We’re looking forward to introducing you to Manuel (Mac) Villarreal. Check out our conversation below.
Manuel (Mac), so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve been finding the most joy in the simple, everyday moments. Spending time with my family has been a huge source of happiness — whether it’s taking my kids to their afternoon classes, playing a little pickleball for fun, or sitting down to dinner with my wife and sharing stories about our day. Those moments remind me of what really matters, and they give me the energy and perspective to show up fully in every other part of my life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
People don’t usually expect an Olympic sailor to end up making soup. But that’s where life led me — and I couldn’t be prouder.
For years, my world revolved around competition, structure, and peak performance. I knew what it meant to train hard and fuel smart. But everything shifted when I moved to the U.S. and became a father. Suddenly, the stakes weren’t about medals anymore — they were about being present, healthy, and strong for my family. That shift made me see food differently. I started asking: Why is eating healthy so difficult when life gets busy? Why are nutritious options often the most inconvenient — or the most bland? Why do we settle for food that fills us but doesn’t really fuel us?
Eventually, I realized the answer wasn’t out there — so I decided to create it.
I started I Eat My Greens with one goal: to make truly nourishing food for people who are juggling everything else. Food that feels like a warm hug from someone who genuinely cares. Food that doesn’t just check a “healthy” box, but actually brings joy.
The inspiration? My grandmother. Her soups were legendary in our family. Every week, she’d make big pots of soup using whatever was fresh and in season. It was the kind of food that made you feel whole. After moving to the U.S., I missed that feeling more than I expected.
So I asked myself: What if we could bring that homemade magic to more people — in a way that fits real life?
Building this wasn’t easy. We were told refrigerated soup would be a hard sell. That shelf-stable would be easier. That natural ingredients wouldn’t scale. That people wouldn’t care enough. But I couldn’t accept that. Because I do believe people care.They care about what they feed their kids. They care about feeling strong, aging well, having energy.They care about food that supports them — not just fills them.They just haven’t always had the right options.
To me, nourishing change means fighting for those better options. It means challenging the idea that convenience and quality can’t go together.
It means showing that delicious and healthy don’t have to be opposites. And it means believing that small choices — even something as simple as soup — can spark something bigger. When someone chooses I Eat My Greens, I want them to feel two things: energized and cared for. Because food should be more than just fuel. It should be connection. Comfort. A quiet reminder to care for ourselves and the people we love.
That’s why I chose soup. Because in a world that’s always rushing, a warm bowl of something real can remind us to slow down, enjoy the moment, and keep going — with a full heart and a full belly.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Without a doubt, my dad. He showed me that hard work always pays off and that no dream is out of reach if you believe in yourself. Even though my parents traveled often, they instilled in me the belief that the sky’s the limit, that the only barrier to what I could achieve was what I thought I was capable of.
I deeply admire the way my dad led his teams, always learning, always building a strong foundation. He balanced work and family with grace, proving that everything is possible when you prioritize what truly matters.
Most of all, he taught me the power of showing up — through the challenges, through the mistakes, through the wins. Because in the end, mistakes are what teach us, while accomplishments simply remind us of what we already knew we could do.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, many times. Especially in the early days, when I founded the company, and even more so during Covid. Sales were slow, growth was very slow early on, and although there were small wins, the numbers weren’t enough to keep us afloat. The path was full of doubt.
But little by little, milestones began to arrive, modest at first, yet powerful enough to keep nurturing the seed of this company. What truly made the difference was perseverance: refusing to give up and, most importantly, surrounding myself with talented people who believed in this vision. I learned that without a team, you have nothing, and that true leadership means guiding them with clarity, trust, and purpose.
Today we continue to grow and explore new opportunities, and when I look back, I know it was those difficult moments that forged the strength to stand where we are today and to continue to pursue even more ambitious goals.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
For me, it will always be family. Growing up in Mexico, surrounded by a big, noisy, loving family, I learned early on that family is the heart of who we are. My parents, my siblings, my uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, each one different, yet those differences are exactly what make us stronger together. That’s our superpower.
My parents taught me to care for one another, to protect and support each other no matter what. They showed me that family isn’t just important — it’s everything. Even as life takes us to different corners of the world, I know that home will always be there, a safe place not only for me but also for my wife, my kids, and my siblings. That is the kind of gift you never take for granted.
I feel deeply blessed to have the family I do, and to be Mexican. There is nothing like the warmth of Mexico — the community, the kindness, the way you feel at home wherever you go. It’s in our blood, it’s in our hearts, and it’s something I will always carry proudly.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What pain do you resist facing directly?
For me, it’s difficult and uncomfortable conversations, especially in the workplace. I tend to avoid them, and I know that sometimes it takes me too long to face them. When I have to bring up something hard with my team or with others, it feels daunting. Yet I’ve also learned that avoiding them is like a snowball: it only grows until it eventually crashes.
I’m working on being less afraid of these conversations, because I know they are essential for growth. They open the door to clarity, to agreements, and to moving forward in the best way possible. When I delay them, the stress builds. But when I face them head-on, that weight disappears, and I find peace knowing that I’ve resolved it.
It’s not easy, but I remind myself that courage is built in these small, uncomfortable moments. And on the other side of them is freedom, growth, and stronger relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ieatmygreens.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ieat.mygreens/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-eat-my-greens/?trk=ppro_cprof&originalSubdomain=mx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iEatMyGreens/
