A NEW WAY TO HEALTHY
By Daniel J. Bollinger
Meet Stephanie Levine, owner, and operator of Tohi Wellness, a lifestyle company for those who want to live the healthiest lifestyle possible. It is comprised of several services including Holistic Health Coaching and her organic food line Tohi Organics Vegan Meals. (Tohi is Cherokee for health and peace.)
As the official Health Coach at one of NYC’s premier boutique natural markets, The Westerly—located near Columbus Circle—Levine saw the need for organic vegan, healthy meals for take-out. Her idea was to prepare ready-to-eat meals for those who couldn’t cook healthy organic all the time and needed a real food, whole food meal alternative that would also expose them to new foods at the same time.
AN INSPIRING STORY
The innovator was drawn to healthy lifestyle living when her father unexpectedly got lymphoma. Helping her father is what inspired her in pursuing organic choices in the lifestyle she chose to live. She studied macrobiotics and other organic health solutions that helped her father last an additional two years longer than expected. She went on to receive training in health and nutrition from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and SUNY Purchase College. She is now a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, an organization that certifies health professionals who do not work with pharmaceuticals.
Levine’s work as a Lifestyle Advocate and her work with Island Outpost with Chris Blackwell, President of Island Records and Island Outpost, a premier worldwide lifestyle company have prepared her to be an innovative taste-maker for the 21st century. In fact, some of her past and present clients include Daniel Lubetzsky owner of The KIND Company. Stephanie is a speaker who leads both corporate and private health and wellness workshops.
Her mission as a health practitioner and owner of Tohi Organics is to help clients develop an integrative nutrition program, to become passionate about healthy eating, fearless living and helping people achieve their ideal balanced, vibrant life by working with clients emotionally, physically and spiritually. Levine says, “The goal is to get and stay healthy.” She works from the perspective that each person has their nutritional needs.
As a food and wellness enthusiast and health advocate, she believes in real food, sustainably—locally grown food, nutrient dense, vibrant, delicious food. Through specific recommendations, rather than following trends or fads, and by advocating eating “real” food, her program ensures great success. This is a lifestyle change says Levine. “It’s not easy to fall in love with your life and live free from guilt and denial.” Change occurs as together you explore your relationships, your career, your fitness routine, your spirituality, your self-care and your fun! All these aspects of your life impact your health as much as the food you eat.
Here, some of Levine’s services:
Holistic Health Coaching
Stephanie offers this assistance which includes getting a complete inspection of your kitchen and throwing out all unhealthy foods, looking at your pots and pans and making sure they are non-toxic, and getting cooking lessons from her on how to prepare the healthiest dishes. You will receive nutritional meals and lifestyle planning, and if weight loss is your goal, Stephanie can tailor a program to suit that. You will also get health food shopping tours and guidance, so you know what to buy when grocery shopping, and custom cooking lessons, so you learn how to properly prepare delicious home cooked meals.
Tohi Organics Vegan Meals
If your schedule doesn’t allow for such an intensive program, then you can still maintain a healthy diet with her new Tohi Organics Vegan Meals which consist of 100 percent organic vegan meals. The first meal, which three years later is still the biggest seller is Forbidden Rice Baby-Bok Choy Medley. “This is our unique signature dish. Garam masala is infused with the black rice and cremini mushrooms. Add to that daikon, baby bok choy, cannellini beans and lots of fresh ginger and garlic—all sautéed with coconut oil. Our customers simply love this dish,” says Levine. “It flies off our shelves!” Levine says all the other meals are designed for diversity in food choices and exposure for optimal health within the food line. Another bestseller is Rockin’ Quinoa—Fast, Fresh & Greens which consists of quinoa, fresh beets, collard greens, parsnips, black beans and tahini. All of her creations are carried by a number of supermarkets throughout the city including her flagship location The Westerly Natural Market on 8th Avenue and 54th Street, Sunac Natural Market with a number of locations in Manhattan and in Williamsburg Brooklyn by Gary Null. Levine wants to see the expansion of Tohi Organics to be available across the country and hopes to be in some NYC Whole Food Stores soon, along with local stores throughout the city. Levine says her “ultimate goal is to license the Tohi Brand” and be available across the country! Tohi Organics is distributed by Natural Market Alchemy (naturalmarketalchemy.com).
A vegan diet has many health benefits including reducing your saturated fats, high fiber intake, and providing many important vitamins including vitamins C, E, and B. A vegan diet helps lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, blood pressure, and many cancers. It also helps with your body mass index, weight loss, increased energy, and healthier skin. A vegan diet can be a much healthier way to eat. You can combine a vegan diet with other ways of eating for an even healthier lifestyle. Her knowledge encompasses over forty dietary approaches to diet including both Eastern and Western medicine. She has studied with several of the world’s foremost authorities on wellness, nutrition and coaching including Deepak Chopra, Barry Sears, and David Wolfe.
For more information on Tohi Organics, visit tohiwellness.org.
