Rimsie McConiga
Special to the Citizen
Nate and Angel Biggs opened their new business, Platte City Nutrition, July 1 at 1302 Platte Falls Road and describe their new venture as healthy fast food.
The Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the business on Thursday, Aug. 8.
The products help people lose or gain weight if needed, while offering healthy nutrition options for young and old alike.
For those who aren’t sure what nutrients would most benefit them, the Biggs personalize their recommendations.
“We noticed there were a lot of fast food restaurants in Platte City and we want to give people a healthy alternative,” Angel Biggs said. “A lot of people come in every day and some people just come in now and then, but we personalize what we offer for exactly what people need and want for themselves.”
The Biggs offer combinations that include three steps. The first step is an aloe shot in a cup that is good for hydration levels. Angel explains that while aloe is really good for sunburn, it performs the same healing qualities from the inside. It comes in cranberry and mango flavors and is also good for digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Shakes, which contain 21 essential vitamins and nutrients, are the second step. “Most smoothies and shakes are filled with a lot of sugar, milk products and ice cream,” Angel said. “Our shakes taste creamy and milky but they are made with water and a protein drink mix. The main ingredient is soybean protein but the estrogen factors are taken out. Even though you’re drinking a meal-replacement shake they have all the macro and micronutrients. They have everything and more that you would get in a well-balanced meal.”
The Herbalife products have been formulated with the guidance of 300 doctors and scientists to ensure they are healthy and safe and that the product is exactly made with the ingredients listed on the label.
The shakes vary in their protein amount. For children and people who are petite, 17 grams of protein in the drink is the norm. Men and athletes who order the premium shake get 24 grams.
The shakes also come with toppings such as blueberry cheesecake, which are very popular with kids. The maximum amount of calories for any combination of shake flavors and toppings is 250.
“The toppings don’t add a whole lot of calories and certainly don’t make or break a diet,” Angel said. “The only difference is the amount of protein. They all have the same nutrients.”
A tea serving is the third step. The green and black tea combination called thermal tea boosts the metabolism and burns 100 calories.
“The difference between energy drinks and soda is we don’t add any sugar to anything,” Angel said. “You won’t get a sugary crash. Our product works off the adrenal gland versus the nervous system so we have a lot of people say they don’t do caffeine because it gives them a nervous feeling. Our products don’t do that. I’ll say ‘try it, drink half and wait an hour and tell me what you think,’ and they typically have no problem with it. Level one has about 85 milligrams of caffeine but it’s a natural caffeine so it’s typically about the same amount as a green apple will give you.”
The business also offers daily specials such as non-alcoholic jello shots and protein balls, which are made with oats, peanut butter, cinnamon, vanilla and almond butter.
Level three also includes B12 for energy and collagen, which not only helps with hair, skin and nails but also tightens up skin when people are losing weight or growing older. Angel has a two-year-old and a four-month-old baby and she says she can attest to the fact that collagen helps with stretch marks.
The mega teas can be layered with different flavors and since they taste more like juice appeal to those who don’t like tea.
Angel has been using the Herbalife products since 2007 when she was an athlete in high school. She did power lifting and played softball.
“I needed products to sustain my lifestyle and I needed protein to sustain muscle,” Angel said. “You never know what supplements contain in stores and what you’re going to get. Athletes know the food and supplements they get have to be approved and won’t fail you for a drug test. All of our products are NSF approved. They are certified.”
She loved the results she got from the products in high school. When she moved away to attend college she was unable to buy the products. After she married and had kids she began gaining weight. She worked out but didn’t understand why she wasn’t getting results. When she began using the products again she began losing weight and has now lost 46 lbs.
“With these products you have a coach that follows up on results and explains what each product contains and how it benefits you,” Angel said. “Anyone that works behind the bar here is a trained coach who can help people with what an individual needs.”
When she convinced her husband to try the products when they met in college his goal was to gain 30 pounds of muscle, which he did.
Angel was a full-time banker and Nate worked 100 hours a week for a tire company. Now they both work at the business and their kids are with them.
“My vision was to find a way to bring my husband home to spend more time with our boys,” Angel said. “We love living in Platte City. I like the small town feel and we have met so many cool people. We have developed so many new relationships in just a month.”
With regulars coming in every day, the Biggs are glad they acted on achieving their goal.