One of NJ’s hidden gems, the Squirrel & The Bee grainless bake shop is a grain free, gluten free, and refined sugar-free heaven for dessert enthusiasts everywhere – and now they’re shipping their amazing goods all over the country.
If you’ve ever wanted to live deliciously – but keep your health, the bakers at Squirrel & The Bee grainless bake shop have you covered. Serving up muffins, bagels, breads, donuts, cookies, 27 flavors of dairy-free ice cream, and just about anything else your sweet tooth desires on a daily basis, they’ve got a nearly five-star rating on Google, Facebook, and Yelp… proving you don’t have to be health conscious to be a fan.
A Woman on a Mission
Behind the operation is a graduate of the Institute for Culinary Education, Michelle Retik, who created and expanded Squirrel & The Bee to a national level in just seven years. The idea came out of a health diagnosis Retnik wasn’t expecting – doctors told her she had ulcerative colitis in 2012. Retik took matters into her own hands, changing her diet for the better. That’s when she began to experiment with healthy baked goods, using nuts and honey in place of dairy and grains.
“This is my lemonade. I was faced with an unfortunate diagnosis and was able to turn it into something that not only helps me but many others as well. I’m able to pursue my passion, help others, and feel great every day,” said Retik in a press release.
Once Retik began to eliminate grains, sugars, and most dairy from her own diet, she began to feel a change in her health. Now, she no longer experienced any symptoms. Meanwhile, the word about Retik’s grainless bake shop goods spread through town, and Retik was able to open Squirrel & The Bee in 2014. Since then, the shop has gotten rave reviews from clients who have diet restrictions, along with magazines, critics, and social media users. Requests from all over the country came in, and now, Squirrel & The Bee ships their baked goodies for anyone to enjoy.
Why Go Grain Free?
It’s no secret to anyone in the US that we have health issues because of the food we eat. According to the CDC, 32 million people were diagnosed with digestive diseases in 2015 alone, while the American Nutrition Association estimates that 70 million people suffer every day. Additionally, considering the state of health care (many young people don’t have any), plenty of individuals don’t ever receive a diagnosis. There’s a reason gluten-free and dairy-free diets are so popular, and it isn’t just because of trendiness.
According to Squirrel & The Bee, “grains and sugar can cause inflammation in the digestive tract which can lead to Celiac, Crohns/Colitis, IBS/IBD, Rheumatoid Arthritis, ADD/ADHD and many other autoimmune diseases. In addition, chronic headaches and many skin issues are attributed to inflammation caused by gluten and grains. Eliminating all grains – rice, potatoes, corn, soy, wheat – helps to reduce inflammation throughout your body.”
Instead, Squirrel & The Bee relies on plenty of honey and nuts to flavor their food, giving people that healthy saturated fat, protein, and fiber they need to keep feeling good.
