SOMERS POINT — Shore Physicians Group has formed a partnership with Goji Juice Bar designed to encourage healthy choices for those leading busy lives.
Each month, Goji will feature a special menu selection that has been endorsed by Tiffany Rios, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with Shore Physicians Group’s Endocrinology Division. The “Dietitian Approved” item will be promoted in the store and on social media with a listing of its nutritional components, how they benefit health, calorie count and pricing.
“Our lives are so busy these days and we are pulled in 100 directions. So, when the kids are late for practice, the emails keep coming in and the laundry’s piling up to the ceiling, we don’t always make the time to prepare a healthy meal at home,” Rios said. “The No. 1 barrier to eating healthy that I hear from patients is that they don’t have time to cook and don’t have access to healthy items on the go. One of my patients said, ‘I like healthy food, I just don’t have time to make it.’”
Along with lack of time, Rios feels that another barrier to eating healthier is that people do not know how to create meals balanced with carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibers.
“Part of what I do in my practice is help patients build meals with the macronutrients needed to feel satisfied, while also balancing blood sugars and improving energy,” Rios said. “I’m always looking for meals packed with nutrient density found in plants, proteins and healthy fats — especially with high-fiber carbohydrates like beans, greens and berries.”
Rios said Goji offers options that are quick, nutritious and taste great.
“Goji offers healthy smoothies, salads and more, conveniently ready for those on the go. I’m thrilled to be working with the Goji team to develop and promote these nutritious offerings to the community,” Rios said.
Julia Lindsay grew up in Somers Point and is a 2006 graduate of Mainland Regional High School. Her husband and partner, Scott Lindsay, grew up in Egg Harbor Township. The couple now lives with their three children on a farm in EHT, where they grow some of the produce they use at the shops.
She said they started Goji in May 2019.
“We were super stoked on the location,” Julia Lindsay said, noting it was formerly part of a Burger King. “A big selling point was the drive through. On the go, you can grab something healthy in a fast food way.”
They wanted to create a place for those with active lifestyles who were looking for nutritious options instead of fast food.
“We have achieved our mission of making nourishing food affordable, accessible and approachable, and as parents it will always remain important to us,” she said. “Tiffany has long been a customer, so it’s great to have her genuine seal of approval from a taste and service vantage point as well as her expertise in nutrition.”
The first official “Dietitian Approved” item at Goji — with locations at 520 New Road in Somers Point and 612 Asbury Ave. in Ocean City — is the Aerosmith smoothie. Cauliflower, cherries, cinnamon, almond butter and coconut are among the main ingredients.
The cauliflower, cherries and berries are packed with fibrous carbohydrates and antioxidants that, in combination with pea protein and healthy fats, help slow sugar absorption into the bloodstream. Topping it off with cinnamon solidifies the blood sugar balancing act. One can add kale and a touch of maca for extra energy and antioxidants. The Aerosmith smoothie is $9 with an additional $1.50 if kale and maca are added.
Goji is open seven days a week . Visit lifesgo.com for hours or to order online. Customers can order and pick up through the drive through in Somers Point or call (609) 800-4654 for quick pick up at either location.
Rios is treating patients at Shore Physicians Group’s Endocrinology Division at 18 W. New York Ave. in Somers Point. To learn more, visit shorephysiciansgroup.com.
To schedule an appointment with Rios, call (609) 365-5300.