Meet Teleah Mitchum | Nutrition Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teleah Mitchum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teleah, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I was blessed to have one child of my own and two, now grown, step-sons from my ex-husband’s first marriage. My daughter is a senior in High School, ready to graduate and enter the world. Which she admits, is a very scary place. Daily reports of gun violence, war, inflation, strikes and renewed student loan payments make you not wanna grow up. The single most important thing i did for all my kids is not to rush that process. I gave each of my children 2 years, after graduation, to live at home and figure out what you want to do with your life. I gave them the opportunity to not do anything for once in their lives. Sleep in, not have to study, party hardy, and be a little reckless. Both my boys took their 2 years and my daughter is going to college in the area so she can stay at home. I think, having that security blanket helps relives the pressure of having to get it right the first time, of having it all together, and of being afraid to fail. Both my boys have successful careers and have not had to return home, and I believe my daughter will handle the transition with the same success.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have a raw health food smoothie business. We are different from most popular smoothie businesses because our smoothies are designed to be used like medicine, a nutraceutical, to help regulate and manage a variety of health conditions. Most people have never heard of nutraceuticals. We don’t juice, we use the whole fruit and vegetable, skin and all. Each 16 oz smoothie is two servings of a full meal, so they should be used like a meal replacement or substitute, to increase your intake if vital nutrients to improve bodily functions. This makes it hard to compete with smoothie shops that are simply fruity tasting and refreshing. You have to choose to do something healthy for yourself to drink my product, which can be a difficult choice. People have good intentions when it comes to changing their lifestyle to become healthier but keeping them motivated long-term is my biggest challenge. I have 8 different God-given recipes that actually produce results, yet my own enthusiasm gets low when I do vendor shows with little to no sales. It leads you to second guess yourself and what your doing. I have determined that vendor show may not be the best avenue to showcase my product, unless it is a health fair. I found myself moving away from encouraging people to change their way of thinking about what and how they eat, to simply making a sale by any means. Simone’s Health Emporium is your go to place for all things healthy for your mind, body, and spirit. My goal is to remain true to that statement which is the foundation of the brand. Simone’s Original Smoothies is the first segment under which the healing of the body and mind shall begin.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love this question because in 2018, I was asked the same question and couldn’t think of much. But now, lets have some fun. She would arrive on a Monday afternoon and we would go straight to Mexicantown from the airport. We would stop by Honeybee Market, then have an early dinner at Xochimilco’s and have their homemade Sangria. We would help our food settle by taking a walk across the Bagley Street Bridge before we head east toward the Pointes. Tuesday we would wake to breakfast at The Jagged Fork, in Gross Pointe Farms, then we would head to midtown and spend some time wondering around the DIA before we take the Tram down Woodward to do some window shopping downtown. Then a quick trip back to the crib to shower and change in time for karaoke night at the Tin Roof. Wednesday is chicken and waffles at Le Petit Dejeuner on East Jefferson, their homemade honey syrup is light and buttery. I’m a nerd, so today will be about learning something new. We’re off, back to the Cultural District, this time to the Michigan Science Center then to the Charles Wright African American Museum. What a fitting way to end this day then at the Music Hall, for Foxxy Gwensday’s in the Aretha Franklin Jazz Cafe. Thursday breakfast is leftover’s from the night before. Since we spent yesterday inside buildings, lets spend today riding our MOGO’s down the Riverwalk, from Belle Isle to the old Joe Louis, making a pit-stop to refuel at Robert C. Valade Park on Atwater. After a long day of exercise a nice quite dinner with good food, drinks, and a cozy atmosphere is in order. So, we make reservations for the 9pm show at Cliff Bell’s. Its been eventful up to now but its the weekend, so Friday morning we skip breakfast and head to Great Lakes Crossing to get in some serious shopping and Food Court junk food! Since we are in the area, might as well get in a couple games at Top Golf with beer and burgers before we head back into the city. Saturday morning will be spent in Eastern Market supporting the local small businesses and farmers. With fresh veggies we will make a lite dinner before heading to MotorCity Casino Soundboard for a live concert then try our luck at the card tables. Grab a late night meal in the food court before going home because we have an early start on Sunday for Lions Tailgate. What a way to end the week then to see the Eastern Market transformed into a sea of Honolulu Blue! Go Lions!! What fun we will have in the downtown bars after a Lions win, doesn’t matter where we go!! Enjoy your flight home tomorrow, tired and hungover, but you must pick up a Detroit VS. Everyone t-shirt before you go! See you next time for the Draft!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout Katrina Turnbow, of Kanopi Social, for her expertise in digital marketing and the use of social media to build your brand. Until I took her Let’s Get Digital class, thru E.Warren Development Corp, I had no clue what my brand was or what direction I wanted my business to go in. She taught me about finding my ideal customer and creating an experience that will cause them to become a loyal follower of the brand.

Website: simonesoriginalsmoothies.com

Instagram: @teleahmitchum

Facebook: /SimonesHealthEmporium

Yelp: Simone’s Original Smoothies