Core Nutrition offers meal replacements in the form of a shake, tea and aloe
New local business owners hope to increase area residents’ health by replacing what could otherwise be an unhealthy, unbalanced meal with an alternative.
“Your health is our business,” said Bobbi Smith, owner of Core Nutrition.
Core Nutrition offers meal replacement shakes and supplements. One can either come into the shop for one of 48 flavors of shakes, along with five flavors of tea and a shot of aloe, or can order personalized health beverages and supplements to meet their health goals.
Smith, along with husband Jeff Smith, recently opened the health-drink shop at 907 Third Ave., across from Napa Auto Parts on Highway 53.
Besides the freshly made beverages, Core Nutrition also offers free wellness profiles, which provide the client with health-related numbers that help staff determine the best program for the client to pursue to meet their health and weight goals. For example, the wellness profile includes the protein number, which Smith says is essential to eating correctly, and the percentage of body fat. From there, Core Nutrition will recommend a personalized selection of shakes and supplements to help clients lose weight, gain weight or maintain optimum health.
Smith said Core Nutrition and the products they use do not claim to cure any particular disease, but can be targeted to help people with heart and digestive issues, bone strength, immunity and stress, and energy and fitness. Smith said some people who have been on the same system have been able to stop taking prescription medications for some conditions because of the healthy benefits of the shakes and supplements.
“If given the optimal nutrition, the body will heal itself,” she said.
Ultimately, it was her own experience with the products that led her to open Core Nutrition.
“I was a yo-yo dieter my whole life,” Smith said, using herself as a success story for the products. “I found nothing that worked.
“I believe (in these products) because of what they have done for me, my family and friends,” she said.
Within the first three months on the program, Smith lost 43 pounds. In total, she has lost 85 pounds since she began the program last May. Her husband began the program in September and has already lost 43 pounds. But she said, the shakes can have a positive effect on anyone due to its balanced nutrition, regardless of goals or personalization.
“It’s not just for weight loss, it’s for every body out there,” Smith said.
The shakes contain 27 vitamins and minerals, Smith explained, with balanced carbohydrates, protein and fat. She notes one shake is equivalent to four Weight Watchers points, for those who are on that program as well. Part of what Smith says she does is coach people to make better health choices overall, including the meals they do not replace with shakes.
“You can’t get any better nutrition than these shakes,” she said.
Her own personal weight loss and health inspired her to open the business in International Falls. Smith, from Grand Rapids, said there is no other business like this in northern Minnesota and hopes to target the entire region and into Canada.
“Because I’ve had successful results, I decided in September to do it as a business,” she said. “I want to help people get good wellness and nutrition no matter what they’re looking for.”
A beverage system of a shake, tea and aloe costs $6. Drinks can be ordered hot or cold. For those who want to drink the beverages at Core Nutrition, free wireless Internet access is available. Prices for the personalized system vary depending on the products ordered.
Core Nutrition will have an open house on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Normal business hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information on Core Nutrition, or to set up a free wellness profile, call Core Nutrition at 283-3220 or 218-259-6689.
