Miami resident Erica Groussman (@ericatrubar) shares how she created her nutrition brand, Truwomen, plus her ultimate wellness secrets.

Photo by Mike Russell

Tell us about how you launched TruBar—what was the impetus behind it?

As a mom who is always on the go, I couldn’t shake the fact that most snacks either taste good but use ingredients I couldn’t pronounce, or they use clean ingredients but taste like cardboard. I knew I couldn’t be alone in demanding clean treats I could proudly crave. I committed to creating clean products that almost everyone can enjoy. For TRUBAR, that meant working hard to make our protein bars vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, non- GMO and free of sugar alcohols. We perfected our bars many bites later to take on the flavor profiles of the most iconic desserts.

Photo by Antonio Garcia Recena/Getty

What was the most challenging part of launching the brand?

Forging a path in the growing market of protein bars was intimidating. Beyond the buzz of new fads, hacks and “eat this, not that” signs, I knew that what we had created provided value. The next step was getting it out to the world and being direct, knowing that I may not know everything, but I know what needs to be done. I genuinely believe that if you have passion, perseverance will follow, and with those two ingredients, you can do anything.

What are your top tips for eating a healthy, balanced diet?

Trust your body, listen to it and be as well-balanced as possible. You can’t follow all the fads or always do what others do. Everyone’s body is different; what works for them may not work for you. I personally am a huge snacker. I intermittently fast and hydrate a lot. I also typically have our new protein powder (launching soon) in a yogurt. I make sure to have some veggies for dinner, and I never miss my late-night after-dinner TRUBAR for dessert.

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What are your favorite healthy food destinations in Miami?

Pura Vida is my go-to. I love the Jen’s Herb Salad (hold the quinoa and candied almonds) or the chicken pesto sandwich. Carrot Express’s LIV Wrap (hold the quinoa with extra avocado) is also a classic for me.

Best fitness destinations?

I love padel, although I am super focused on work and have minimal time to play—when and if I have time, that’s where you’ll find me! It’s a fantastic workout, super fun, and as they say, all padel sports are incredible for your brain.

“TRUST YOUR BODY, LISTEN TO IT AND BE AS WELLBALANCED AS POSSIBLE. YOU CAN’T FOLLOW ALL THE FADS OR ALWAYS DO WHAT OTHERS DO. EVERYONE’S BODY IS DIFFERENT; WHAT WORKS FOR THEM MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU.”

Do you have any upcoming launches we can look forward to?

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our delicious ‘Whipped for Key Lime’ key lime pie bar! It’s just the beginning of exciting things to come. In the coming months, we’re expanding our product range to include TRUPROTIEN powder, TRUCOOKIE, and a lineup of new flavors and snack concepts in the works, which I’m excited about.