LAC LA BICHE - She may only be eight years old, but London Miller has established herself as a dedicated young entrepreneur.
The Lac La Biche youngster is the creator of her own unique product called Energy Bites, a tasty and healthy concoction of peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips, chia seeds, flax, oatmeal, and coconut - compiled into a snack-sized ball.
She even has a name for her small enterprise, London’s Energy Bites, and these tasty treats can be found for sale at the Lac La Biche Farmer’s Market every few weeks.
“I called them Energy Bites because they give you energy – they give me energy to dance,” London told Lakeland This Week. London is also a dancer with Northern Beat Dance Academy.
A need to make money to support the activity she enjoys prompted London to start making products. Dancing, she explained, is an expensive pursuit. Therefore, she wanted to sell something to raise money to pay for her dance fees and decided that energy bites would be the way to go.
Regarding the process she uses to make her energy bites, London explained that she measures the ingredients, and her father helps her roll them - because that is the hardest part.
London’s Energy Bites have become popular among people in the community, who regularly reach out to her mother, Chenee Miller, inquiring about when her daughter will be back at the local farmers market with her product.
“Customers have really enjoyed her Energy Bites, but we also live in the most wonderful community where people want to go out of their way to support London’s aspirations of being a dancer… one of the many reasons Lac La Biche is so special, and I truly am so grateful,” Chenee explained.
Chenee continued by saying the experience has been good for her daughter as it has helped her with money math. The mother-daughter duo shop for the ingredients together, Chenee said, while London sells her product, takes the money, and gives the change.
“She has also become a lot more confident in her conversational skills, exchanging small talk with customers at her table and telling them about her Energy Bites,” said Chenee. She is a believer that young people should develop entrepreneurship skills, and it is important for parents to teach their children that not everything is going to be given to them for free.
“Parents need to build their entrepreneurial spirit at a young ag,” said Chenee.