Dripping Springs resident Basimma Hammonds is dedicated to helping others heal through gut-friendly snacks. “I want to be a trustworthy source of healthy foods,” she explains.
A physical therapist by trade and mom to two boys, Hammonds started creating healthy energy bites in her kitchen in 2017.
She took her vision to the next level in 2020, when she officially launched Go2Bites. The snacks, initially sold at a Dripping Springs farmers market, are now stocked in 16 local stores and available for shipping nationwide.
Go2Bites are popular with moms who want a healthy snack for kids and individuals interested in improving their wellness and fitness levels. The bites are available in a range of flavors and do not contain any added gluten, sugar, sugar alcohols, lactose, dairy, seed oils, artificial dyes, or other “fake” additives proven to disrupt gut health.
Processed foods are low in fiber, which is essential for beneficial gut bacteria. Countless research studies show that processed foods cause inflammation, which can lead to numerous diseases, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, mental health disorders, decreased lifespan, and digestive disorders.
Fortunately, the bites offer a unique blend of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, allowing for healthy on-the-go snacking without added fillers. Flavors such as Oh Gee Dates, Cinnamon Donut Holes, Lemon Cashew Coconut, and Pumpkin Spice Donut taste like dessert, providing a substitute for sweet treats without triggering feelings of hunger and fatigue. For Hammonds and lovers of Go2Bites, that’s a welcome relief.
Freedom from worrying about what you are eating is deeply personal for Hammonds. As an openly recovering compulsive eater, Hammonds says she feels better knowing that what she puts in her body is beneficial.
“I want to be a good role model and help people move and feel differently,” she says. As an experienced physical therapist, mom, and health consultant, Hammonds understands the crucial role food plays in healing and overall well-being.
After working with clients for years, she began to notice that no matter how consistent someone was with exercise, recovery always boiled down to the foods they were (and weren’t) eating. And as a mom, she recognizes the need for snacks that are simple, real, tasty, and satisfying.
Hammonds has received feedback from other moms like her who are tired of how complicated healthy eating has become and frustrated by the lack of wholesome food options available for their children. Many of the so-called “healthy” snacks contain added sugar, artificial dyes, or other unnecessary ingredients, making it difficult to trust the products you find in stores.
As a consumer, it can be difficult to navigate the $250-billion health and wellness food market in the United States. There is also increasing public concern about the dangers of genetically engineered foods, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require labeling of these products.
Food regulations in the U.S. allow manufacturers to decide for themselves, without FDA oversight or public notice, that an ingredient is safe. Many believe that this regulation loophole exposes people to potentially harmful or inadequately tested ingredients. And while food manufacturers are required to list all of their ingredients on labels, some ingredients can be grouped under vague terms such as “flavors” or “spices” without naming each chemical or food.
That is not the case for Go2Bites.
With Go2Bites, Hammonds has created a trustworthy, clean snack alternative fueled by love and a passion for helping others.
Driven by the overwhelming feedback, support, and success she has found from an incredible community in Dripping Springs and beyond, Hammonds aims to expand her online business and get her products into stores statewide in Texas.
Go2Bites can be purchased online or at Alchemy Juice + Coffee, Home Grown, and Oakwood Public Market in Dripping Springs.
Go2Bites.com | @go2bites
“Our growth has been driven by the belief in what we are doing and the authentic connections we have created with moms and community supporters.”
“I learned to reimagine my own nourishing meals. When I couldn’t find any real food snacks in the stores, I decided to make them.”