Our Story: Creating High Protein Foods Without the Top 9 Allergens

Why We Created Allergen Friendly Protein Products

Rooted was created from a simple frustration:

Why was it so hard to find delicious high protein foods made with clean ingredients that actually worked for people with food sensitivities?

After years in the health, fitness, and nutrition industry, I kept seeing the same problem over and over again — people wanted to fuel their bodies with more protein, but so many of the options available were made with the very ingredients many people were trying to avoid.

Milk.
Eggs.
Nuts.
Soy.
Gluten.
Pea protein.
Chickpea protein.

For people following a dairy free, egg free, nut free, gluten free, soy free, or allergen friendly lifestyle, finding convenient high protein breakfast foods and snacks felt almost impossible.

And I knew this struggle personally.

I’m Ashley Drummonds — a Board-Certified Integrative Health Practitioner, nutrition expert, former Shark Tank entrepreneur, and founder of a nationally recognized natural food brand.

Rooted started because I was tired of walking into grocery stores, health food stores, and supplement shops excited to find a new protein bar, protein mix, or “healthy” snack — only to flip over the ingredient label and realize:

“Not for me. It has dairy.”
“Not for me. It has eggs.”
“Not for me. It has almonds.”
“Not for me. It has ingredients that don’t work for my body.”

And I knew I wasn’t the only one.

My clients were experiencing the same frustration.

They wanted convenient, high protein foods to support their health, fitness, and busy lifestyles — but finding options that were both nutritious and free from common food triggers was incredibly challenging.

That’s when I decided:

If these products didn’t exist, we were going to create them.

From Chronic Health Struggles to Creating Better Nutrition Solutions

My health journey is what changed everything.

Years ago, I experienced a season of my life where my body felt completely out of balance. I struggled with mysterious symptoms, chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, hormone imbalances, and health challenges that no one seemed able to explain.

Like many people, I was searching for answers.

Through years of studying nutrition, functional health, fitness, and the connection between food and the body, I learned something that completely changed the way I looked at wellness:

The foundation of health starts with what you put into your body every single day.

Quality nutrition matters.

Enough protein matters.

Balanced carbohydrates and healthy fats matter.

And just as importantly — finding foods that your body actually tolerates matters.

As I worked with hundreds of clients through my integrative health practice, I noticed a powerful pattern:

Many people struggling with chronic health issues, food sensitivities, digestive issues, and low energy were not only reacting to certain foods — they were also severely under-fueling their bodies.

They were eating “healthy,” but they weren’t getting enough protein to support:

• Energy

• Muscle strength

• Metabolism

• Recovery

• Hormone health

• Immune function

• Long-term wellness

The missing piece was finding high protein foods that were both nourishing and free from common food triggers.

Why Rooted Creates Dairy Free, Egg Free & Nut Free High Protein Foods

For many people, the most common food triggers include dairy, eggs, wheat/gluten, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, and shellfish — the FDA recognized Top 9 major allergens.

But finding protein-rich foods without these ingredients can be incredibly challenging.

Most high protein products rely heavily on:

• Whey protein from dairy

• Egg whites

• Almond flour

• Peanut butter

• Soy protein

• Pea protein

• Chickpea protein

That left a huge gap for people looking for:

✓ Dairy free protein bars
✓ Egg free protein snacks
✓ Nut free high protein foods
✓ Gluten free protein products
✓ Soy free protein foods
✓ Plant-based protein without pea protein or chickpeas
✓ Clean ingredient protein options

I personally experienced this frustration.

My clients experienced it.

And I realized there needed to be a better option.

Taking It From An Idea To The Kitchen

So we went to work.

We started where every great food product begins — in the kitchen.

With ingredients spread across the counter, endless recipe testing, and a lot of trial and error, we began developing what would eventually become Rooted.

And the truth is?

The first versions were not perfect.

Some recipes were too dry.

Some were too soft.

Some didn’t have the texture we were looking for.

Some tasted great but didn’t deliver the nutrition profile we needed.

Creating a high protein food that was also dairy free, egg free, nut free, gluten free, soy free, and free from pea and chickpea protein was not simple.

Protein ingredients have personalities of their own. They impact texture, flavor, moisture, and how a product feels when you actually eat it.

But we weren’t looking to create just another protein product.

We wanted to create something that people would genuinely enjoy eating.

Something that tasted good.

Something made with ingredients people could feel confident about.

Something that finally gave people with food sensitivities a convenient way to fuel their bodies.

So we kept testing.

We kept tweaking.

We kept going back into the kitchen.

Batch after batch.

Until we created products that met the standards we were looking for:

High protein.

Clean ingredients.

Great taste.

And made without the most common food triggers.

Rooted Was Created To Make High Protein Eating Easier

After years of developing recipes, building food brands, studying nutrition, and understanding what active bodies need, Rooted was born.

Rooted creates delicious high protein breakfast foods, protein snacks, and functional nutrition products designed for people who want more protein without the most common food allergens.

Our mission is simple:

To make clean, high protein nutrition accessible for more people — especially those who have been left out of traditional protein products because of food sensitivities or dietary restrictions.

Because eating for your health shouldn’t mean sacrificing flavor.

It shouldn’t mean eating the same boring foods every day.

And it shouldn’t mean spending 20 minutes reading every ingredient label wondering if a product will work for you.

Clean Protein Nutrition Rooted In What Your Body Needs

With more than 17 years of experience in health, fitness, and nutrition, I believe true wellness starts with the basics:

Real food.

Quality ingredients.

Enough protein.

Balanced nutrition.

And foods that help you feel your best.

Rooted was created for active people, busy families, athletes, health-conscious individuals, and anyone who wants convenient protein options without compromising ingredients.

Whether you’re looking for a high protein breakfast, dairy free protein bar, egg free protein snack, gluten free protein product, allergen friendly protein food, or simply better everyday nutrition — Rooted was created for you.

Because when you give your body the fuel it needs, everything changes.

This is nutrition built from experience.

This is protein made differently.

This is Rooted.

Ashley Drummonds & Kyle O'Brien