Today we’d like to introduce you to Janae Cox
Hi Janae, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! I’m Janae Cox, a wife and mom to five wonderful kids. My journey into the world of clean eating and living a gluten and dairy-free lifestyle began with my own health struggles. In 2014, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and, shortly after, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). These diagnoses were life-changing, but they also sparked a passion in me to find and share solutions that make living with these conditions easier. Shortly after Celiac Disease forced my lifestyle to change, I started an Instagram page called @cleanmondaymeals. Initially, it was just a space for me to share my gluten-free meal prep ideas, with no expectations of it becoming anything more. But it grew into a vibrant community of like-minded individuals striving to eat healthier and feel better.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
NO! It’s not smooth. It’s been challenging, with lots of tears and triumphs along the way. My entire company was founded on the struggle that I have had in my own home. All my seasonings were initially developed to solve the problem I couldn’t find in the stores.
The struggles consist of the daily struggle to feed myself and my family. Anytime we travel or go out to eat, it’s a struggle, and unless you are overly prepared, it is so hard. My daughter and I usually go hungry or live off candy bars or granola bars. It is getting more manageable, but it’s still a struggle to find really great gluten and dairy-free products that are actually edible. Sure, there are a ton of gluten-free breads on the market, but they aren’t very good. Then there is the cost of EVERYTHING gluten-free. It is so much more expensive. And don’t even get me started about family gatherings and how difficult those are to manage. If you do not deal with food allergies, you don’t understand it, and typically, family gatherings are some of the most challenging gatherings of the year. Oh, and of course, it’s May right now, and all of the kid’s school activities. Of course there is rarely a gluten free option for our kids that have food allergies. I could go all day long talking about the regular silent and sometimes public struggles we/deal with regularly.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I created a line of seasonings that are free from the common food allergy foods that most people have to avoid: gluten, dairy, corn, soy, shellfish, egg, chemicals, fillers, etc. They are whole-food, clean-ingredient seasonings. I originally created these in my home because I couldn’t find them on the store shelves. But after years of my followers asking me to bottle and sell them these seasonings, I took the leap of faith, and it has gone better than expected.
I also have several cookbooks loaded with my recipes. My recipes are simple, use normal ingredients, and are meals that I feed all five of my kids. So, if I had to guess why they have been successful, it would be because I make eating gluten-free easy and tastes like normal food.
Lastly, I have a meal planning app available on the app store. My niche is families with food allergies, so in my app, I call out the specific products you can swap for to make your meals gluten and dairy-free.
What makes you happy?
1. My Husband Kevin.
He is my best friend, biggest supporter, and source of joy. Kevin is my hype man and proud of me and what we have built together. Our company would not exist without him; we have so much fun building and growing it together. He is super creative and good at everything I am not, making building a business so much fun. When we are together, it feels like anything is possible. Life is so much better when you have a fantastic partner like Kevin.
2. Being a mom.
My entire life, I never dreamed of being anything but a mother. I knew I wanted a big family but never put a number on it. After battling infertility after our third child, I thought we might be done. Because of the change in my diet, I was finally able to conceive after five years of trying to have our fourth and fifth kids. It is weird because being a parent is the most fulfilling and challenging thing a person can do. Then, when your kid is randomly diagnosed with an autoimmune disease like Type One Diabetes and Celiac Disease, like my oldest daughter Kolbie, that’s when being a parent gets really difficult. We all have our struggles; no matter how many kids you have, it’s a ton of work. But I wouldn’t trade being a mom for anything. I love it.
3. Serving and helping others.
Kevin told me this quote years ago, and it’s become my mantra. “Want to know the quickest way to pull yourself out of a bad mood? Go help someone else get out of the situation. Irs.” I started my page @cleanmondaymeals with the intention of helping others who are dealing with struggles similar to mine. Having your entire world flipped upside down with a required diet change is HARD. Our whole lives revolve around food. When I started down the path of a gluten-free diet, I was blindsided by how hard it was. I left more grocery stores than I care to remember in tears. Every aspect of your life is forced to change. It was this reality that caused me to post on my page. I never imagined it could turn into a business where I would have products on store shelves. But, I can honestly say that the one thing that has given me the greatest source of strength to confront my life’s challenges is the joy I feel when I help someone feel like they can feed themselves or their family. Or I help them feel like it’s doable.
Pricing:
- My seasonings are from $11.99 – $14.99
- My meal plan app is $9.99 / month and you can cancel anytime
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cleanmondaymeals.com
- Instagram: cleanmondaymeals
- Facebook: cleanmondaymeals
- Youtube: cleanmondaymeals
