Meet Mac Villarreal

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mac Villarreal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mac, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I moved from Mexico to this amazing country ten years ago with a big dream: to make healthy food accessible to everyone. My background as an Olympic athlete, where I competed in sailing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, showed me how important good nutrition is for both performance and overall well-being. Starting I Eat My Greens was a personal mission. As a husband and dad of three, I know how tough it can be to keep up a healthy diet with a busy family life. This challenge, along with my love for nutritious food, pushed me to create something that could help others too.
Before this, I built and sold a juice brand in Mexico. Through that experience, I made great connections with hard working farmers, many of whom are women. I saw a chance to continue supporting these amazing people while providing fresh, healthy, and convenient food options.
Our team at I Eat My Greens is super diverse and includes over 50% women. We’ve developed strong bonds with our farmers, who have become friends. Together, we’ve created a line of plant-based soups that are ready in just 90 seconds. Made with clean, whole food ingredients, these soups can be used as a sauce, base, or a meal, making it easy to get your veggies in.
Our soups bring the comfort of home-cooked meals, just like the ones made by our moms and grandmas. Being able to offer this kind of food while making a positive impact on our community and the planet is what keeps me going every day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has been a journey fueled by passion, resilience, and a commitment to healthy living. Competing in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 as a sailor was a pivotal moment in my life. It was during that time I realized the crucial role nutrition plays in performance and overall well-being. This realization planted the seed for what would eventually become I Eat My Greens. After the Olympics, transitioning from an athlete to an entrepreneur was far from easy. The world of business presented a whole new set of challenges. From understanding market demands to building a brand from the ground up, every step required learning and adaptation. What sets me apart is the athlete’s mindset – the determination to push through obstacles and the discipline to keep striving for excellence.
One of the most significant challenges was breaking into the highly competitive food industry. I had to prove that our soups weren’t just another product on the shelf but a genuinely healthy, delicious, and convenient option for people. The key was staying true to our values of minimal processing and chef-crafted quality, which resonated with our customers.
I’m incredibly proud of how far I Eat My Greens has come. Seeing our soups in the fridge area of prestigious retailers like Sprouts, the frozen section at Wegmans, and many local stores is a testament to our hard work and dedication. But what excites me most is the impact we’re making on people’s lives. Hearing stories from customers about how our soups have become a staple in their healthy eating routine is incredibly rewarding.
Throughout this journey, I’ve learned the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and staying true to your mission. There were times when the path seemed unclear, but believing in the value of our product and the difference it could make kept us moving forward.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’ll start with the best tacos outside of Mexico at Tacos El Gordo, especially after catching a baseball game at Petco Park. Then, we’ll head to Little Italy for a meal at Crack Shack and grab a beer at Ballast Point. We can explore Point Loma by biking around the San Diego Bay and enjoy fish tacos and seafood at Point Loma Seafoods. After that, we’ll visit Liberty Station and take a walk at Sunset Cliffs. A day of sailing awaits us at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center, where we can rent a sailboat. For some water adventure, we’ll go surfing and kayaking in La Jolla, and enjoy some delicious Mexican seafood at La Corriente. In the evening, we can dine with a view at Viewpoint Brewery in Del Mar.
To wrap up, we’ll bike along 101 Main Street in Encinitas, have a bite in East Village, and relax at Moonlight Beach, Cardiff Beach, and Seaside Beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today. They instilled in me the importance of being a responsible person and the immense value of education. They emphasized the significance of taking on responsibilities willingly, without feeling forced, fostering a sense of autonomy and individuality. My father, in particular, was instrumental in teaching me about leadership. He showed me how to navigate difficult situations with composure and emphasized the value of hard work and entrepreneurship. His guidance was always geared toward finding innovative solutions and thinking outside the box. My grandfather was a significant influence on my entrepreneurial spirit. He demonstrated that it’s possible to create something meaningful from scratch and highlighted the importance of family. He taught me how to balance my professional and personal life, achieving harmony between the two.
My cousin Jorge is one of the most intelligent people I know. His work ethic and approach to life always pushed me to improve myself. He taught me the importance of working smart rather than hard, avoiding burnout by being efficient and strategic. Jorge’s example showed me how to be an excellent partner in any endeavor.
Early in my career, I found inspiration from Seth Godin, an author whose book “Purple Cow” motivated me to create my first product. His insights into standing out in the marketplace were invaluable. Additionally, Kevin Roberts, another influential author, taught me about the power of branding and the critical role of human connection. He emphasized that emotional decisions often carry more weight than rational ones in human behavior, a lesson that has deeply impacted my approach to decision-making and marketing.

Website: https://ieatmygreens.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ieat.mygreens/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-eat-my-greens/