Have questions?

Yes, and that rests on real evidence, not marketing. Step One Foods was developed by a preventive cardiologist and tested in a randomized controlled trial conducted with Mayo Clinic and the University of Manitoba, held to the same standard as a pharmaceutical trial. In that study, 80% of participants lowered their LDL cholesterol within 30 days while eating two servings a day. Every serving delivers precise, clinically meaningful amounts of the nutrients shown to lower cholesterol and support cardiovascular health.

Step One Foods was founded by Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a practicing preventive cardiologist. She created the line for her own patients — people who wanted to do something about their cholesterol through food, before or alongside medication. Every product reflects that clinical origin.

Most "heart healthy" labels are marketing claims, not clinical results. Step One is different on two counts. First, it is designed like a combination therapy: whole-food fiber, plant sterols, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that lower cholesterol through several pathways at once, in the amounts used in our trial. Second, that trial actually happened — Step One Foods is backed by a published, peer-reviewed clinical trial demonstrating statistically significant LDL reduction. Claims are easy. Proof is rare.

Cholesterol can respond quickly. In our trial, most people saw a meaningful change within 30 days. Benefits to blood sugar and weight tend to build more gradually with continued use. And unlike a medication with a fixed ceiling, the LDL benefit is progressive — it continues as you keep eating this way.

It's built to be simple. Eat two servings of Step One Foods a day in place of something you're already eating — breakfast, a snack, dessert. That's it. No extra dietary rules, no required workouts, no counting. The substitution is the strategy.

No prescription required. These are foods — bars, oatmeal, smoothie mixes, and more — that you eat as part of your normal day. Two servings a day is all it takes.

No. Step One works by replacing a couple of the things you already eat each day, not by overhauling everything. You're not taking on a new chore; you're swapping in something that happens to be working for your heart while you enjoy it.

Absolutely. The ingredients are whole foods with well-documented benefits for heart health and overall well-being. Plenty of people eat Step One simply because it's a genuinely healthy addition to the day.

Yes — in fact, they work well together. Statins lower cholesterol by blocking its production in the liver, while Step One Foods works largely on the absorption side, so combining the two produces an additive effect and can help you reach your goal faster. Never stop a prescribed statin on your own, though. The best approach is to keep taking it, add two servings a day, retest your cholesterol after about 30 days, and let your provider help you decide whether anything should change from there.

They can. The fiber, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats help you feel full and keep blood sugar steadier, and because you're substituting Step One for other foods, most people take in fewer calories. The products are also low in sodium and rich in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, which supports healthy blood pressure.

Cholesterol levels naturally rise during pregnancy, but intentional cholesterol lowering — whether through food, supplements, or medication — has not been formally studied during gestation, so this is a conversation to have with your clinician.

Unapologetically delicious. Like food you'd actually choose to eat. We use the finest whole-food ingredients — Belgian chocolate, walnuts, almonds, pecans — and leave out the additives, preservatives, and isolates. There's enough variety across the line to find several you look forward to, and every product is satisfaction-guaranteed.

Nutritionally, they're interchangeable. Every product delivers clinically meaningful amounts of whole-food fiber, omega-3s, antioxidants, and plant sterols in a single-serve portion. Choose based on taste, texture, and how you like to eat — there's no wrong pick.

Every Step One product is made exclusively with certified gluten-free and non-GMO ingredients. Most contain tree nuts, and our Barbecue Puffs are the one nut-free option. The Pancake Mix contains egg whites, and the Peanut & Almond Nut Butter as well as the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar contain peanuts.

The entire Step One Foods line is available exclusively online at steponefoods.com, with some products also available on Amazon.com. This allows us to reach people who need our solutions, regardless of where they live or what retail stores are present in their communities.

Yes. Because Step One Foods is formulated to help manage a diagnosed condition, it's typically eligible for HSA and FSA spending with a Letter of Medical Necessity. You can pay with your HSA/FSA card right at checkout through Flex, or buy normally and submit your receipts for reimbursement. See Your HSA/FSA at Step One Foods for the details, including how the Letter of Medical Necessity works.

Ground shipping is free on U.S. orders of $99 or more. For orders under $99, shipping is calculated by the carrier based on order size. We ship via USPS and FedEx.

Most orders ship within 24 business hours from Minneapolis, MN. Transit time depends on the carrier and your location, but it's usually under six days. You'll receive tracking by email as soon as your order ships.

Yes. If chocolate softens in transit, just refrigerate it for an hour after it arrives and it firms right back up, with no change in nutrition or quality. If you'd prefer, an insulated mailer with ice packs is available for an additional $12; those orders ship Monday through Wednesday.

Plan membership is free, and it's the best value — plan members save 20% on every order. Just choose "Subscribe & Save" when you add products to your cart. Your plan is completely flexible: log in, open the Account tab, and choose "Manage Plan" to change products, quantities, or frequency, or to pause, anytime with no fees. You'll also get an email three days before each order processes, so there's always time to make edits. Prefer that we handle it? Email or call us and we'll take care of it for you.

You may not have activated your online login yet. Email customer.support@steponefoods.com or call (952) 303-4265 and we'll get you set up.

We stand behind every order. If you don't love one of your choices, we'll exchange it or refund it — no fuss. The guarantee covers first-time orders, up to one month's worth of food, with refund requests made within 90 days of purchase. Just email customer.support@steponefoods.com or call (952) 303-4265, and if an order hasn't shipped yet we can cancel it for you as well.

First, know that you've still done something meaningful: adding 10 grams of fiber a day — the amount in two servings of Step One — is associated with a 14% lower risk of heart events and a 27% lower risk of dying from heart disease. But if you don't see the cholesterol response you were hoping for, we'll refund what you paid for the products, up to one month's worth. That's how confident we are in the science.