A little about us
Welcome to the Carboholic Club! 🍞✨
Carboholic (noun): /kɑːrb-ə-hɒl-ɪk/
A person with a deep, soulful, and unapologetic love for bread, bagels, and all things doughy.
If that definition just described your soul, then hello! You’ve found your tribe. I’m Ella Rauen-Prestes, and I am a proud, card-carrying carboholic.
But I’m also a nutritionist trained by the Stanford School of Medicine and currently completing my Master’s in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen. I believe that you shouldn’t have to choose between your health goals and a really great bagel.
The Great British "Bread Guilt"
When I moved to the UK after 20 years of traveling the world, I noticed something shocking. You lovely Brits have a very... complicated relationship with your bread. My new friends were constantly saying things like:
-
"I want the bread, but the carbs are terrifying!"
-
"I’m skipping the cake because of the calorie-count."
-
"I like the taste, but I can't pronounce half these ingredients..."
Coming from Brazil, this was a massive culture shock! Back home, healthy swaps are the norm—we grow up using stevia instead of sugar and sipping coconut water like it’s going out of style. I realized the UK was missing out on the secret to "guilt-free" indulgence.
Science Meets the Mixing Bowl 🧪👩🍳
I wasn't about to live a life without sandwiches, so I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. Using my background in nutrition, I started experimenting with whole ingredients, natural sweeteners, and "magic" cupboard staples to create low-carb, high-protein, and high-fibre alternatives.
The result? Bread and cakes that tasted like a cheat meal but fueled your body like a superfood.
My neighbours and gym buddies couldn't believe it. Once I’d converted my inner circle into happy, healthy carboholics, Fitbakes was born in 2018.
From Side-Hustle to Supermarkets 🚀
Fitbakes started as a one-woman show. I spent my days at a corporate job and my nights (and weekends!) baking hundreds of batches of wraps, loaves and bagels. I’d spend my lunch breaks sprinting to the Post Office to ship orders.
Since those "floury" early days, we’ve grown into a national favorite:
-
Certified Low Carb: We are the first UK bakery certified by Sugarwise (an honor announced at the Houses of Parliament!).
-
Award-Winning: Winners of the BBC Good Food Award, Nourish Award, and Best of Health Award.
-
Famous Fans: We’ve caught the eye of Dr. Zoe Williams (ITV’s This Morning) and singer Amelia Lily.
Our Mission (and Your Next Snack) 🍰
Today, you can find Fitbakes in the UK’s best supermarkets and online shops. We are on a mission to prove that you can have your bread and eat it, too.
We’re always dreaming up new recipes to help you stay on track without losing the joy of eating.
What should we bake next? We love hearing from our community. Drop us a message and tell us which flavour of snack or bread you’re craving!
