It might surprise you to hear that my wife Merissa—co-founder of our meat-based snack company Stoke Provisions—used to be a vegan. Clean eating was more than just a diet for Merissa; it was a philosophy. Then a doctor’s unusual suggestion changed everything.
Our story started out like so many others. After two years of dating, we had the wedding of our dreams. Everything was going as planned, but as the honeymoon bliss faded into normal everyday life, we knew we wanted more. We had always dreamed of having children together. This is where our struggles began.
The first year of marriage can be a time of adjustment, and we were no different. Merissa and I enjoyed the challenges of living and growing together, but during this time, we lost two of our loved ones. Merissa's mother died due to heart complications, and my youngest brother lost his battle with brain cancer. It definitely left a hole in our hearts. Added stress is never a good thing, especially when trying to get pregnant. We leaned on each other during this time and put a lot of pressure on ourselves to fill that hole with the baby we both so badly wanted.
After trying the traditional route of baby-making for a year with no success, we sought help. Every doctor and specialist we worked with gave us the same answer: They could not understand why we were not getting pregnant. After another year of trying different medical techniques without any luck, we were at a loss for answers.
A SURPRISING IDEA
Merissa connected with a renowned specialist from Colorado for a phone conversation before starting to work together. This doctor's advice changed our lives. Merissa has always been a person who seeks out clean foods and pays close attention to what she puts in her body. This healthy eating led her to become a vegan, eliminating meats and dairy from her diet. The doctor recommended a course of action we were not expecting. He suggested we stop worrying so much about getting pregnant and take a vacation. He also thought Merissa should introduce meat back into her diet as a way to increase her iron and protein.
With this advice, we sought out the best clean and healthy protein, which led us to grass-fed and finished beef. In addition to the traditional cuts of meat, we also both incorporated beef snack sticks into our diets. These convenient snacks gave us the clean protein we were searching for throughout the day. Four months later, we finally received the news we had prayed for: We were pregnant with our first child!
A BUSINESS (AND A BABY!) IS BORN
Out of that personal journey, Stoke Provisions was born: a brand built on the balance of my love for the outdoors and Merissa’s commitment to clean, intentional eating. Together, we set out to create a clean, kind, and healthy snack we’d feel good about giving our own children.
Every Stoke Provisions beef stick—available in original and hatch green chile flavors—is ethically sourced and sustainably produced with animals that are certified treated humanely.
Today, we are blessed with four amazing kids, and it’s a great feeling to offer them a snack in which we know every ingredient.
"FUEL THE SPARK"
The internal combustion engine starts with a spark, which can create an infinite amount of positive momentum and energy.
Merissa has shown me how important and thankless her job as a stay-at-home mom can be. Entertaining four kids is a daily challenge. The thing is, she knows she is doing something more valuable for our family than words can express. Merissa is constantly lighting sparks in our children, every day. Those moments, no matter how small, deserve to be celebrated.
We say "Fuel the Spark" because it is not just about experiencing your own adventures and successes but also about the magic feeling you get when you see the spark in another's eyes.
We started with fueling our own sparks, then the spark in each other, then the spark in our kids. Through our products, we hope to fuel the spark in you and your communities. Where YOU take it is the greatest adventure. We can't wait to see!
StokeProvisions.com | @stokeprovisions
"Stoke started out as a passion project, but has turned into a family business. We are really proud to sell a clean-ingredient snack that we truly believe in and happily feed to our own kids."