With eating, drinking and social habits at the top of the new year’s resolutions list, January has a way of encouraging people to make radical life changes.
But what happens when that new year ambition dwindles down and it gets a little harder to keep up with all of those goals? That’s where Clean Eatz says it can help.
Clean Eatz, a health food restaurant located at 1000 Railroad Ave., is hosting its second “We Change Livez Challenge,” as a participant in the company’s national promotion.
The social media challenge, which runs Jan. 15-March 15, invites those looking to make a lifestyle change to post their daily fitness progress to their personal Facebook and Instagram profiles and tagging their posts with the hashtag “wechangelivez.”
Winners have the opportunity to win 12 weeks’ worth of meals and a $100 voucher to Clean Eatz merchandise. The local winner will then be entered in a chance to win a national grand prize of $25,000.
Clean Eatz franchise owners and team members vote for a winner from their respective location. Local winners at each franchise will then be placed in front of a committee made up of franchise owners who will vote on a grand prize winner. Winners will be announced in March.
Founded in 2013 in North Carolina, Clean Eatz has over 90 operating stores nationally and more than 80 in development stages.
Those looking to participate in the We Change Livez fitness challenge have until Jan. 15 to sign up at https://cleaneatz.com/wechangelivez or at their local Clean Eatz location.
Local franchise owner Sam Poppell shared his excitement for this year’s challenge with the Tallahassee Democrat.
“We love to see them,” Poppell said on being able to keep up with participant’s journeys via social media and their visits to pick up meals in the store.
Poppell started as a customer of Clean Eatz in the midst of his own fitness journey when he decided it wasn’t enough to just be an owner.
“I became a Clean Eatz franchisee in part to kind of keep me motivated to stay in shape,” Poppell said.
Poppell, who’s been in the restaurant industry for over 20 years, said that he reached a point in his life where he knew he needed to make a change.
After operating a pizzeria, dealing with sleep apnea, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Poppell embarked on his own fitness journey where he lost nearly 175 pounds and was able to wean himself off his medications.
With the help of meal preps from Clean Eatz, which Poppell refers to as a “game changer,” and getting more active, the restaurant owner has been able to reach and maintain his health goals.
Poppell hopes to help those who may be on the first day of their wellness journey or those in more advanced stages to have the support they need to overcome this change.
“The hardest part is trying to do too much to get by yourself. You know, I think you really need a great support group around you,” Poppell said.
Clean Eatz which serves as a cafe, meal prep and catering service, offers in-house curated meals starting at $8.99.
The menu includes the buffalo chicken mac and cheese made with low sodium cheese, along with specialty wraps, burgers, bowls and more.
“You can really eat a lot of great variety, it just has to be in proper portions, ” Poppell said.
Democrat writer Kyla Sanford can be reached at ksanford@tallahassee.com.
