10 Questions with Holistic Health Coach and Nutritionist, Robyn Youkilis

Robyn Youkilis is a health coach and the Founder of Your Healthiest You, a holistic health company that aims to help individuals reach their health goals via education and a unique approach to health and wellness.

Founder: Robyn Youkilis

Company: Your Healthiest You

Location: New York, NY

1. How I came up with the concept of Your Healthiest You:

I have a natural love of food. I always say that I learned to cook as a “baby.” My mom would put me down for naps in a bassinet in the kitchen while she made dinner.

Later in life as an adult, when I lived in Los Angeles my appreciation of food was taken to a whole new level given the multitude of farmer’s markets and cooking as joint interest with my boyfriend (who is now my husband). I realized the beauty of caring and nurturing for myself and others through food. That natural passion, led me to study nutrition and start my practice.

2. Ambition:

I want to have it all. Well … what that means to me at least. I dream of a house in the country with a goat and a small farm with fresh veggies and an apartment in the city that I commute to for my television series, media appearances, running the enterprise side of my business including products, cookbooks and coaching offerings.

3. One day I hope to:

Generally when people try “health foods” their response is, “This isn’t that bad.” But rather I’d love to hear someone — who isn’t used to eating real, natural, “good for you” food — say, “This is amazing and so much better than the crap I was eating before!” That would bring me true joy.

4. Current obsession:

I’m obsessed with two things right now – Runa tea in the morning and my iPad. People always marvel when I proclaim that I am not a coffee drinker … “How do you work in the morning?” they exclaim.

My answer (for the last year or so) has been Guayusa (gwhy-you-sa) tea, made from the native Amazonian tree leaf that indigenous people in the Ecuadorian Amazon have brewed for ages. It is sold by a company called Runa. I’ve found it to be a natural uplifting tea that truly gives me focused energy. I love to write my articles first thing in the morning and my tea is the perfect companion.

My iPad is an obsession because I am trying to go green and hopefully run a truly paperless practice very soon. This helps me take client notes, track their progress and even jot down recipe ideas.