OTB NUTRITION, THE COOLEST PLACE IN TOWN

There is no denying that North Carolina is hot, hot, hot in the summer. Even with a steady breeze, if it’s a 96-degree temperature breeze, it still doesn’t help. It seems like the warmer it gets, the less energy I have, which means I am less active and tend to gain weight. And the older I get, the harder it is to lose the weight.

But OTB Nutrition, short for “Over the Bridge,” located at 2163 Britton Road in Harrington Square (near CVS on Village Road) showed me how I can change. OTB Nutrition opened for business on May 20 and has been offering some solutions, not only to beat the heat, but for achieving and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

I was quick to judge the word “nutrition” in my mind by expecting OTB to have that moldy product smell that sometimes permeates dusty, dark health food stores in the mall. I was wrong.

Heather Lane, owner of OTB, has made sure that the environment is open, full of light and inviting. Menu offerings take up most of the space near the bar.  A couch and two chairs look out toward a patio area with a fountain where you can sit and enjoy yourself with a refreshing drink. A neon sign over the kitchen shouts, “Pouring out Love.”  There is an area that seats four near the back door where you can sit and enjoy lively music, or head out to sit on the patio under an umbrella.

The basics on the menu are healthy, plant-based shakes and “beauty” teas. Among many other things, they also offer iced coffee, hot protein oat snacks like apple cinnamon, banana bread and maple brown sugar. These are meal replacement and refresher drinks and snacks that can help lower your daily calorie intake. The menu seems endless, with different kinds of flavors and options.

This is more than a nutrition-filled bakery and shake shop. It’s an adventure that can fit any lifestyle or help you achieve a new one. Never one for anything other than a fatty chocolate milkshake, I took the plunge and tried a “Death by Chocolate,” a meal replacement with chocolate bits on top. Included in the price of the shake was a 16-ounce cup of tea, filled with antioxidants, and ingredients meant to boost your metabolism. The shake was cool and sweet, and I didn’t feel heavy like I do after having a regular milkshake. On another visit, I tried a swirled Mocha Latte that I swore was from a fancy coffee shop.

Heather said, “I want to give people the results they are looking for in a fun place. Whether it’s weight loss, eating and drinking something that’s healthier than they usually have or just to relax, you can find it here.”  And as a few customers came over from Truist Bank, during their morning coffee break, it seemed like Heather achieved her goal. They raved, “It’s therapeutic here, you can take a few minutes out of your day to catch a breath and gear up for what’s next on your schedule. The drinks are fantastic and give you a real energy boost. The décor is beautiful, the area is comfortable, and you meet all kinds of new people here.”

I asked Heather if people really want to eat healthy. “Yes and no,” she said. “People do want to eat healthy; they just don’t want to put the work into making what they feel are healthy snacks and food. You don’t have to do that — eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard to do. What we have at OTB appeals to a wide variety of people because we offer a wide variety of products — not just those who are fitness conscious, but moms and kids out for a walk, seniors and even teenagers.”

“The word ‘healthy’ means different things to different people,” Heather said. “When you have small children, it’s not good for them to have sugar-based drinks all of the time. It’s not good for their body and certainly not for their teeth. What I offer is balanced nutrition. When I am serving children, I modify the ingredients so that I cut the amount of protein in half or more, depending on the age of the child. And they love it. It’s good to drink and looks and tastes like dessert.”

As many new business owners have found, Leland is a great place to be. “I have received such positive vibes from the community,” Heather said. “Everyone has expressed excitement that there is a healthy food option in the neighborhood. Word of mouth is huge in Leland. New people come in all of the time and tell me they are here because one of their friends tried one of our shakes and really enjoyed it, so they want to try it as well.

“I want the Town of Leland to know that opening this place isn’t just about me. It’s about my family and helping others,” she continued. “I have done this for 10 years and it’s an amazing opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. This is about collaborating with people and helping them. My son, Michael, works here and I hope that he sees that we are helping others do something positive for themselves. I’m excited to see what’s next.  I want to become a staple in the community — a place where you can hang out. I want to cheer people on as they change their lives by changing what they eat. Nutrition isn’t boring. We offer things that are refreshing and fun.’

My husband and I have watched the landscape of Leland change over 13 years. It used to be a place with a bank, a dry cleaner, a fast-food chain location, a breakfast place, and a gas station.  And then we started to grow, and grow quickly. After that, we saw an increase in storage places and apartment buildings. But what I see in OTB is a trend that I hope will continue in Leland — a fun place that adds value to our residents by helping them help themselves. A place that offers good products at reasonable prices. A clean, modern bright place to spend some time and relax. A place to meet an upbeat woman with a mission and her son, an attractive, funny young man, who supports his mother’s dream to make a difference.

OTB is open from 6 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday and 6 am to 2 pm on Saturday. You can call Heather at 910-834-2064 or check out OTB’s Instagram page at otb_nutrition.