Meet Zalaha Harris of Groovie Smoothies in Cascade Heights

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zalaha Harris.

Zalaha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The idea for GROOVIE SMOOTHIES was birthed during a 2-year journey of my own personal self-healing. Almost five years ago, my beautiful son Joshua was murdered and on that day, I died (inside) too. If you’ve heard anything at all about the effects child-loss has on a parent, you’ve heard that the level of grief is tremendously debilitating and that it adversely affects every fiber of one’s being.

While the first year of this new life without my first-born child was painful, to say the least, the pain and devastation measured ten-fold during second year. I was suffering and I sank to a place of darkness that I never imagined my mind could take me. I wanted to give up, but I had so much (and so many) to live for. I needed help.

Though many tried, no one could tell me what to do to get better. Religion told me to pray, but I was angry with God. Grief groups were often comforting, but only temporarily. My doctor and therapist were cold and clinical. I was prescribed anti-depressants to help me cope with “life after loss”; and they worked. As a matter-of-fact, they worked SO well that I began to feel nothing at all.

My brain was fuzzy, I was terribly off-balanced and confused. I suffered, still, but couldn’t exhibit any emotional response to my feelings. I couldn’t cry, I couldn’t express anger; I couldn’t even laugh if I found something funny! I was numb; a walking, talking, zombie. I felt so horrible on the drugs that I weaned myself off of them, without my doctor’s consent. I realized I had to find a way to survive this suffering, on my own.

During one of my many turbulent Facebook status updates, two little words, commented by a dear childhood friend, resonated so strongly with me: “FIGHT, LAHA”.

But how, tho?

I figured that I would first need to get my mind right before I could do anything else; I took courses on and began practicing, the art of meditation. My body was weak so I knew I wanted physical strength for this battle; I got serious about exercise and committed to weight training with my husband.

Being an avid consumer of the SAD-Standard American Diet- high intake of meat, poultry, seafood, processed foods, high-fat dairy products, and eggs- all my life, I suffered from inflammation and digestive issues such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Pylori, Acid-Reflux, and Bloating & Flatulence. My eating habits worsened with Joshua’s departure. At times, I gorged myself; most times, I refused to eat. I began sipping on green smoothies every day while decreasing cooked food intake. I was very satisfied with a renewed energy.

On my birthday, 7-27-2017, I stopped eating meat-cold turkey-lbvs, and began consuming a plant-based diet.

Meditation, exercise, plant-based diet, that’s it, in a nutshell! My life has done a complete 180-degree turn because of these three combined modalities. Not only have I lost weight (60 lbs. give or take) and I no longer have any of the aforementioned ailments,  I experienced a miraculous conscious awakening, and I found my GROOVE, Ya’ll! I fell in love with the path of deep healing, more specifically, understanding the role of nutrition plays!

Do Ya’ll hear what I’m saying? Despite any pain, grief, or suffering that occurs in your lives, you can HEAL and GROW thru your experience!

I share GROOVIE SMOOTHIES to offer a simple, easy, and delicious way for the people I love (Y O U ) to consume more cell-restoring, energizing whole foods! You, too, can go on to live a beautiful, joyous life… a life on purpose… Once you Git Your Groove!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I had just received a promotion at work; my new position started on February 6, 2015; on February 10th, my son was dead. I returned to work just two weeks after Joshua’s burial, as an effort to begin the transition into life without him.

In those days and weeks following Joshua’s funeral, fear, isolation, and feelings of abandonment set in. Bereavements and condolences decreased almost immediately. Family and friends returned to their normal routine, while I agonized in grief.

I had no idea how to move forward. I was mentally paralyzed by the pain. I went to work every day. I held it together, as best as I could, while I was there. I pretended to know what I was doing; and I appeared to be ‘ok’. Inside I was a jumbled mess, on the verge of having a nervous breakdown.

Groovie Smoothies – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Groovie Smoothies is a whole-food, plant-based smoothie cafe. We specialize in fruit and veggie smoothies and bowls that are made with only fresh, organic (when available), fruit, vegetables, seeds, and naturally-sourced alkaline spring water. We don’t add sugar or artificial sweeteners, preservatives, powders, or dairy to our products.

We are also proud to serve what I call ‘plant-based eats-n-treats’; things like superfood salads, subs, and wraps, made with fresh, organic ingredients like kale, avocado, ancient grains, assorted mushrooms, legumes, & hemp seeds.

I am most proud that Groovie Smoothies is a cruelty-free business! We do not use any animal-based products! Additionally, we choose not to introduce any ‘meat alternatives’ to the community we serve! That totally sets Groovie Smoothies apart from the majority of new vegan cafes and restaurants!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I go so hard advocating for a transition to a plant-based diet in my community. I am often met with opposition, negativity, and criticism; I’ve even been told that since my personal dietary transition, I’m ‘acting white’! Like really???

I recently received a call from an associate who had just (same day) gotten a diagnosis of cancer. She knows how passionate I am about the healing power of plant food, and she called to ask my opinion on what she should do to initiate healing in her body. We stayed on the phone for hours, as I encouraged and educated her on how food can cause disease, and more importantly, how food can reverse disease! I invited her over to give her some mineral compounds and some raw plant-based food samples to try out. No tears were shed and her hope was restored! At this moment, I felt optimal success!

Pricing:

• Smoothies and Smoothie Bowls average $8.00 and up
• Subs and Wraps average $12 an d up
• Salads average $6 and up
• Grab-n-Go Snacks (popcorn, nuts, trail mix) average $5 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: www.groovie-smoothies.net
• Phone: 7707030778
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @groovie_smoothiesatl
• Facebook: GROOVIE SMOOTHIES
• Twitter: GroovieSmoothi3

Image Credit:
Sunshine Keiko Productions

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