FABULOUS FAMILY | Wheaton Family Creates Allergy-Friendly Snack Bars

by Kristen Kucharski

THE MASSINGILL FAMILY

WHEATON–While the pandemic has been hard, from the Massingill family perspective it was also a great opportunity to spend more family as Amelie (13) is typically busy with softball and Sofia (17) in badminton, in addition to many other school activities and social time. The family has always looked forward to dinners together as the best part of their day to catch up in good conversation without the interference of electronics; and continues this tradition even with their new business launch in January 2021- a line of allergy friendly snack bars called Lovely Day Bars.

“We started it because my wife Ana, and my one daughter’s have food intolerances and we could not find a snack bar that fit our needs and actually tasted like a snack bar; so, we started Lovely Day Bars which is allergy friendly - free from nuts, diary, soy, wheat, gluten, eggs, fish, peanuts, corn - and is vegan, non-GMO, but tastes like a delicious snack bar should!” Brandon says. “We have two flavors Chocolate Chip and Sweet Caramel with Chocolate Drizzle.”

Putting their words into action, they sell their bars throughout the area including several family-owned businesses in the western suburbs, as well as independent grocery stores, such as Caputos in Naperville, Tom’s Market in Warrenville, Nutrition Network in Winfield, Pete’s Fresh Market in Wheaton, Berkley’s Finer Foods and Bocadito’s Cafe in Batavia, Sweet Natalie’s Gluten Free Bakery in Wheaton, and Kramer’s Foods in Hinsdale. Of course, their bars can also be purchased via their website at www.lovelydaybar.com, on Amazon, as well as at over 50 locations in the Chicagoland area.

“Honestly, we try to live by the motto of it’s all about the community and support local businesses as much as possible!” Brandon says. “All our business needs are fulfilled by local businesses, we have gotten great support and partnerships from other local brands such as Sweet Natalies, Extract Juicery and H4 Fitness. We have a pretty good size garden and are always giving away extra produce either to neighbors or to the PRC and support local organizations via our giving plan such as PRC, DuPage PADS, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Deborah’s Place, our church Holy Cross Lutheran Church and the Morton Arboretum.”

The family refreshes their “ELE - Everybody Love Everybody” spirit as active members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, volunteering with Feed My Starving Children and Northern Illinois Food Bank. Additionally, Brandon is involved with DuPage PADS, mentors for the INCubator entrepreneurship program, teaches marketing as an adjunct at College of DuPage, and is a volunteer consultant with Compass Pro Bono.

Besides reconnecting over family dinners, the Massingills are sure to carve out family time on the weekends for bike rides and runs on the Prairie Path in Naperville, perusing area farmer’s market, fishing and exploring local forest preserves, and sometimes just having coffee together.

Overall, The Massingills personal beliefs in family, community, and love have carried over into a business mission that allows everyone to enjoy flavorful snacks safely. Photos by Mike Catuara