Hello, My name is Sriteja Kataru. It all started in January 2020, with a routine doctor's visit that turned my world upside down. As a healthy, active teenager, I assumed my annual physical would go smoothly. But when the doctor said I had a weight issue, I was shocked. How could this be possible when I was eating well and exercising regularly?

That diagnosis sparked a personal health journey that changed my life and ultimately led me to found TEJA.

With guidance from my mom (a physician herself), I started meeting with lifestyle medicine experts and nutritionists to transform my diet. I quickly realized the protein bars and snacks targeted at teens were either full of sugar, or, artificial ingredients. I knew I could make better-tasting, healthier creations.

So in my kitchen, I started developing my own recipes packed with protein, fiber and all natural ingredients. During the pandemic's shelter-in-place, I had plenty of time to perfect chewy, delicious snacks like protein-rich nuggets and gummy candies with just a touch of sugar. My friends and family became taste testers who couldn't get enough of these tasty, wholesome treats.

But nutrition was just part of the equation. Conversations with healthcare experts helped me understand the holistic factors affecting teen health. I learned poor sleep quality had likely contributed to my weight gain - something no one had ever explained to me before!

I became passionate about researching nutrition, mental health, exercise and wellbeing. The more I learned, the more I realized many teens lack basic knowledge about lifestyle choices that create lifelong health. I watched friends constantly pulling all-nighters and skipping meals. Why didn't they know the harms of these habits?

Armed with pages of notes from my research, I was determined to share this vital information. I worked with two amazing nonprofits to develop a comprehensive 4-part online teen health workshop about Nutrition, Sleep, Stress and Exercise. Right away, 25 teens nationwide signed up. By the end, their feedback showed how much this knowledge could change unhealthy behaviors.

That workshop was the spark that lit my entrepreneurial fire. I founded TEJA with two goals: First, create great-tasting supplements tailored to teens' growing needs. Second, empower teens to take control of their wellbeing through education.

My DECA Club advisors helped me turn this passion project into a business plan. Food scientists came on board to transition my homemade recipes into production-ready formulas. With advice from Elizabeth Giannuzzi, founder of Siren Snacks, I took big steps toward manufacturing and launching TEJA for real.

It's incredible to look back on how a single doctor's visit started me on this journey to support teen health. When you know better, you do better. Now TEJA enables me to help teens lead their healthiest, most joyful lives through smart choices - and delicious snacks!