When the words “vegan” and “gluten-free” pop up, most people, except for vegans and gluten-free eaters, don’t immediately think, “delicious.”
Krista Anderson of Happy Hippie Kitchen is out to change that mindset. Anderson knows the importance of being aware of what we eat and is inspired to spread that wellness to others.
“I want people to feel good when they eat my food. It’s important to know what you are putting in your body.”
Starting out by assisting another vendor at the farmers market, she eventually started to think she could do this herself.
“My most popular item right now is the blueberry compote muffin,” says Anderson. “But, the first thing I ever sold was the Rainbow Wrap,” said Anderson.
The Rainbow Wrap is full of fresh vegetables like red leaf lettuce, green onions, avocado, carrots, peppers, sprouts, mango, and finished with a tahini almond sauce.
From there, Anderson started developing recipes based on what she saw at the market that was appealing to her.
“I’m a visual person,” she says. “I start by deciding what will look good in the end and work backwards. I am looking for the prettiest, freshest produce.”
Currently, Happy Hippie offers baked goods and energy snacks to the market, striking a balance between healthy snacks and sweet treats. Over the last few months, she has added donut holes to her weekly line up of products.
“I really love donuts but don’t always want to eat an entire donut,” she says. “It’s nice to have the option for a sweet little bite.”
All of Happy Hippie’s products are gluten free and vegan. Anderson is self-taught and credits her mom and the Food Network for helping guide her.
Anderson stresses the importance of knowing where your food comes from and how it’s produced. It’s one of the main reasons she finds so much joy in being a part of the farmers markets.
“Farmers markets are relaxed and built from a positive community of people.”
Anderson works by herself to make Happy Hippie come to life. She gathers all of her own supplies and is responsible for all the goodies she brings to the market. When asked about her future, she says she “wants to stay small and probably just me.” A retail space or food truck may be in her future, but right now, she’s taking it one step at a time.
Find Happy Hippie regularly at the St. Philip’s Plaza Farmers Market on Sundays and occasionally at Maynard’s Twilight Market on Monday evenings. Catch up with Anderson and all of her creations on her Happy Hippie Kitchen & Wellness Facebook page.
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