W O M E N
I N
B U S I N E S S
Candra George Candra George is a
champion, an advocate, a mentor and a coach. She’s also a storyteller.
Ingrid Rinck
“As a documentary photographer, I
Passionate is the best way
tell the stories of strong women to
to describe Sensible Meals creator
empower girls to be them.”
Ingrid Rinck. After working for over
With a keen photographer’s
20 years in the health and fitness
eye and a camera, Candra George
industries, she embarked on a
began The OWEL Project—Ordinary
new journey as an entrepreneur.
Women, Extraordinary Lives—an all-
Like many women, the impetus for her new direction was family. When her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune
volunteer organization focused on educating young women on life skills geared toward personal, professional and emotional growth. She says, “Our mission is
disease, Rinck learned everything she could about nutrition and controlling his
to be the source for role models, mentorship and money—to showcase to girls all
health through food. She altered her family’s diet in keeping with that research
of the opportunities and careers available. We aim to equip them with real-life
and lost weight herself. Her portion-controlled meals led to the creation of
applications and the guidance needed to have a solid foundation in life.”
Sensible Meals, which now employs over 1,200 people locally in Mandeville
OWEL supports young women in ways that middle and high schools
and helps tens of thousands across the country lose weight, regain confidence
often miss. Experts (the OWELs) teach, mentor and coach on topics like career
and reach optimal health.
exploration, study habits, health and wellness, conflict resolution, résumé
Sensible Meals has helped clients face challenges such as diabetes, PCOS
writing, how to interview for a job, how to get internships and money for
and heart disease. Many had tried every diet in the market before Sensible
college, among others. Candra’s motivation for OWEL stemmed from being
Meals gave them the results they were looking for. All diets succeed through
surrounded and impacted by strong, amazing women over the years. She
the same fundamental calorie deficit, but this program provides built-in
also wanted to show her nieces all the options they had—and broaden their
indulgence meals to keep them on track, reaching goals before they quit. “We
perspectives. “I want them—and all girls—to understand that no matter where
focus on moderation, not deprivation,” she states. The program is affordable
they come from, what their childhood looks like, what celebrities, or even their
and the company offers live assistance 12 hours a day.
families, they can accomplish greatness.”
Sensible Meals and Rinck have received numerous awards over the years,
Today, The OWEL Project offers private, one-on-one consultations to high
including Top Meal Prep, Top Weight-loss Company, Inside New Orleans and
school and college students and workshops for girls ages 12-22. The highlight
Inside Northside’s Women IN Business, “Northshore’s Best,” Enterprising Woman
of the workshops are the group discussion panels where community leaders
of the Year, St. Tammany Professional Women’s Woman of the Year, Face of
answer questions submitted by attendees. Parents get resources and attend
Weight Loss and Top Health Food this year alone! Her passion for helping people
classes on communicating with teens. The OWEL Project also has a heart for
is the driving force behind the success of her business. Rinck is a generous
girls aging out of foster care, providing support and resources.
sponsor to many charities with a special focus on juvenile diabetes including
Candra credits much of OWEL’s success to her phenomenal team. “These
funding for research, summer camps and medical supplies. She is also the
women are engineers, educators, therapists, doctors, entrepreneurs, soldiers,
founder of the Leading Ladies League, a charity organization that gathers ladies
artists, even a political oceanographer and a submarine designer! They have
for festive themed lunches to raise funds for local women in need.
experience overcoming poverty, addiction, abuse and disease and include
Because of Rinck’s leadership, business savvy and philanthropic spirit, Sensible Meals continues to thrive—keeping customers and our local economy healthy.
caretakers, cancer survivors and single moms. They are world changers.” Changing the world for girls, one at a time.
Find out more at EatSensibleMeals.com @sensiblemeals and @ingridrinck 52
Inside Northside
For more information, visit theowelproject.com.