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Local Youth Group Aiming To Reduce Obesity With New Snack

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A youth-led non-profit brought their specially made breakfast bars to customers at a West Philadelphia grocery store on Thursday, and the kids are hoping to get them on the shelves.

Rebel Crumbles are an all-natural breakfast snack cake packed with cranberries, apples, and other goodness.

"It wasn't too sweet, it was moist," says Inez Eyo, a customer at Brown's ShopRite Parkside, who bought four packs of Crumbles at a $1.50 each.

"I read about them in Sunday's paper," she says, "and I like their story, so I wanted to support them."

The story definitely is unusual. Rebel Crumbles is a product of Rebel Ventures, a non-profit run by Philadelphia students supervised by the Netter Center at Penn.

Rebel Crumbles
Close up of product . (credit: Cherri Gregg)

Their goal is to provide a healthy food option for breakfast, while educating high school kids on entrepreneurship.

"We learn about budgeting and marketing- our standards," says Yadirah Dunbar, a 10th grader who works for Rebel four days a week.

She helps make, package, and sell the crumbles to the school district during the school year. Now the non-profit is hoping to sell it to the masses.

"It's very good," she says, "I like them, plus I like that we are helping prevent obesity."

"They've been very, very busy this morning," says Sandy Brown, who handles branding for Brown Super Stores.

The company owns seven grocery stores in the area and looks for opportunities to partner with community groups.

Rebel Ventures customers
Rebel Ventures members talking to customer. (credit: Cherri Gregg)

"We want to see if this is a viable product that we can sell everyday," says Brown, "and we are thrilled to be able to see if we can partner with this group."

Several young Rebel Venture employees set up two tables in the store. They had product samples and by 11:30 A.M., had sold more than 100 Rebel Crumbles.

"There's no guarantee that we'll make it to the shelves," says 20-year-old Kevin Dunbar. "But every time someone comes over and supports by buying the product, it gives us hope."

Dunbar started with Rebel Ventures when he was in 12th grade. He's now in college, but came back to help this summer.

"I've learned so much," he says, "this is helping me to be a better leader."

"They did a wonderful job," says Florence Viarm, "it's good, it's really good, and I'm a picky eater."

For more on Rebel Ventures, you can go to https://www.rvcrew.com/.

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