Meet Carly Vong | Registered Dietitian & Snack Business Owner

SeedbarLA started with my vision to change the landscape of nutrition products for people receiving dialysis treatment. The inspiration came from my background as a Registered Dietitian specializing in kidney care. In my experience, finding a tasty, packaged snack bar with high-quality plant-based nutrition for my patients was not easy. It was also difficult to incorporate a variety of plant-based options into their restricted diets. I saw the need for change. I founded SeedbarLA to create a dense, nutritious snack bar for people on dialysis who could benefit from quick plant-based food on the go. In turn, our bars have become a healthy snack alternative for people with an active and busy lifestyle. Gym owners started to notice our product for the exact reasons we intended for people who were sick. They liked that our bars were simple, honest, and fresh. Another reason that keeps people interested is our blend of flavors and ingredients. We use premium teas, spices, and signature ingredients inspired by different cultures and cuisines. We also do not use gluten, grains, oats, or peanuts, which can cause digestive and other problems for certain people. We have two nut-free bars. Our best customers value our consistency and mission to keep driving clean nutrition forward.

I am proud to see the growth of SeedbarLA since 2021 when we started with just a few snack bars. Our company now makes pre- and post-workout bars as well. Our vision remains the same. We want to reduce the risk of developing chronic disease and prolong healthy life. We will continue to make it easier for people to have a plant-based snack option, which positively impacts health and the environment. We are proud to say that we have changed some opinions about how good a snack or meal replacement bar can be! We will continue to grow our community with the help of our customers and strategic partners. We are excited to continue on this path.

My father battled cancer and Parkinson’s disease during much of my childhood and early adulthood. It led me to explore a career as a dietitian and made me curious to study diet and disease. I often teach people to adopt a plant-based diet and lifestyle to improve their health. However, this may not be practical for most Americans due to a lack of convenience and cost-effective options. I founded SeedbarLA because I wanted people to feel inspired to make good nutrition choices, preferably plant-based.

I was born and raised in LA and have a few personal favorites. I have always loved Griffith Park, the Observatory, and Hollywood Bowl. It’s just very LA to catch a show there, enjoy dinner perhaps in Silver Lake, and start the next morning with a hike or stroll. As a vendor, we’ve scouted out quite a few farmers’ markets in LA. I would bring a friend to the Hollywood and Mar Vista Farmers’ Markets. There are some good eats in Hollywood and Mar Vista has remarkable diversity. Great for people-watching. Speaking of people-watching, Venice Beach is a great place to check out fashion and mainstream trends in LA. It’s a great place to relax and be among creatives. For someone more active, we would go out for a hike in Malibu or the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s probably one of the few places in LA that combine urban hiking with ocean views. Since I am a native Angeleno, I have my sanctuaries to get away from the LA hustle. I’m going to keep those to myself!

I have many shoutouts, including the patients I have worked with over the years, many coworkers, and supportive friends. My mentors have been nephrologists, professors, and teachers of different backgrounds. I am grateful for the potential they saw in my projects. Additionally, I have to thank other businesses that have shared their struggles and successes. They gave us a start and the tools we needed to develop our brand.