Plagued by high cholesterol, depression, and low energy, telecommunications professional Brad moved back to the place of his birth. It was there that he watched Eating, a documentary espousing the benefits of a plant-based diet. In response, he adopted his own raw foods diet and within a few months he lowered his cholesterol and dropped more than 40 pounds. But he still felt nostalgic for the crunch of junk food. And so, using a kitchen as a laboratory, he began applying snack-food principles to healthy produce, crafting chips from a melange of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and spices. As the demand for his snacks grew, he began shipping them to local markets and grocery stores under the name Brad's Raw Foods.

Today, Brad's healthful snack foods encompass raw chips in nine eclectic flavors, kale battered with nuts and spices, and uncooked treats for pets. Before being shipped off to markets, each morsel is dehydrated in less than 115-degree heat—a process that helps preserve the snacks' active enzymes and ensures that even snowmen can enjoy them without melting. In addition to food, Brad and his staff also spread a health-conscious message: their educational project The Nourished Community links together a network of health professionals. Using holistic principles rooted in plant-based and raw diets, these specialists help clients organize custom meal plans.