Today, she is a food formulator and CEO of Kids Need Us Now Inc. (Methuen, Mass.), a company she founded after stumbling upon a potential solution to learning disabilities in children. In 1996, while attending a lecture by Barry Sears, M.D., a health guru popular for establishing the Zone Diet, Thomas learned that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are concentrated heavily in specific tissues of the brain and eye. A deficiency of these essential fatty acids (EFA) can delay cognitive development in children, reducing their capacity to learn. “We have high rates of children who have 'ADHD' when--really--these kids are severely deficient in EFAs and eat a high amount of carbs,” says Thomas.
In response, Thomas' company created Nature's Mighty Bites Soft Serve Ice Cream, a lactose-free dessert that substitutes as a nutritious meal complete with omega-3 fatty acids from pharmaceutical-grade microencapsulated fish oil and monounsaturated fat from canola oil. Nature's Mighty Bites offers over 200 flavors. This heart-healthy ice cream is appropriate for even diabetics, says Thomas.