My name is Amanda. I'm the founder of Amanda's Restaurants.

As my friends know, I've never had a hard time starting the day out right. I get up early (you don't want to know how early), sometimes have a snack, go for a run or yoga class, and have a healthy fruit or veggie juice smoothie. But after that, my wholesome day can fall apart. Running around from meeting to meeting, I want to eat well, but usually find myself snacking on muffins, vending machine items, or going to In-N-Out Burger for lunch or dinner. It's hard to find a trustworthy place where I can buy a crave-able meal that tastes great and energizes me.

I believe people across the country face the same problem daily. I became obsessed with creating the solution -- something that addresses the fact that most of us crave hamburgers and french fries, but we often feel bad physically and emotionally after eating them. My idea for a new kind of restaurant was spurred on by the film Super Size Me and the book Fast Food Nation. We clearly need something that has that "Feel Good Fast Food" feeling - food that is delicious, quick, convenient, fun, and familiar, and when Amanda's opens we will have it!

I read Tom Chappel's book in college (he's the founder of Tom's of Maine, the personal care products company), and knew that I would someday follow his path to lead a company that respected the environment and employees. I'm thrilled that I now have the opportunity to do this by creating a terrific workplace and adopting sustainable practices.

I'm lucky to have parents who have also inspired me.Not only are they the bright people who came up with this restaurant name, they also raised me to be healthy and share health with others. My mom taught me to cook simple, healthy meals and to use sugar, butter, and salt sparingly. My dad set an example for daily exercise even while running a business, and my stepmom showed me the value of level-headedness.

I want to help make the world well through great tasting, quick food, and a healthy community. I hope you will join the Amanda's community. Please start by contributing to our marketing plan. Once we open, come have a natural meat hamburger, baked fries, or salad, tell your friends, and perhaps even share your wellness learnings with our customers.



Amanda volunteering on Earth Day

Amanda's team volunteering on Earth Day

Amanda and Lauren Bass (intern) at the future Amanda's site

Amanda's new landlords

Celebrating the lease signing