How Community Helps This Healthy Entrepreneur Succeed

Michelle Rubinstein knows how to hustle and make things happen on her own. While getting her master’s degree in nutrition and education and teaching cooking classes, she co-founded Little Patches, a New York City-based baby clothing and accessories company. But before that, when deciding her next career move, she enrolled in Nutritious Life Studio’s Certification Program, and doing so connected her to a network of other movers and shakers that helped her succeed. “The community has made a long-lasting impact on me,” she says, “and the segments on how to build your brand and interact with clients have, too.” She shared more about how the program and how the community influenced her path, and the healthy habits that have kept her energized along the way. NLS Success: Michelle Rubinstein What inspired you to enroll in the Nutritious Life Studio? I was considering going back to school to become an RD and wanted to learn more about nutrition, Keri’s approach, and how to build a business. What was your favorite lesson, and why? When Keri took us through the intake form—a very thorough one that accounts for client behavior and food preferences—I felt that was the most valuable tool and takeaway. A master’s or even undergrad degree may teach future RDs most of what they need to know in terms of material and research, but when it comes to putting the information to use and actually practicing, I believe many wish they felt more confident and familiar with counseling/coaching/client interaction. NLS offered this support through the lessons and continues to do so with the guidance, dialogue, and network opportunities in the The Studio, the exclusive community you gain access to once in the program. RELATED: How to Keep Clients Motivated What’s the one food you always have in your fridge? That’s tough! Probably frozen spinach, broccoli, or onions. The one snack you always have when traveling? Wasabi edamame. Your favorite conscious food indulgence? Cheesecake or pasta. What’s your workout of choice? Tracy Anderson videos at home. How do you stay active outside the gym? Walking my pup and taking her to off leash at Central Park in the mornings. What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Candles. RELATED: 3 Essential Oils for Relaxation What’s your weirdest healthy habit? I like to put spinach and broccoli in everything! Eggs, pasta, sauces, meatballs… Which healthy habit do you wish you had more time for? Meal prepping in advance. “NLS Success” is a column highlighting the incredible accomplishments of Nutritious Life Studio alumni. We’re showcasing the healthy products our grads have created, the better eating habits they now consider second nature, and other ways NLS helped them find healthy, happy success—in life and business. Learn more about the Nutritious Life Studio, here.

The Superfood Soup Entrepreneur Who Calls Her Diet “Compassionate”

“TNS Success” is a new column highlighting the incredible accomplishments of The Nutritious Life Studio alumni. We’re showcasing the healthy products our grads have created, the better eating habits they now consider second nature, and other ways TNS helped them find healthy, happy success—in life and business. Yoga instructor and wellness enthusiast Amanda Leigh Bowen met her fiancé, Fabio Fossati, at a gym in Brooklyn. Clearly, the pair had a passion for healthy living in common, and they went on to create Fawen Ready-To-Drink Soup, a line of organic, plant-based superfood soups, together. The brand utilizes only whole, organic vegetables and eco-friendly recyclable packaging (that’s super pretty!), which reflects Bowen’s desire to focus her diet on “compassion and sustainability.” RELATED: The One Simple Diet Change That’s Best for the Planet Still, Bowen wanted to deepen her understanding of nutrition, which is why she enrolled in and completed The Nutritious Life Studiol in May 2017. “Becoming Nutritious Life Certified substantiated my knowledge of nutrition, which I will use not only for my own health and well being, but to share with others,” she says. “I have a deeper understanding of how foods work within the body and how food directly impacts mood and behavior, which plays an important role in which vegetables and superfoods I choose when developing flavors of Fawen Ready-To-Drink Soup.” Find out more about her healthy habits and business and how The Nutritious Life Studio Certification influenced both, below. Maybe while sipping on a Broccoli & Cauliflower with Turmeric? TNS Success: Fawen founder Amanda Leigh Bowen   What inspired you to sign up for The Nutritious Life Studio? My passion for healthy living! Did The Nutrition School change your personal eating (or overall wellness) habits? The Nutrition School was a great reminder of how to live a holistic life, and to keep that perspective when evaluating the role of diet in overall wellbeing. When it comes to diet specifically, I plan to follow Keri’s guidelines for more closely monitoring my HQ (hunger quotient), as I struggle with maintaining a consistent balanced level of slight hunger/satisfaction throughout the day and think this will greatly help! RELATED: The Best Portion Control Hack to Avoid Overeating If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it? Compassionate and sustainable. The one food you always have in your fridge? Unsweetened almond milk + avocados + frozen green veggies (sorry that was three!). The one snack you always have when traveling? Fawen Ready-To-Drink Soup + Raw Rev Glo bars. Your favorite conscious food indulgence? Dairy-free pumpkin pie or flourless dark chocolate cake. What’s your workout of choice? Weight training + yoga. How do you stay active outside the gym? I walk my dogs! What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Listening to music while taking a hot shower. What does it mean to you to “live consciously”? To live consciously is to be aware of my environment: how it affects me and how I affect it, what I take in and what I give back. What’s your weirdest healthy habit? I always chase any beverage with water (and swoosh on my first sip to cleanse my mouth and prevent tooth stains). Which healthy habit do you wish you had more time for? Sleeping and napping! Check out Fawen at drinkfawen.com and on Instagram at @fawensoup. Sign up for the next session of The Nutritious Life Studio’s Certification Program, here.

Cooking Pro Pamela Salzman Shares Her Healthy Kitchen Habits

Pamela Salzman made a career out of teaching people in the Los Angeles area how to cook their own wholesome, delicious meals. Now, Salzman’s bringing her tips and tricks to the masses, with her first book, Kitchen Matters. Kitchen Matters is filled with more than 100 innovative, nutritious recipes (healthy Greek nachos!), and the photography is so vibrant you can practically taste the fresh flavors. But where it’s even more unique is in the practical resources Salzman provides to set you up for success. Think charts that explain how to roast every vegetable you can think of, instructions on how to stock your pantry, and meal plans and tutorials that suddenly make you feel like a total pro. (It’s kind of like she’s standing next to you helping you chop and measure…) RELATED: How To Do Sunday Kitchen Prep for a Productive, Stress-Free Week We caught up with Salzman during her book launch week to get an even closer look at how she eats—and lives—well. How Does Pamela Salzman Live a Nutritious Life? If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it? Anti-Inflammatory flexitarian, because I don’t really avoid any food group, but I do strive to make most of my food choices anti-inflammatory ones. RELATED: 7 Delicious Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Eat Daily What’s your go-to breakfast? Smoothie bowl. Your go-to workday dinner? Wild salmon, roasted sweet potato, sautéed greens. What’s the one food you always have in your fridge? Homemade salad dressing. The snack you always have with you when traveling? Homemade trail mix. Your favorite food indulgence? Ice cream. Other than water, what do you sip regularly? Green tea. How often do you exercise, and what’s your workout of choice? 6 days a week, barre class. How do you stay active outside the gym? Walking on the beach. What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Meditation. How do you pamper yourself when you need it? I get a mani/pedi. Do you have a favorite health gadget? Nope, unless you consider a Vitamix a health gadget. Which healthy habit do you wish you had more time for? Hot yoga. Most of the classes are 90 minutes, and I can’t get away with not washing my hair afterwards! Lightning Round Meditation or massage? Meditation. A hot shower or a soothing bath? Bath. Almond butter or peanut butter? Almond butter. Coffee or tea? Tea. A long run outside or a dark spin class? Run outside.

How Nutrition Know-How Helped a Healthy Granola Entrepreneur Succeed

“BNC Success” is a column highlighting the accomplishments of The Nutritious Life Studio alumni. We’re showcasing the healthy products our grads have created, the better eating habits they now consider second nature, and other ways the Become a Nutrition Coach (BNC) course helped them find healthy, happy success—in life and business. If Yasaman Vojdani had to name her diet, she’d call it the “Short Ingredient List Diet.” “I try to eat as many ‘real foods’ as possible. I don’t like to buy anything that has an ingredient I can’t pronounce,” she explains. Which is why Yasaman decided to leave her career in fashion three years ago to create Oat My Goodness Craft Granola. Oat My Goodness as in …“OMG! It’s really good granola,” made with clean, healthy ingredients such as nuts, olive oil and spices. In the spring of 2016, Yasaman enrolled in The Nutritious Life Studio Certification Program, a decision she says made her even more passionate about nutrition and enhanced her company. We asked her to share more about her experience with BNC and her own healthy company and habits. BNC Success: Yasaman Vojdani What inspired you to sign up for The Nutritious Life Studio? I have had an enthusiasm for health and nutrition for years now. I wanted to learn more about it, especially since I get asked a lot of nutrition-related questions from our customers. I wanted to have more knowledge to be able to share with them. Did The Nutritious Life Studio change your personal eating (or overall wellness) habits? It definitely made me more aware of what I was eating and how. For example, I always try to have proteins, carbs, and fats on my plate at every meal now to keep it well-balanced. Keri also taught me the importance of mindful eating. RELATED: How to Create a Mindful Morning Routine Were there specific lessons from BNC that helped you grow your business? The basics we learned in “Nutrition 101” (carbs, proteins, fats) helped me share balanced breakfast options with our customers, since that is a question we get asked all the time. Customers always want recipe ideas that can keep them going through lunchtime. RELATED: 7 High-Protein Breakfast Recipes to Power Your Mornings What was your favorite lesson, and why? That’s a tough one because there were many topics I was so interested in learning more about. But if I had to choose, it would be the lesson about common nutrition myths, since this one was so relevant to my business. My goal through OMG is to show my audience that eating breakfast is so important and easy, even if they are running out the door in the morning. I want to see our customers excited to wake up just so they can have their delicious bowl of granola! What’s the one food you always have in your fridge? Plenty of apples. The one snack you always have when traveling? I make my own trail mix, and OMG of course! Your favorite conscious food indulgence? Ice cream! What’s your workout of choice? SoulCycle. RELATED: SoulCycle Superstar Stacey Griffith’s Spiritual Spin on Health What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? I put my earbuds in and go for a walk. What does it mean to you to “live consciously”? To be aware of the decisions you make on a daily basis. To be present and live in the moment as much as possible. To live life in moderation. Which healthy habit do you wish you had more time for? Meditation. Check out OMG Craft Granola at omgcraftgranola.com and on Instagram at @oatmygoodness. Sign up for the next session of The Nutritious Life Studio Certification Program, here.