Eating healthy conjures up images of bland meals, but not according to chef Synovia Jones.
The South Los Angeles entrepreneur is changing that impression through her Super Salads To Go business and Fit and Healthy Cooking classes. Both entities offer a range of delicious and nutritious food options.
Super Salads, a mobile eatery found at Farmer’s Markets around the city, attracts a large clientele every Saturday at the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Plaza. The menu includes veggie burgers, chicken wraps, vegan crab cakes and falafels along with an array of salads featuring mixed greens, nuts, fruits and herbs.
For example, the Apple Almond Feta Salad comes with Fuji apples and almonds sprinkled with organic spring mix, cranberries, red onions and cheese. The Four Season Salad contains an appetizing mix of greens and seasonal vegetables. In addition, Jones offers natural juices and healthy dressings to enhance the palate.
A former fitness instructor, personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder with 30 years of experience, Jones said health and fitness has always been her passion.
“Super Salads To Go is my baby and I began my salad and juice business in 2005 with a vision to become a provider of nutritious food to underserved communities, as well as to educate on the importance of diet and exercise,” she explained.
With combating preventable diseases as one of her primary goals, Jones uses her “restaurant on wheels” to reach and serve more people on more days and for longer hours. This year, she expanded her business to teach people how to prepare healthy meals.
“The idea behind the Fit and Healthy Cooking classes is to really focus on the community getting healthier. We have so many health issues in our community – cancer, heart disease, diabetes – and a lot of these things are preventable through a healthy diet and exercise,” insisted Jones, who added, “The classes emphasize healthy eating – some plant-based, some vegan – and learning how to cook with plant-based and vegan type ingredients.”
The monthly cooking sessions are held at the Hot and Cool Café, 4331 Degnan Blvd., in Leimert Park. The hands-on activity, which costs $35, includes all of the ingredients for the dinner along with instruction by Jones.
According to Jones, “Cooking is really about seasoning and a lot of things that you season with herbs and spices, you can get the same flavor you’re looking for as when you’re eating meat.
“You get to eat what you cook and everything you cook you get to take home. We also have drinks and salads with every meal because I want people to understand that you need to eat your fruits and vegetables, which is a component of being healthy,” she said.
To learn more about Super Salads To Go or Fit and Healthy Cooking classes, call/text (323) 397-5340 or email [email protected].
