We had the good fortune of connecting with julia chebotar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi julia, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I try and make self-care very important. I take care of my clients daily and when coming home tired and exhausted cooking for myself is something I struggle with. So I make sure to meal prep on my days off. I make sure I always have staples in my fridge like celery, kale, apples, cucumbers, pineapple, tomatoes, onions, garlic, eggs, bread, and canned proteins like sardines, tuna, and anchovies. Sardines are an excellent source of vitamin B-12. This vitamin helps your cardiovascular system and gives you energy. In addition, these fish contain a healthy amount of vitamin D. Along with B-12, D is necessary for good bone health throughout your life.

I use celery, cucumber, pineapple, green apple, fresh herbs like cilantro, and make green juice for my gut health every morning. A healthy gut contains healthy bacteria and immune cells that ward off infectious agents like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A healthy gut also communicates with the brain through nerves and hormones, which helps maintain general health and well-being.

I also force myself to wake up early and work out daily for my own mental health, physical health, and mental clarity. I also do Pilates, and get a massage weekly because being on your feet for 8 hours takes a toll on your body and muscles.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Health Chef Julia Chebotar is an award-winning chef and a Food Network’s Chopped Champion. Based in New York City, Julia has nearly a decade of experience under her belt, she’s worked as an executive chef, private chef, and restaurateur to bring food to life through bold flavors, colorful ingredients, and some extra spice when necessary!

Julia has a passion for creating recipes and food solutions founded upon a healthy, sustainable and supportive lifestyle that is both fun and enjoyable. With a knack for social media marketing and public speaking, Julia has been able to cultivate a following of nearly 15,000 people across different social media platforms. She is constantly developing new and creative recipes and contributing content for notable media outlets, brands, and magazines.

Chef Julia has become known as a culinary expert who shares her knowledge on podcasts, corporate wellness seminars, virtual webinars, virtual team-building events, and virtual cooking classes.

Julia’s love for the kitchen started with her grandmother, whose love for food inspired her own! Julia was mesmerized by her grandmother’s skill and creativity in the kitchen––and so her own love affair with food and cooking began. By eight years old, she had my own apron, and she was calling the shots in the kitchen (you know how fiery redheads can be!). Julia is all about creating a combination of what tastes great and makes us feel good, inspiring a happy and healthy life, but don’t get her wrong––cocktails and cheeseburgers can be included.

Julia & her business partner Tina De Jesus have teamed up to create…. The Health Chefs ( Chefs Healthy LLC) –

Health Chefs – was Created by two private chefs that are passionate about providing sustainable and health-supportive meals for our clients. Health Chef’s mission is to provide support within our community of chefs to ensure we all exceed. Our team carefully selects chefs to pair with each client to provide a perfect match for creating a unique experience.

We have 20 chefs in NYC & MIAMI working together to bring health-supportive meals to our clients and healping create healthy habits.

@healthchefs
@healthchefjulia
@vegheadchef

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
La Sandwicherie – Probably the most famous place to eat in Miami Beach is La Sandwicherie a cozy French sandwich spot that has been open since 1988. Right on Collins Avenue, this cafe has been a favorite for sandwiches among locals and tourists alike. The bread is always fresh and you can get a variety of options

Lucali – It’s a simple menu with only 6 toppings available for your pizza and a few salads, but that is all you need! They have perfected the crust and the sauce at Lucali and anyone who likes pizza will love this cozy spot.

Pura Vida – offers flavorful acai bowls, fresh-squeezed juices and a variety of salads, bowls and wraps made with local veggies. We’ll take the gluten-free avocado toast with a bottle of OJ anytime.

MY CEVICHE- Choose from a selection of fresh-caught fish and then add coconut jasmine rice or cilantro quinoa and a sauce such as aji Amarillo, rocoto or Tradicional (a mix of lime juice and avocado). It’s the biggest, tastiest bowl of fish and veggies you’ll ever eat, we promise.

Grown – Here, the fast-casual spot serves organic food without GMOs, preservatives, hormones, or processed sugar—from warm black bean and squash quinoa bowls to chickpea tuna sandwiches and even gluten-free grilled cheese or gluten-free panko chicken tenders.

AZABU MIAMI BEACH- Looking for an upscale restaurant with healthy, veggie-forward options? This Michelin-starred concept from NYC is split between an elegant dining room, a chic cocktail bar and an 11-seat secluded sushi den inspired by a Tokyo izakaya

PLANTA MIAMI BEACH- t Planta, a Toronto-based restaurant that recently opened an outpost in Miami Beach, the meat-free burgers are made with black beans, mashed lentils and beetroot, and topped with a gooey vegan “cheese” made of carrot and potato. Plus, the restaurant is chock-full of other vegetarian and vegan plates, such as cauliflower “tater” tots, fruit and vegetable sushi, ceviche made with coconut instead of fish, and a creamy bucatini with zucchini spirals.

PLANT MIAMI – This Wynwood eatery is a mecca for beautifully designed plant-based dishes. The entire menu is gluten-free, too. (Psst: Make sure to top off your meal with the seasonal fruit cheesecake or the banana-nut pancakes. Hey, you deserve a treat after being so healthy.

DELICIOUS RAW- his trendy fast-casual eatery is an absolute pro at incorporating fruits and vegetables into just about everything. Get yourself an order of the vegan pad Thai with crisp veggies and black bean noodles, or the “Pure Panino,” with roasted vegetables and vegan pesto.

LILIKOI ORGANIC LIVING – Everything about this restaurant is delicious—and with a menu of vibrant dishes, this place will leave you feeling great.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My friends, family, clients, and network of chefs are really very supportive and my constant cheerleaders. I also have to share praise for meditation. I meditate daily to clear my mind and help me work better. I love ready self-help books and one of my favorites is ” Buddha & The Badass”

“This book will disrupt your deeply held beliefs about work, success, and, indeed, life.

If you’re the average person in the developed world, you spend 70 percent of your waking hours at work. And if you’re the average person, you’re miserable for most of those hours. This is simply not an acceptable state of affairs for your one shot at life. No matter your station, you possess incredible unique powers. It’s a modern myth that hard work and hustle are the paths to success. Inside you is a soul. And once you unleash it fully into the domain of work, magic happens. Awakening the Buddha and the Badass inside you is a process that will disrupt the way you work altogether. You’ll gain access to tools that bend the very rules of reality.”

I really took a lot away from this book and think it has helped me deal with work-life balance and how I see my life as an entrepreneur.

Website: www.healthchefjulia.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthchefjulia/channel/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-chebotar/

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/healthchefs/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-chebotar/ https://www.facebook.com/healthchefs

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/health-chef-julia-new-york

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbDGJJtEsbtmbl8KtmdbyQ

Image Credits
@healthchefjulia

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