Cassie Avant (’14)

Real Food Co. began with preparing meals from my home kitchen and grew into a small grab-and-go market. Today, it’s a community centered restaurant, market and coffee shop, built around one simple belief: real, nourishing food made with recognizable ingredients should be the expectation, not the exception. While the business has grown, the mission has remained the same: raising the standard for what everyday food can and should be. Our mission has never been to create another “health food” business or chase the latest trend. If anything, we’re returning to the basics. We believe convenience shouldn’t come at the expense of our health and we’re working to prove that it doesn’t have to. Through thoughtfully prepared meals, specialty coffee and everyday staples, we’re making it easier for people to choose food that fuels them well without sacrificing flavor, quality or convenience. I don’t believe health and eating well should feel exclusive or complicated. My goal has always been to make real food feel approachable enough to become part of everyday life through our restaurant or simply educating on what true health looks like.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that Real Food Co. has become about so much more than food. It’s a place where people meet over coffee, share meals with family, celebrate milestones, catch up with friends or simply feel known when they walk through the door.

Food has always had the ability to bring people together, and creating a space where people feel welcomed, connected, and cared for has been just as important to me as the food we serve. Watching our community grow around that shared table has been one of the greatest rewards of this journey.

What began as a passion for providing real, nourishing food has grown into something far greater than I ever imagined. Along the way, I realized it was never just about food. It’s about people. Every day, I have the privilege of hearing stories from customers who are navigating cancer, autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, or simply trying to feel better in their own bodies. Watching someone find a meal they can enjoy, gain confidence in the foods they choose, or take one small step toward better health has become one of the most meaningful parts of what we do.

That journey has shaped me just as much as it’s shaped the business. My own pursuit of better health has connected me with incredible mentors, practitioners, and customers who continue to teach me something new every day. Those conversations have challenged me to keep learning, keep asking questions, and keep raising the standard for what we offer our community.

I’m equally proud of the team we’ve built along the way. Together, we’ve created more than a place to eat. We’ve created a place where people feel welcomed, supported, and genuinely cared for. Sometimes healing begins with a meal, sometimes with a conversation, and sometimes simply by knowing someone took the time to care. Being trusted with those moments is the accomplishment I’m most proud of.

The more I’ve learned, the more I’ve realized I don’t have all the answers – which, if you know me, isn’t always the easiest thing to admit. But it’s become one of my greatest strengths. I’m committed to being a lifelong learner, continually seeking out better ingredients, better practices, and better ways to serve our community and lead. I’m grateful the Lord continues to use this journey to humble me, teach me, and remind me that there’s always more to learn and that everything unfolds in His perfect timing.