Upstate Nutrition Consultants will open a retail and training location to help people learn how to cook and prepare meals that promote healthy lifestyles. They will occupy Maude's Antiques on Poinsett Street.
A kitchen, much like one at home, will be designed to teach how and what to cook for clients.
Watkins announced her moving into the renovated, 2,000 square foot building at 108 Poinsett Street, formerly Maude’s Antiques. Watkins asked how she selected the popular restaurant location said, “Because Greer is where it’s happening and booming. It’s such a family-friendly town.”
Watkins said Upstate Nutrition Consultants will provide a wide range of consulting services to long-term care providers, acute-care hospitals and rehabilitation units.
Registration will be on line when the opening gets closer, Watkins said.
“We will have group training sessions and restaurants may want to send line cooks to learn food safety,” Watkins said. Cooking demonstrations may include showing clients the pantry and teaching them alternative recipes that will give the taste of what they’ve been consuming for years but with a healthier base of preparation.
“Let’s step out of the green bean world and try oven roasted kale,” Watkins said. “It’s not a one size fits all with food.”
“This is not a place where folks will come in and order food,” Watkins said. “Our consultations will be by appointment only. We don’t use the word diet. We will have registered dietiticians to talk about the benefits of what your are eating.”
Theme nights will showcase international cooking, Watkins said. Pasta night will show how to make pasta or use pasta bought from the grocery store. We may have Mexican night. “We invite people to bring their own groups and we will have a catered class prepared on site.”
Watkins said her mother didn’t work and that enabled her to share her cooking skills. “My mother showed me how to cook.” Watkins said. “I believe it begins with the parents and they become excited with what cooking has to offer.”
Upstate Nutrition is at 58 Parkway Commons until its move to Greer. Call 915-2640.
• Chuck Langston of Langston-Black Real Estate, Inc. represented the seller, Maude’s Antiques. The Purchaser was represented by Renee Skeans of Highland Realty.