Owner: Julie Defreitas
By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
Next Level Nutrition is a cheerful and inviting new business offering gourmet meal replacement protein shakes, clean energizing teas and high protein iced-coffee, located at 2031 S. Glenburnie Rd. across the street from Publix. This healthy hangout is a perfect meeting place for morning beverages with friends or co-workers, or late afternoon coffee pick-me-ups. Also, to make life more convenient, they offer call-ahead ordering so customers can get in and out quickly on those hectic days.
“Our goal is to bring a welcoming and relaxed environment to the community for a healthy convenient meal option with our gourmet shakes and energy teas,” says owner Julie Defreitas. “Using these great products, we can help people reach their goals, whatever they may be, such as weight loss results, weight and muscle gains, or maintaining a healthy weight, increasing energy and improving nutrition.”
The menu offers a wide variety of shakes with delicious names: the turtle cheesecake, banana nut bread, German chocolate, mint oreo, peanut oatmeal cookie, Bahama breeze, and orange cream, amongst many others. Julie also offers sports nutrition recovery shakes called the mudslide muscleman, strawberry lava and the hulk.
The green teas can be blended with B12, natural raw guarana and other enhancers such as collagen, as well as fruit flavorings. The coffee packs a special punch of not only energizing caffeine but also a boost of protein and is available as a house blend, mocha, caramel and other appealing seasonal flavors.
Julie, who was raised in Connecticut and attended college at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, spent much of her professional life in banking. Although she had always been a competitive athlete and runner, she had always struggled with her weight. After having twins, she couldn’t get the weight to budge. Desperate for results, she tried meal replacement shakes and lost 35 pounds.
“Within the first week I felt amazing. I had so much energy and I suddenly I felt that I was not going to be trapped in my body anymore. I finally found hope and something that worked for me. I shared my results on social media and helped many friends and family get results.”
Soon after, Julie and her late husband, Sean Defreitas, began dreaming of opening a nutrition club. “My mission is to offer a supportive and positive environment and provide healthy meal options for my customers,” says Julie. “We offer monthly online weigh loss challenges and in the future, we look to offer fitness classes such as yoga and Zumba after hours inside the nutrition club. Please come and visit us so we can help you on your wellness journey!”