guilt, sugar high/crash or guilt.
The idea behind it is: Days Off is about taking a day off from the guilt, stomach aches, sugar crashes and bloating that come with indulging your sweet tooth. Bite into your happy place with each of our chocolates, without any of the unwanted side effects, due to our superfood, high-quality ingredients.
What makes it different is: Our high-quality, 100% organic, superfood ingredients set us apart from conventional chocolate. We also infuse some of our flavors with superfood adaptogens. We do not use any of the artificial additives that conventional chocolate companies use.
One thing you can’t miss is: We infuse our chocolates with adaptogens like ashwagandha, lion’s mane, cordyceps, reishi and more. We create “mood-based” flavors, like Zen Zone, Energize Me and Coco for Collagen (great for hair, skin and nails).
Our favorite secret detail is: Our chocolates actually boost dopamine and serotonin levels (your happy hormones), so each bite is a warm, loving hug to your body and mind.
What it means to open your heart is: To be comfortable being uncomfortable, and to be open to all new experiences. To truly set the ego aside and embrace yourself fully. To be kind to your truest self.
When you show self-love, it opens your heart because: You fully embrace yourself, so you open your heart from the inside out. Without loving yourself, you can’t love those around you. When you truly love yourself, you are able to see the light and love in all beings and in all your surroundings.