Hajo Engelke started Custom Choice Cereal in October of 2009 because he just LOVES cereal. This upbeat, native-German turned North Carolinian, waxes poetic about his absolute love for breakfast. It was surprising, but really nice to hear someone so excited and passionate about something that wheat eaters take for granted on a daily basis – simple breakfast cereal.
His site, www.customchoicecereal.com, is exceptionally clever. It’s a make-your-own breakfast buffet of healthy foods, including many different kinds of fruits, nuts, and seeds.
According to Hajo, MyMuesli.com offers a similar website in Germany, but their emphasis is not gluten-free as Hajo’s is (not to mention Hajo’s has the advantage of being in English). I will admit that when I first started eating gluten-free, I really missed Mueslix. Especially the kind with blueberries, strawberries and almonds that still makes my mouth water. Times are a’ changing now that the gluten-free version offered by Custom Choice Cereal is on the market. The greatest aspect about this new brand is that I can make exactly what I want to eat!
I also like the company’s website quite a bit because it’s very easy to navigate through. You are in complete control over what you want in your personal 12oz package. It starts off with a base fee followed by charges per the ingredients you choose. Through the whole process you always see the nutrition information in an easy to read panel on the right side, and are also completely in charge of the amount that you spend.
In the interview, Hajo spoke about families, and especially children who have to avoid wheat, planning their breakfast cereal together. I have to admit that imagining a child with a gluten intolerance getting excited about eating anything gluten-free, much less cereal, is really touching.
Finally, I’m a recent convert to this company for two reasons. The first is that I can make and eat my own Mueslix type cereal again, and the second is because of Hajo’s exuberance. Happy eating!
