Leesburg resident Camille Hardy knows firsthand that necessity is the mother of invention. She founded Chunky Vegan baby food company in 2023 because she saw a need in her own baby’s life.
“Chunky Vegan came about because I had my son in September of 2020. And when he transitioned to eating, I just wasn’t finding anything that I was comfortable feeding him,” says Hardy.
She began researched local farms and how they grew and harvested food, and soon began making her son’s baby food herself. When she had leftovers, the mom of two gave samples to friends for their babies. And it turned out her blends were a big hit.
Last October, she left her executive IT role with NBCUniversal to build Chunky Vegan. “We’re a mission-based company. I’m a mom, so all of the food I make, I’m making for every baby just as I made it for my son,” Hardy says. “I want it to be as enriching for everybody who eats it.”
“Nourished with Nature”
Female and Black-owned, Chunky Vegan has a goal to nourish infants and toddlers with plant-based, nutrient-packed meals. Hardy’s philosophy is “nourish with nature.” She delivers jarred meals made from organic, locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible — supporting Northern Virginia farms.
“My goal for Chunky Vegan — I literally want to create a movement around prioritizing pediatric nutrition” says Hardy. “I want to disrupt the convenience of having everything be so quick, having everything be so available and rushed. That grab and go convenience comes at a cost.”
Chunky Vegan partners with botanists, pediatricians, nutritionists, and food scientists to create blends that are gentle on sensitive stomachs and free from gluten, dairy, and preservatives. All products are packaged in glass jars, avoiding plastics and prioritizing health and environmental responsibility.
Variety of Products
Chunky Vegan’s products run the gamut, from purees for tiny eaters to bites for older babies. Meals include strawberry banana millet, black bean and Okinawa purple sweet potato, spaghetti and veggies, coconut curry lentils, creamy Okinawa purple sweet potato, and sweet potato and butternut squash.
“There’s a lot of parents that are looking for this — they don’t have it,” says Hardy. “I think once they go back to work is where the need really picks up because they don’t have the bandwidth to prepare food and plan, so that’s where we come in.”
Six-jar sampler packs include smooth purees for early eaters to thicker “solid meals” made with soft-cooked grains, veggies, and legumes. Six-ounce jars can be ordered in sets of three for $36. Delivery is offered in Loudoun and Fairfax counties; the meals arrive frozen and can be stored for up to six months. You can also find the brand at some local farmers markets.
Feature image courtesy Camille Hardy
