Mum’s sugar free solution to bake a cake for her diabetic son goes global

FROM it’s start in her West Pennant Hills kitchen, Melinda Mackay’s Sugar Free Solutions company now exports to the Middle East and South East Asia. She’s now looking to other markets.

Melinda Mackay, the director of company Sugar Sweet Solutions, which was inspired by her son Josh. Pictures: Peter Kelly

• Toxins, asbestos fears at site near school
• Don’t feed your dragons kale
• So, you want to date your co-worker
• Welcome to Wanderland

MELINDA Mackay’s Sugar Free Solutions company has evolved since the West Pennant Hills mother baked a sugar free cake for 12-year-old diabetic son.

Her Sugar Free Solutions cake and muffin mixes outgrew the family home some time ago and are now being exported to the Middle East and South East Asia where diabetes is a major problem.

Josh, the youngest of Melinda and Ed’s three sons was devastated when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

He started to have up to 10 insulin injections a day and his diet had to change rapidly to keep his blood sugar level under control.

“I was trying to find things I could bake for him without using sugar,” said Mrs Mackay.

“It was a matter of getting it right for Josh. There was a lot of trial and error.”

Melinda Mackay runs Sugar Fee Solutions from her home in West Pennant Hills.

Sugar Fee Solutions has been exporting to the Middle East and South East Asia.

At the time of the diagnosis she was running her own cafe, Ginger Nuts, at Thompson’s Corner but gave it away to concentrate on her son and his new routine.

She had her kitchen certified and started mixing and packing at her own home before demand grew.

The couple’s older sons, Ben and Alec are also involved in the company which has won high praise from State Trade Minister Stuart Ayers.

The company was one of 6000 exhibitors at the NSW stand at the Gulf Expo in Dubai which kickstarted orders from several countries in the Middle East. Mrs Mackay said they were now exploring other markets.

The mixes have half the carbohydrates of regular cakes and used natural plant based sweeteners.

“We work on very small margins because we want to get it to the people who need it,” said Mrs Mackay.

Sugar Free Solutions have two cake mixes and two muffin mixes.

Visit the website sugarfreesolutions.com.au

You can say goodbye to this with Sugar Free Solutions. Picture: iStock.

Sugar cane farmers are probably not happy with sugar free cakes though. Picture: Brendan Radke.

IN OTHER NEWS — Musical Cockatoo Practices Her Vocal Exercises

HARLEY the cockatoo clearly works hard to keep her vocal chords in good shape. She should try out for a singing competition, as her smooth voice is such a delight to listen to. Credit: YouTube/Harley the Cockatoo