Meet Julie Jeffries | Plant-based Health and Wellness Expert

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

Hi Julie, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
I think that just defining what “success” means to you is the first step in being successful. This definition might even change over time. When you are young and focused on a career that you have trained for, success might look like financial gain, prestige or recognition. But, I think as you age and you realize that success can take on different forms, you are able to consider success as how you leave a mark on the world you live in. I used to think that to be a success, I had to be a household name… at least in my field. But, now I know, that being a household name in just a few houses means that I have made a positive impact on people’s lives — and that now, this is what success means to me. Aside from defining the word, other habits that have helped me to be successful include having a very curious mind and a true love for learning. If I had not loved to research and learn, I would not be where I am today. In fact, I would probably be blind and forced to live a life dependent on traditional medicine and low light. Also, resilience and positivity have been critical to my journey. Everyone gets bad news at some point in life, but not everyone can process it as an opportunity to learn, grow and develop. I actually LOVE change. I love that it makes me think about what I am doing and that it gives me an opportunity to try something new. I think that this love for the unknown and the uncomfortable has helped me to continue finishing paths that motivate me to leave a positive impact on the world.

What should our readers know about your business?
Not Your Momma’s Vegetables is a health coaching and corporate health benefits practice. I provide individuals tools and pathways to eat healthier, but I also offer corporations opportunities to improve the health of their workforce through health coaching as a company benefit. Did you know that most chronic disease is related to food and lifestyle choices? And, did you know that US companies lose over 28 million workdays annually due to functional limitations caused by just a handful of chronic diseases? This equates to almost $5 Billion in lost income! All of this because we need to educate people on healthy eating and give employees guidance on how to make health happen in their lives! I didn’t start out my career dedicated to health … in fact, I worked in very high stress positions and fought hard to stay healthy even though I traveled 85% of my time. But, the impact of stress and lifestyle choices on my health came to a head in 2013 when I was diagnosed with both an inoperable brain tumor and then breast cancer just 6 months apart. I am proud to say, though, that my ability to solve problems and to be resilient got me through these terrible diagnosis … and as a result, I have become an expert in the field of plant-based nutrition and lifestyle health. This passion just naturally turned itself into a business for me. When I began telling people “these are not your momma’s vegetables”, it was more a statement about the difference between what people typically serve as a vegetable and how I look at vegetables on my plate. But, then that phrase became my namesake … and something that I am very proud of! Not Your Momma’s Vegetables stands for positive change, health and continuous learning — exactly what my life has been about. What do I want the world to know? I want everyone to know how eating more veggies can lead to improved health, improve our lives and even improve the bottom line of our companies and global economy overall! I am on a mission to make a positive impact on the chronic disease health crisis in the US and around the world. I want you to join me in being part of the SOLUTION … and to avoid being part of the problem!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots in this city are hidden gems. I would first take my friend on my morning walk in West Matheson Park with my dog, Aero. This is my most treasured place in this town because it is the last piece of “wild” and non-manicured land in Miami. I go here to hear the birds, see beautiful flora, listen to the silence and to feel connected to this earth. I go here to breathe. After the dog park, I would take my friend for a kayak through the mangroves near Snapper Creek and Chapman Field park. Again, we will get some exercise, see some incredible wildlife, and enjoy the connection with nature. I will take along some amazing food from my very own kitchen and we will enjoy a picnic on a sandbar near the shore. After we have showered, I might suggest that we take a walk in South Beach, especially down Lincoln Road Mall. This is my favorite place to people watch. Then, we will head out to the Everglades to camp and to prepare some amazing food over a campfire — again, enjoying the incredible outdoors and the beautiful night sky away from the lights of the city.   If we have time, I might also drive up to Pompano to enjoy a delicious meal at Hillstone’s by the Intercoastal Waterway.  Other fun things that I love to do … take a boat ride in Biscayne Bay, ride bikes to see the water by Deering Estate, or take in a concert at Pinecrest Gardens.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow, to pick just one person? I don’t think I can pick just one person to give a shoutout to because there are so many people who have been mentors and teachers along the way. There was a guy, early in my business career, who told me “the trick to moving up is to always walk with a clipboard in hand and to speak with authority”… if you can believe it, this nameless guy left a lasting impact on me. What he taught me was that people have a perception of me — but that I also have a responsibility to be truthful and ethical in my representation of knowledge and capacity. His lesson was also to tell me that people are always watching me and that the more that I believe in myself, the more others will believe in me. This is so true. The power of positive thinking is so important in everything we do. “Walk with a clipboard” equates to always be ready to write something down, to create a drawing to communicate a concept, to take notes, to listen and to remind yourself to follow through, while “speak with authority” has taught me to believe in myself to give others the confidence to believe in me, too.

Website: NYMV.org

Instagram: @notyourmommasvegetables or https://www.instagram.com/notyourmommasvegetables/

Facebook: Not Your Momma’s Vegetables or https://www.facebook.com/notyourmommasvegetables/

Image Credits
David Parker