The Whole Picture

They say you are what you eat, and if Mariana Sala is anything to go by, her keto-based diet must
be bright and healthy. Mariana is the brain (and heart) behind Tauranga-based Miss Keto, a range
of nutritious, readymade keto meals prepared by experienced chefs.

Like many other innovative start-ups, Miss Keto came to life during the pandemic. Mariana owns
the popular Quantum Vis cafe in Cameron Rd, opposite Tauranga Hospital, frequented by health-conscious hospital staff, patients and families. When the cafe closed its doors temporarily due
to lockdown restrictions, the team looked at ways to continue serving their loyal customers.

“We started including home delivery and frozen meals during the 2020 lockdown, and our customers started asking us to include more keto-friendly options,” says Mariana. “We had already incorporated keto options (gluten- and sugar-free) in our menu, so it was a natural extension of that.

Originally from Argentina, Mariana grew up with an appreciation for the health and lifestyle
benefits offered by simple wholefood. This interest led her to buy Quantum Vis four years ago with
her husband Lloyd, so she would have the opportunity to work with chefs to create menus, and
share her love of good food.

When she became a mum to Eva (6) and Olly (9), Mariana also experienced first-hand the challenge of balancing a busy work schedule with raising kids, and the day-to-day demands of running
a business and household. Consequently, she broadened her focus to meals that were not only healthy and convenient, but also delicious for the whole family. “For me, it’s not about going on
a diet or losing weight — although with keto that can be an added extra, it’s about eating food that comes from nature and that isn’t loaded with sugar or preservatives,” says Mariana.

Unfortunately, especially if you’re a busy professional or a working parent, the options are pretty limited when it comes to healthy, high-quality, frozen meals. You usually choose either convenience
or health. “My goal with Miss Keto is to eventually offer family packs and make it really kid-friendly.
I don’t believe that keto should be only reserved for people who want to lose weight, and it’s definitely not about going to extremes.”

Mariana says that switching to a keto lifestyle improved her gut health, hormone and energy levels, without having to count calories.

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Eating a diet rich in superfoods such as ginger, cacao, spices, bone broth, leafy greens, along
with the right amount of good fats such as coconut, olive oil, avos, seeds and nuts, has enabled
her to fully embrace her love of food without compromising on flavour or having to follow an unrealistic eating plan.

“There have been so many benefits in adopting keto in our family, so I felt inspired to create a healthy, modern community that can also benefit from simple wholefoods-based nutrition, with the added convenience of being pre-prepared, and oven, microwave and air fryer safe,” says Mariana.

All Miss Keto meals are prepared by chefs on site at Quantum Vis. “This allows us to have tight quality control and ensures our selection is always fresh,” she says. The down-to-earth, flavoursome recipe run from butter chicken, chicken soup and pies such as beef cottage or smoked fish, to vegan cauliflower and cashew ginger soup.

“It’s keto but for everybody,” says Mariana. “We know that keto can sometimes have a bad reputation for being all butter, bacon and bulletproof coffee. However, our goal is not elimination, our goal is to invite our community to add more wholefood, more real food to their diets without compromising taste or convenience.”

For Mariana, it all comes back to holistic health, which means, as far as she’s concerned, a treat
or two is par for the course. Beyond her wide selection of meals, the Miss Keto menu also includes Keto Sweet Treats such as ginger crunch, raspberry & lemon bars and a decadent mocha & hazelnut slice, so eating well definitely has its bonuses.

Miss Keto meals are available at Quantum Vis (850 Cameron Rd, Tauranga) or at missketo.co.nz Delivery is available for all central North Island.

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By Clarissa van Emmenes