April 5th, 2025 | by Vikki Krinsky
Vikki is a woman of many talents- from rising soccer star, to actress, to professional chef, to founder of her own energy bar company, VK Energy Bar. Vikki's Quench’d story shares her unique life journey from the soccer fields to Hollywood sets and what she learned in cinema that led her back to her roots of fueling performance sports.
Vikki is a woman of many talents- from rising soccer star, to actress, to professional chef, to founder of her own energy bar company, VK Energy Bar. Vikki's Quench’d story shares her unique life journey from the soccer fields to Hollywood sets and what she learned in cinema that led her back to her roots of fueling performance sports.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, my childhood was built on passion, grit, and competition. As the youngest of three, I looked up to my two older brothers, who were both athletes. We were all introduced to soccer at a very young age and I dreamed of going pro for as long as I can remember.
Let me back up.
At five years old, my parents made the decision to immigrate to Canada, bringing with them an unshakable work ethic. My father had to start from scratch, which resulted in significant financial stress. I witnessed them rebuild their lives, and I absorbed the invaluable lesson of resilience. Their drive to succeed became my drive to contribute. This determination, paired with my passion for soccer, laid the foundation for my discipline and resilience. At 15, everything changed. A lead role in a school play grabbed the attention of an agent, and suddenly I was walking into auditions and landing commercials. Acting was never part of my plan, yet the opportunities it offered were undeniable. The financial benefits allowed me to help contribute at home and, even at that young age, I felt as if this was a gift.
However, this new path presented a crossroads. U.S. college soccer coaches were scouting our division, but I had just booked a TV series filming in Toronto. I had to make a choice: pursue my dream of playing soccer or step into the world of television. I chose the latter, leaving soccer behind to move across the country and immerse myself in acting. For years, I was in front of the camera, living a life I hadn’t anticipated. But the pressures of TV—especially regarding my body—were difficult to ignore. The industry demanded that I lose muscle and shrink myself into an unrealistic mold. It was not just frustrating, but confusing. When my show wasn’t renewed for a third season, I made the decision to move to LA, where the expectation to be thin was felt more intensely than ever. At 19, I went on a solo backpacking journey through Europe. Early in the trip, on a train, I met a chef who would inadvertently change the course of my life. Over the course of several months, he introduced me to chefs allowing me to stage (interned) at European restaurants, immersing myself in fine dining while learning how food could be both an art and a science.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, my childhood was built on passion, grit, and competition. As the youngest of three, I looked up to my two older brothers, who were both athletes. We were all introduced to soccer at a very young age and I dreamed of going pro for as long as I can remember.
Let me back up.
At five years old, my parents made the decision to immigrate to Canada, bringing with them an unshakable work ethic. My father had to start from scratch, which resulted in significant financial stress. I witnessed them rebuild their lives, and I absorbed the invaluable lesson of resilience. Their drive to succeed became my drive to contribute. This determination, paired with my passion for soccer, laid the foundation for my discipline and resilience. At 15, everything changed. A lead role in a school play grabbed the attention of an agent, and suddenly I was walking into auditions and landing commercials. Acting was never part of my plan, yet the opportunities it offered were undeniable. The financial benefits allowed me to help contribute at home and, even at that young age, I felt as if this was a gift.
However, this new path presented a crossroads. U.S. college soccer coaches were scouting our division, but I had just booked a TV series filming in Toronto. I had to make a choice: pursue my dream of playing soccer or step into the world of television. I chose the latter, leaving soccer behind to move across the country and immerse myself in acting. For years, I was in front of the camera, living a life I hadn’t anticipated. But the pressures of TV—especially regarding my body—were difficult to ignore. The industry demanded that I lose muscle and shrink myself into an unrealistic mold. It was not just frustrating, but confusing. When my show wasn’t renewed for a third season, I made the decision to move to LA, where the expectation to be thin was felt more intensely than ever. At 19, I went on a solo backpacking journey through Europe. Early in the trip, on a train, I met a chef who would inadvertently change the course of my life. Over the course of several months, he introduced me to chefs allowing me to stage (interned) at European restaurants, immersing myself in fine dining while learning how food could be both an art and a science.
Returning to LA, I found a new way to channel my passion by working at Equinox as a personal trainer. This role kept me connected to sports while I continued to explore my culinary interests. A chance opportunity arose when a client’s wife was starting a private chef business. Despite having no formal training, I applied and was embraced for my work ethic and genuine passion. At 19, I began serving high-profile clients, many of whom struggled with the same body image pressures I had once faced in Hollywood. Cooking for these celebrities wasn’t just about preparing meals—it was about forging connections and supporting their health and well-being.
Then came a pivotal moment on set. One client was experiencing acid reflux from too much caffeine, so we eliminated it from his routine. A nurse began administering Vitamin B12 shots to help manage his symptoms. In that moment, I realized there was a gap in the market—a need for a clean, vitamin-powered snack that didn’t rely on chemicals or artificial additives.
Motivated by that light bulb moment, I embarked on developing a pure, plant-based energy bar. I worked tirelessly, using every resource available—even my client’s 24-hour security team—to test and fine-tune the perfect dosage of B12 for sustained energy. After a year and a half of dedicated experimentation, I finally had a chef-crafted energy bar packed with vitamins and high-quality ingredients.
Returning to LA, I found a new way to channel my passion by working at Equinox as a personal trainer. This role kept me connected to sports while I continued to explore my culinary interests. A chance opportunity arose when a client’s wife was starting a private chef business. Despite having no formal training, I applied and was embraced for my work ethic and genuine passion. At 19, I began serving high-profile clients, many of whom struggled with the same body image pressures I had once faced in Hollywood. Cooking for these celebrities wasn’t just about preparing meals—it was about forging connections and supporting their health and well-being.
Then came a pivotal moment on set. One client was experiencing acid reflux from too much caffeine, so we eliminated it from his routine. A nurse began administering Vitamin B12 shots to help manage his symptoms. In that moment, I realized there was a gap in the market—a need for a clean, vitamin-powered snack that didn’t rely on chemicals or artificial additives.
Motivated by that light bulb moment, I embarked on developing a pure, plant-based energy bar. I worked tirelessly, using every resource available—even my client’s 24-hour security team—to test and fine-tune the perfect dosage of B12 for sustained energy. After a year and a half of dedicated experimentation, I finally had a chef-crafted energy bar packed with vitamins and high-quality ingredients.
Yet, launching this product was not straightforward. In 2020, just two months before COVID hit, my mother—my best friend—was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Life came to a halt, and I moved to be with her, shuttling between Canada and the U.S. My launch was humble: an email to 2,000 contacts and a basic website built by my brother, fulfilling orders out of a single room in the house. Despite the emotional turmoil, my mother’s unwavering confidence and loving encouragement pushed me to persevere. To my surprise, orders started coming in, and my little business was off to a promising start.
Yet, launching this product was not straightforward. In 2020, just two months before COVID hit, my mother—my best friend—was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Life came to a halt, and I moved to be with her, shuttling between Canada and the U.S. My launch was humble: an email to 2,000 contacts and a basic website built by my brother, fulfilling orders out of a single room in the house. Despite the emotional turmoil, my mother’s unwavering confidence and loving encouragement pushed me to persevere. To my surprise, orders started coming in, and my little business was off to a promising start.
As my mom miraculously fought through stage 4 ovarian cancer and travel restrictions eased, I found a new passion in training for Ironman 70.3 triathlons—a challenge reminiscent of my soccer days. I immersed myself in research, training, and studying nutrition, realizing that many endurance products were laden with maltodextrin and artificial fillers. I knew there had to be a better way. My energy bar evolved from a clean nutritional snack into a performance tool, designed to fuel athletes without the crash or digestive issues.
Looking back, every twist and turn—growing up watching my parents’ resilience, leaving soccer for Hollywood, diving into fine dining, and pushing my limits in endurance sports—led me to this moment. My passions aligned, and I began creating something bigger than myself. Today, I proudly stand behind a product born from the experiences of an athlete, chef, and performance-driven innovator.
This energy bar is more than just a snack—it’s my life’s work. It represents the synthesis of hard work, relentless determination, and the belief that what we eat can fuel not just our bodies, but our dreams.
As my mom miraculously fought through stage 4 ovarian cancer and travel restrictions eased, I found a new passion in training for Ironman 70.3 triathlons—a challenge reminiscent of my soccer days. I immersed myself in research, training, and studying nutrition, realizing that many endurance products were laden with maltodextrin and artificial fillers. I knew there had to be a better way. My energy bar evolved from a clean nutritional snack into a performance tool, designed to fuel athletes without the crash or digestive issues.
Looking back, every twist and turn—growing up watching my parents’ resilience, leaving soccer for Hollywood, diving into fine dining, and pushing my limits in endurance sports—led me to this moment. My passions aligned, and I began creating something bigger than myself. Today, I proudly stand behind a product born from the experiences of an athlete, chef, and performance-driven innovator.
This energy bar is more than just a snack—it’s my life’s work. It represents the synthesis of hard work, relentless determination, and the belief that what we eat can fuel not just our bodies, but our dreams.
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