If you’ve been following the news for the past few months, I’m sure that you have seen the term, “new normal”, plastered on a number of media outlets’ headlines: “What Will be the New Normals After the Coronavirus Pandemic?”(Cbsnews); “America’s ‘New Normal’ Will be Anything but Ordinary”(Cnn); “Reopening in the COVID Era: How to Adapt to a New Normal”- (Kaiser Health News)- just to name a few. Everybody is saying this term that has been added to the list of new vocabulary that has emerged during the spread of Covid-19.

But what does it really mean? The words, “new normal” suggest a shift in what’s considered normal, and in world of state-mandated stay at home orders and extensive social distancing measures, this seems to be a fitting label. But is this really the first time you’ve ever had to adapt to unfamiliarities? Whether it’s going to college for the first time, beginning a new job, or living during a global pandemic, your life is always going to be undergoing a variety of changes, both big and small. Accepting these changes and even bringing them upon yourself is all part of the human experience.

You have the power to create your own “new normals”, and when it comes to fitness and diet, a new normal will often result in a huge improvement in your life. You are always in the position to better your health and to build positive habits. In fact, there is really no better time than right now to fall into a healthy routine that will protect your body and strengthen your immune system. So make it your mission to go on a walk each week in your neighborhood, form a regular fitness routine, adopt a more plant based diet. Make taking care of yourself and your body not only a priority, but also something that you consider to be normal.

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Hi, my name is Jordyn Jacobson and I am the daughter of chef, Elyce Jacobson of Skinny Buddha. I have had the privilege to watch this business grow throughout the past eleven years and I am so excited to be a part of this new edition to their brand- Skinny Buddha Online! I will be writing for their blog, covering all kinds of topics related to healthy living, fitness, and diet. Along with this blog, Shaka and Elyce will be teaching you how to cook and exercise like a Buddha, and how to better care for your mind and body.

Growing up, I have had my mother and Shaka’s business as a shining example of the value of persistence and hard work. When my mom was younger, she says that she loved to make dinner and cocktail parties for friends, family, and teachers. Even though she went into accounting after college, she knew that her true passion was cooking, and she took an apprenticeship for a food business whilst also in a full time job. Shaka was introduced to fitness as early as high school, participating in athletics and learning weight training from a coach at his school.

He was later coached into being a trainer by the owner of a local boxing gym and he constantly continues to work on his craft and to improve. Both of them got to where they are today by pursuing their passions with unwavering dedication. For me, Skinny Buddha is not just a business, but a reminder to do what you love. I hope that this is the message that can be spread to the world through this online platform, in a time when we need it the most!

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We are currently living in a world that is overwhelmed by diet culture. We are much more aware of what we are consuming and of the ways that we are treating our bodies than any generation before us. It feels as if we are constantly looking for the next big thing, the next fad diet, the next perfect fitness routine that will provide an easy fix.

And how do we weigh our successes? A scale.

Our society has an undeniable obsession with weight loss. An article by the Washington Post, “Why You Should Stop Trying to Lose Weight”, mentions a quote from neuroscientist, Sandra Aamodt: “‘It’s crazy that as a society we have chosen to focus on weight loss rather than improving fitness and nutrition, which are easier and more important.’” We are holding ourselves to impossible standards in pursuit of a certain image of health. Of course it isn’t a bad thing to be conscious of our fitness levels or of our diets; we just have to do it in a different way. We have to use a different scale.

Instead of weighing yourself, weigh your choices. What’s more important- eating that fast food or sticking to your vow to eat clean? Sitting on the couch all day or growing closer to accomplishing you fitness goals? You don’t need a quick fix- you need a lifestyle change (hyperlink to article about new normal). You need to learn how to make smart decisions. Not because of a number on a scale, but because you only get one body and it needs you to care of it! So begin measuring success in a new way. Ditch that old scale and pick up this one.

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A Jewish mother of three meets a Jamaican boxing trainer in a gym one day… They share a love for people, fitness, and wellness. A few years later, they combine their talents – and SKINNY BUDDHA is born. To some, it might sound like the start of a cheesy one-liner, but to us, it’s what the American dream is all about.

At Skinny Buddha, it’s our mission to share the lifestyle that has enabled us to thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually.

We live our lives centered around the following ideals: the consumption of organic, plant-based nutrition that is free from animal products and chemicals; love for information, love for music, love for family, love for community, respect for our planet and all its resources; respect for all living things, and an appreciation of the similarities and differences that exist between us.

When you visit Skinny Buddha, you are supporting a culture – not buying from a franchise or a corporate machine looking to maximize profits in order to open location after location after location. At Skinny Buddha, we are not camouflaging any million dollar dreams.

Our mission is the dream that money cannot buy.

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SKINNY BUDDHA MENU ITEM?

I love everything they create. But if I must choose just one item, it would be the ginger latte… ginger, turmeric & cinnamon brewed up and topped with frothed almond milk (or whatever milk you prefer)… it’s like a warm hug. Super delicious & full of health benefits. It’s my go-to drink… pretty much every day.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT SKINNY BUDDHA?

I found Skinny Buddha driving down the road one day… spotted the Buddha and pulled in to check it out.

WHY DO YOU EAT AT SKINNY BUDDHA?

The obvious/easy answer is because it’s super delicious! But truthfully, in addition to it being tasty, I eat Skinny Buddha  because it offers everything I look for when it comes to food (& people! Love everyone there). It’s fresh, consistent, and incredibly versatile. I can “grab n’ go” a ginger latte, pop in for a Skinny Stew soup, or order an entire holiday dinner for Thanksgiving… I can always count on them — they do it all!

You do not need to be vegan to eat here! Everything is packed with flavor & thoughtfully made (nutrient-dense) — nothing they put out is by accident.

When we eat well, we feel well. Simple as that. Skinny Buddha is smart vegan, made with LOVE. I was hooked after my first visit & I’ve never looked back!

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The US Small Business Administration counts companies with as much as $35.5 million in yearly sales and 1500 employees as small businesses. As for Skinny Buddha’s employees, you can count them on two hands!

The two owners, Chef Elyce and Trainer Shaka, do everything from cutting onions to making deliveries to mopping the floor to getting to know some of the most incredible people in the world (our amazing customers) at lunchtime every day.

So when we speak of Buddha Bumps in the road… it is about being a true “mom and pop” in a world of giants. We push forward, without investors or venture capital funds, just sweat equity, and a whole lot of love and passion for our mission, powered by the plants and the people we get to serve.

The neighborhood shops are vanishing, and the big players get bigger and bigger. We are grateful for you all, every time you step through our doors. We appreciate that you let us feed you, and we appreciate that you share a little bit of your life with us when we chat at the register. We know there are a million choices in this world, and we love that you choose us.

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How many times have we started a new “diet” at the beginning of the New Year, and how many times have we thrown in the towel by Valentine’s Day? Let’s try something new this year. No “diets.” Let’s try a lifestyle change instead. Let’s change the way we think about food, meals, and cooking.

The first significant lifestyle change that I made, approximately 10 years ago, was the beginning of an eye-opening journey. I  hought I knew so much about food. Silly me. I decided to clean out my pantry and all of my cabinets and do a kitchen takeover. I removed all “foods” that contained any form of chemical or non-food ingredient. I read every label and got rid of tons of things that my family and I had become dependent on. Let’s just say there wasn’t much left to nibble on when I was done.

Then it was off to the grocery store. Time to replace all the favorites with healthy versions of the same. 10 years ago, we didn’t have anywhere near the healthy options we do now. Today, we really have no excuse. There are tons of choices within a few mile radius.

My proposal is to start here. Start with your kitchen. It is the heart of the home. It is where most families tend to spend the majority of their time. Start at the heart. Get it healthy and strong. Turn it from a hazard zone into a safe place. Remove the toxins and the “nonfood” items. Replace them with your favorite healthy choices. Choose whole foods that are not processed. This way, when you go to grab something to eat, you don’t need to think about it. You know that anything in your kitchen is going to be a good choice.

– Elyce Jacobson

Elyce Jacobson (“Chef”) received her formal education at Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School. An interest in whole foods and healthy cooking led Chef to supplement her formal culinary training with studies at the Natural Gourmet Cooking School. Chef’s experience includes launching a catering business for The City Bakery in Manhattan and catering for Estee Lauder, Good Day New York, Saturday Night Live, and countless celebrities, friends, and families throughout the tri-state. Chef Elyce has been a contestant on CNN2/HLN Network’s “Cook Your Ass Off.” Her expertise in “sneaking healthy into delicious food” has enabled her to assist in the body transformations of many as Co-Founder of the Skinny Buddha brand.

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My tip for this issue would have to come down to one word… MOMENTUM. As far as weight loss is concerned, it’s hard to create momentum. When you are stuck in a rut, how do you get out of it? How do you create momentum that will drive you away from your bad habits? How do you create momentum that will drive you away from snacking and towards healthy eating?

Where do you find momentum that will drive you away from whatever is keeping you away from your gym, that class you know you should take, your next healthy meal, or from using the cool calorie counting app you know you should try out?

For everybody, what creates momentum is different. It could be an upcoming event, a distraught shopping day, a sad glance in the mirror, a visit to the doctor. It could be anything. I cannot tell you how to create momentum, I can only tell you that once it is created… YOU BETTER GO GO GO WITH IT!!!

Just like Newton’s Law says, an object in motion will stay in motion. Once you’re sparked into motion, you must do your best to STAY… IN… MOTION. Why? Because you don’t know when the next spark will come. Because you don’t know what might happen while you’re waiting for the flame.  There could be a health disaster creeping up right behind you. GO WITH IT!

The name of the game is MOMENTUM.
Don’t take it for granted.
See you in the gym!

– Shaka Taffawa

Shaka Taffawa is a NASM-certified personal trainer, boxer, and Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FNS). An interest in anatomy and physiology led Shaka to supplement his CPT certifications with a NYS massage therapy license from the Swedish Institute in Manhattan, New York. Shaka has boxed in the USA Olympic Qualifiers, Empire State Games, and competed in the finals of the Golden Gloves in Madison Square Garden. Shaka’s personal trials and firsthand experience with competitive athletes weight-cutting, muscle building, and meal planning has enabled him to assist in many years’ worth of lean-body sculpting as Co-Founder of the Skinny Buddha brand.

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