Morning Coffee with Kamilla Omarzay, Founder of The Snack Society

Lindsay Judge   |   16-02-2019

For our latest episode of Morning Coffee A&E was joined by Kamilla Omarzay, Founder of The Snack Society.

 

 

Describe your morning routine.

Firstly, obviously, brush your teeth. I’m quite particular about getting out of bed and brushing your teeth. I try to do 15 to 20 minutes of meditation, which is hard sometimes because life is always on the go, and then I have breakfast – a very important meal of the day as everybody knows, and then I like to start my morning nice and easy because it sets the tone for the day.

Why The Snack Society?

It was January 2016 when I lost my job, I was in the corporate world and I was devastated. I didn’t know what I wanted to do so when we are devastated we turn to food. So I got in my kitchen and I started making a lot of snacks. I also suffer from a lot of digestive issues such as bloating and cramping and I couldn’t eat a lot of stuff that was available in the market, like the chocolate bars, so I started making my own snacks and I made an Instagram page. I started posting all these nice recipes I used to make and all these vegan treats, and people started messaging me to buy them, so that’s where I started.

 

What are the common misconception of ‘clean’ and ‘vegan’ diets and how are you tackling them?

I think we are all human at the end of the day, and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ for any diet. Everybody suffers from a lot of different allergies and intolerances. I have some really strange ones, I can’t drink coffee or eat certain foods. You just need to figure out what works for you. There are a lot of plant based foods like sweet potato and cauliflower that doesn’t work for me, so you just need to figure out what works for you. I don’t like the term ‘clean’ because what is the opposite of ‘clean’? And we are human at the end of the day so you are going to fall of the waggon and that’s okay.

 

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?

Launching my own product. I’ve been working on my product for close to two years and it still not launched. It’s so hard to get a food manufacturer and get all these approvals, but I’m very close to launching it.

 

What do you consider your biggest career success to date?

There’s been a few, but recently my work has been recognised for social media awards in a ‘Visionary’ category. In short period of time I’ve won two awards and I’m so grateful for that.

 

What’s is the motto you live by professionally?

I know this sounds really cliché and you’ve probably heard it, but I really believe in working hard, persevering and be consistent with what you’re putting out, and it does pay off.

 

What do you still want to achieve?

A cook book. I have been working on a cook book for the last year. I have the book ready and I’m speaking to a few international agents to get the book out.

 

Who has influenced you the most?

This is so cliché again, but Oprah Winfrey. I’ll tell you why. There’s a lot of things that happened to her that happened to me. She lost her job, she was devastated, and she started to become popular and launched her TV show. Also Deliciously Ella who started out as a UK food blogger. She has a lot of intolerances and issues with her health, and she started blogging and now she her product not only in the UK but internationally.

 

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Relax, take it easy.

 

What would you tell yourself 10 years from now? 

Everything is going to work out fine. What’s meant for you will come to you, and what’s not meant for you will never be yours.

 

Complete this sentence: I’m happy when…
I’m in nature.

 

Describe your personal style in one word.
Classic.

 

What do you say ‘no’ to?
I’m sure everybody can relate to this, but as I grow older, saying no to spending time with people that you don’t want to.

 

What book are you reading at the moment?

The Power of Now.

 

How do you want the world to remember you?

Kind, compassionate, down to earth.