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Meet Liz Murphy of Santosha Nutrition in Oceanside

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Murphy.

Liz, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m 27 years old and just putting it out there – I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m a huge proponent of two things — you are always exactly where you’re supposed to be & fake it ’til you make it. I founded Santosha Nutrition with a simple thought in mind – eating more plants can change the world. My journey to plant-based eating has been riddled with various health issues including auto-immune problems, food intolerances, and severe inflammation. I’ve spent the last ten years navigating through a sea of lifestyles & dietary regimens attempting to find the best option for my own body. It is through this journey that the idea for Santosha Nutrition sprouted. After studying Hospitality Management at Northern Arizona University, I worked in restaurants and hotels for many years, finally landing as a Sales & Catering Manager at a hotel in Oceanside, CA. Around three years into the job, I decided to work towards certifications in nutrition and health & wellness with the goal of starting a plant-based nutrition business centered around sharing my passion for food & this planet with others. I now work full time with Imperfect Produce in addition to focusing my energies on Santosha, offering holistic health coaching programs, cooking classes & events.

I truly believe that every human has an evolving purpose in life – and once you find yourself on the correct path, the universe will unforgivingly push you forward.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road is an interesting concept – I’m not sure I’ve ever been on one nor do I want to be. I’m not saying that it isn’t nice to catch a lucky break once in a while, but it is through difficulty that we learn the best lessons. I struggled to find my calling, I struggled to put that into action, I struggle to find momentum… but with each triumph over an obstacle, I grow into a stronger coach & human.

One of the big challenges as an entrepreneur is trust – trusting in your own ability to achieve what sometimes seems impossible. Confidence in yourself is what I consider to be the best tool on the *bumpy* road to success.

Santosha Nutrition – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Santosha Nutrition is a plant-based service company offering holistic health coaching, cooking classes & events. I’ve always found immense joy in cooking & now have a way to share this with others in various capacities. Santosha is a Sanskrit word meaning contentment, which truly embodies my goals for myself, others and the world around me. My favorite part about being a coach is that I am able to create completely personalized programs for my clients. Every person and every ‘body’ is different, so we work together to cultivate growth towards a happier, healthier you.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment so far has been executing seasonal, plant-based group dinners. Each event is inspired by the season and includes appetizers, drinks & a four-course dinner with optional wine pairing. The dinners seem to be a reflection of my own growth through this process — always different and always evolving. It’s truly a dream come true to be behind the scenes of an event that I would normally be attending and to receive peoples’ positive feedback about food that I prepare!

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Image Credit:
Aprill Manriquez – Love Captured Photography

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