Carlsbad resident, mother and business owner Shanais Pelka made it her mission to produce the purest, all-organic protein bar on the market–Nii bars. 

“We created this product to promote healthy food choices for on-the-go active living,” eighth grader at Valley Middle School Abria Pelka said. “The overall message is to make more people choose organic clean living.”

Starting a family business as a single mom comes with challenges as well as success.

“We get to be involved in positive events, community outreach and everybody in the family chips in,” Shanais Pelka said. “However, it can be stressful for the family because it takes up a lot of time, money and about half of our house. Also, being a single mom of three, it is hard to manage a business.”

Even through the tough times, the Pelka family has been able to persevere and learn from their experiences.

“Through this whole process I have learned a lot about my family,” Abria Pelka said. “We are very strong and exhibit our strength in times of stress and hardship.”

Since there are so many different bars on the market, making a better bar was necessary for Nii to be a serious competitor in this industry.

“These bars are different from other bars because, first of all, they are organic, gluten free, non GMO, soy free, raw and kosher,” Shanais Pelka said. “These bars are nut butter based, making it very nutrient dense. They are sweetened with coconut nectar which is loaded with omega 3 fats, minerals and proteins.”

Being a new business, customers are needed to help spread the word to the community and show why Nii bar is the healthiest choice.

“Carlsbad can help support our business by buying the bars, telling their friends about the bars, attending our community events and just eating organic in general,” Abria Pelka said.

Nii hopes to promote a positive message with this new healthy bar.

“Our business loves to support the community of not only Carlsbad but San Diego,” Shanais Pelka said. “Also we promote protecting the environment and helping the animals in need. Civilians need to remember to own the day by giving their body the nutrients it needs.”