By Grace McIntosh Contributing Writer

Walking into the quaint building where Determined Nutrition occupies, the eyes are met with vibrantly painted walls of lime green. Silver tinsel and other Christmas decorations grace the walls and motivational messages such as “Dream, Achieve, Succeed” adorn the room.

   Determined Nutrition is an “ herbalife health club” that sells healthy shakes and teas “patented to serve and give the body what it needs on a cellular level,” according to Danielle Allen, owner of the health club. Herbalife, which is a “nutrition and weight management company”, is the supplier for the shake’s and tea’s ingredients.

   When it comes to creating shakes and teas for the menu, Allen and her employees take it very seriously. “I am like a chemist or mixologist,” she laughed. “A lot of times it’s trial and error, we never put anything out that we have not truly tried or made to taste exactly like it’s supposed to.”

   “I love being able to walk out the door with a brownie batter shake and know that its guilt free,” Allen said. “It still tastes like I am licking the bowl without all those calories.” Shakes are 200 to 220 calories and include 24 grams of protein. The 32 flavors vary from vanilla to snickers to oatmeal cookies and many more.

   The teas that are sold have varying levels of caffeine labeled as “energizing, boosted and lit”. Classic flavors such as Chai and Lemon teas are offered, as well as candy flavors such as Gummy Bear and Skittles.

   Determined Nutrition is the third club of its kind to pop up in Maine, and when Allen opened her shop’s doors last May, she had a goal to positively impact the community. “I help people lose weight, gain weight and gain energy,” said Allen “It has been the most rewarding, amazing thing I have ever done in my entire life.”

   Allen also passionately expressed her wish to assist everyone with kindness. “Serving people with a smile and making a change in somebody’s day means more to me than anything else in my job.”

   In the future, Allen would love to see more students stop by her shop. “We are starting to get you guys [students] to trickle in which is nice,” she said. “I am always open to what you guys are looking for.” The business offers a dollar off any order for students who show their ID at the checkout.

   The students who do utilize Determined Nutrition, go for various reasons. “I definitely have different groups come in,” said Allen. “We have the people who hit the gym who come in for one reason, and we also have the people looking for a pick-me-up for studying.”

   All of the teas served at Determined Nutrition are vegan, while shakes are vegetarian. The menu labels which products are gluten free. Their business hours are  are 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Tuesday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sunday’s. Determined Nutrition can be found adjacent to the Municipal Parking lot next to Tranten’s.