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A few months ago, we introduced you to Moon Cycle Bakery, a subscription-based delivery service that sends you special treats during your special time of the month. The team at Moon Cycle believes that getting your period doesn't have to be a bad thing, and better yet, they want to send women everywhere baked goods that are both tasty and good for you. In their words, it's "the first bakery to meet your cravings without the guilt." What's not to love, right?
Since then, I had the opportunity to try some of Moon Cycle's treats and get pampered right along with their many subscribers. To say I felt nourished and cared for would be an understatement -- these goodies are wonderful and the company's entire mission makes me want to shout from the rooftops. Not only that, but I also got to chat with Moon Cycle's founder, Devon, about her vision for company and how she feels about that "time of the month."
<p>Many women have a hard time balancing eating right with "treating themselves," especially when on their period. How would you respond to this, and how can Moon Cycle help?</p>
I appreciate this question a lot as it’s definitely something I’ve struggled with and can fully relate to. I think the biggest factor we need to continue to address and reflect on is the shame and guilt that can tend to go hand in hand with “treating ourselves” while on our period (and honestly, even when not on our period). I believe it’s a very real feeling that goes hand in hand with the stigma that is menstruation. We crave chocolate, but instead of thinking about why our bodies may be craving it, (ie: our magnesium is depleted) we chock it up to “our periods” and attach all sorts of judgement and not-so-great feelings to our craving for something that in certain ways society has deemed as “bad” or “wrong.”
I think one way we can support the balance of eating right and treating ourselves is looking at both aspects as living simultaneously and being the same thing instead of separate. Giving our body what it’s asking for (which may absolutely be chocolate!) is a form of treating ourselves. In that same vein, if we can choose chocolate that is high-quality, over 70% cacao and not full of processed sugars, then we are truly not only treating ourselves, but “eating right” too. Moon Cycle was founded on the belief that we can treat ourselves while still caring for ourselves and that the two are in direct proportion of each other. For me, this is where education of the menstrual cycle and nutrition comes in.
Unhandled
<p>Oftentimes, there is a negative stigma attached to having your period, and especially to talking about it. What advice would you give women who feel embarrassed by their time of the month?</p>
That you are a f*cking empowered, beautiful, bright-eyed warrior. I think our way to heal the stigma attached to our cycles is different for each of us, but I do believe it starts with self-acceptance both for our natural cycle and for our bodies as well as loads and loads of self-love and self-soothing.
I also find the more we talk about something that has been shamed for so long, the more empowerment we bring forth. It’s like that moment where you’re sharing something dark and prickly that you’ve experienced with a friend or maybe even a stranger and you see their eyes soften. They’ve felt that, too. They’ve experienced something very similar if not the same thing and in an instant, you not only made them feel less alone, you’ve taken power away from a negative stigma. You’ve also tapped into some of your own empowerment by taking a very real, innate element and seeing it for what it is -- a part of nature. That very brief but important moment is truly world-changing.
<p>What is your goal for Moon Cycle Bakery 5...10 years down the road?</p>
I love this question! It always makes my heart explode with possibilities. It’s a goal of mine to continue to build out education around menstruation and nutrition as well as continuing to tap into different populations such as teens, college students, postpartum mothers, pre-menopause, menopause, etc. We are currently looking into creating wholesale relationships and teaming up with vegan shops in France to wholesale internationally! It would also be a dream of mine to open up a brick and mortar where we can sell our treats as well as nourishing meals for people during different parts of the cycle (ie: during different phases of your cycle, during pregnancy, food deliveries to new mothers, etc.)
Beyond the large scope of Moon Cycle Bakery, this business and the passion behind it has opened up paths I never deemed possible and I’m continuing to trust them and roll with it. I’ll be heading back to school to get a Masters in nutrition and would love to create recipes and a wellness hub to share with our community as we grow.
<p>What is your favorite Moon Cycle treat? Are there any new things coming soon that we can look forward to?</p>
My favorite Moon Cycle treat is the Chocolate Cup Sweetened with Honey and Ginger. It’s so satisfying and decadent! I instantly feel more relaxed from the magnesium and my cravings for chocolate are quickly satiated. It’s a great before bed/post dinner treat.
We’ll be continuing to build and grow our website, which means easier sign up as well as a guest sign up for people who just want to shop the treats and skip creating a profile. We’ll also be releasing a phone app this year that allows you to order the treats and edit your profile info and subscription orders, read up on recent studies and education and track your cycle. We’ll continue to partner with brands we feel are in alignment with our values to offer self-care, food and cycle related products and of course focus our energies on new treat/recipe creation!
