In this interview series, HSWT presents startups that are part of the Food Startup Incubator Weihenstephan (FSIWS). The series introduces the companies, their product ideas, and their working methods.
"It's got something, it can do something, and it's good too!"* With his spent grain muesli, trained nutritionist Tim Englbrecht aims to offer a sustainable, wholesome, and healthy breakfast. The GetFitbyTimconcept specializes in preventative health promotion with a focus on nutrition. Its goal is to strengthen nutrition-related health-promoting factors to help people stay healthy and active for longer.
FSIWS: Tim, until 2018 you were a track and field athlete on the German junior national team. To what extent did that influence the founding of your company?
Even during my time as a competitive athlete, nutrition was incredibly important to me. For breakfast, I always had a mixed muesli with fruit because it provides many essential nutrients that athletes need. However, I found most muesli mixes quite boring and not particularly appealing in terms of taste. So, I wanted to develop a ready-made muesli that also covered the most important nutrients and was sustainable – but also tasted good. I think
we've done a pretty good job of that. My athletes certainly don't want to be without it anymore.
What is behind the term "spent grain"?
Spent grain is a byproduct of the brewing process. After mashing (editor's note: the mixing of water and grain as a step in beer production), the solids are separated from the liquids in the lauter tun. What remains is the so-called spent grain, which contains many valuable nutrients. Naturally alcohol-free!
Why should you choose spent grain muesli?
There are many reasons. First, sustainability: After hundreds of test bakes, we've managed to increase the spent grain content in our muesli to over 25 percent. The main ingredient in our product is therefore a by-product that hasn't yet found any use in the food industry – even though it's incredibly interesting from a nutritional point of view. The second reason is quite simply the taste: We've developed a special roasting process for our muesli that allows for the formation of many flavor compounds. It's no coincidence that our slogan is: "Roasted, aromatic, flavorful.".
*Translation: "That has something about it, it's capable of something, and it's also good!"
