Miami's Shanti Bar Is Soccer Star Hope Solo's Go-To Protein Bar

There is a new high-protein energy bar on the market thanks to a pair of Miamians. Shanti Bar, a handheld snack packed with power and flavor, is now available on shelves across South Florida Whole Foods Markets as well as Bed, Bath & Beyond nationwide.  

Even U.S. soccer star Hope Solo gives it a thumbs-up.

"Eating nutrient-rich, raw ingredients is essential in order for me to perform at the highest level," Solo says. "I love the energy, strength, and natural beauty of the Shanti brand and how they represent passion, energy, grit, and determination."

Invented by sports fitness guru Lauren Feingold and culinary enthusiast Ashanty Williams, Shanti Bar is a nutritious protein bar dreamed up in the Magic City. Now it's available for purchase locally, and the founders plan to expand its reach across the nation.

Williams, who befriended Feingold at a local gym, wanted to create a protein-packed snack rich in flavor. She created a few recipes and asked Feingold for some input. The athlete transformed the bar from a homemade snack into a product ready for supermarket shelves. 

"I was basically her guinea pig," Feingold laughs. "Ashanty would get her hands dirty, and I'd adjust it as she went along."

The result was a mouthful: a raw, organic, vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, plant-based, superfood-packed energy and protein bar named Shanti. 

It's been about a year since the two taste-tested the bars in their home kitchens. Shanti Bar now comes in eight flavors, each highlighting a superfood such as turmeric, coconut, cocoa, or açaí. Williams and Feingold wanted to make sure they didn't sacrifice nutrition for flavor.

"The problem was there wasn't a product we personally could rely on," Feingold says. "So we made a solution, and now we want to share it."

Feingold says the bars aren't just for athletes. Those too busy to whip up a meal during the day can nosh on a Shanti Bar instead, according to Feingold.

"This isn't only for the gymgoer," she says, "and that's important to know. If you're sedentary, you still need good food and brain fuel. People need to eat, and they should eat well."

Though it's still a small company, the brand recently signed Solo as its first brand ambassador. Feingold says it's just the beginning.

"The market is saturated with bad-quality stuff," she says. "We're in this to change that and become a leader."

For now, Shanti Bar is available at Whole Foods Market locations in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, as well as on the Gulf Coast in Naples outposts.

"Miami is a great place to have a product like this," Feingold says. "There's a very active lifestyle here. Whether you're on the go or in traffic, you need food."

"But this definitely isn't a local phenomenon," she adds. "We want to expand across the country and the world."

For more information, visit shanti.bar.

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