Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Hogan-McNeil.
Four years ago, Julia Hogan-McNeil knew her life needed a major overhaul after battling an acute aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis in October 2013. As she struggled with the disease and was bedridden for three months, Hogan-McNeil, packed on 50 pounds, suffered the loss of vision, experienced trouble walking /eventually lose the ability to move on her own and loss of feeling in her hands. “I had neglected my body in the past and my body was paying the price.” Hogan-McNeil knew she had to make a change. A devoted woman of faith, Hogan-McNeil knew only through prayer, her faith in God, a 30-day detox and a major change in her diet that she would have the power to take charge of her health and destiny.
Prayer, faith and change of diet blessed her life with perfect health and victory. In February 2014, she founded Julia-Cooks Organic Super Foods and 7Star Juice Bar. Today, Hogan-McNeil has built a successful and highly sought healthy food service corporation, J. Cooks, Inc., serving healthy food and organic juice options to the Greater Houston community. Initially, Hogan-McNeil started off selling healthy salads in a jar and offered a selection of organic juice drinks in various locations in Houston. Word spread quickly on social media and she was approached about opening a restaurant on a military base in Houston. It was there that she gained restaurant and catering experience while serving healthy gourmet foods.
To serve a larger customer base, Hogan-McNeil decided to change her business strategy to focus on the rapidly growing food truck industry. Her mobile kitchen known as Julia Cooks Organic Food Truck and 7Star Juice Bar debuted in January 2016.less than a year later Hogan-McNeil opened her 2nd Food Truck in The Woodlands area. Julia Cooks Organic Food Truck has served healthy meals and 7Star Juice drinks to thousands of people in Texas and across The United States since its launch, including providing meals to displaced Houstonians following Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 in partnership with the American Red Cross. Recognized for her business and community contributions, Hogan-McNeil has been, featured on numerous local television news programs, talk shows and newspapers.
Hogan-McNeil was recently named the new Executive Chef of the YWCA and is expanding her food empire with her business partner and husband, Head Chef Robin McNeil. J. Cooks Inc. is also offering franchise opportunities, and brick and mortar locations throughout the United States. She has inked deals for her business to be a vendor in Minute Maid Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston in 2018. She is also working on several future projects, including a Recipe Book, Community Garden Towers, Juicing Book for Healing with biblical scriptures.
Audio workbook for corporate office groups for team building, cooking classes for small groups and raw cooking classes. Hogan-McNeil is a motivational speaker and enjoys sharing her personal testimony to help others who are dealing with health challenges. A native Houstonian, Julia Hogan-McNeil was a distinguished member of The Texas Southern Debate Team, attending Bennett College in North Carolina. Hogan- McNeil earned her bachelor degrees in Business Management and Business Marketing from The University of Phoenix also has a Special Education/Elementary Education Training Certification from Region IV.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We have a few roadblocks as a young woman-owned company. Figuring out how and what to do with no experience. Managing a budget with no working capital and making it work with sweat equity. Staying focused on the good and positive. Running a 20 person company with only two people.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Julia Cooks Organic Food Truck & #7StarJuiceBar – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We serve healthy gourmet food and drink and meal plans to people everywhere thru our gourmet food truck. We work 17 hour days providing healthy “Wealthy” gourmet food and drink to people from all walks of life.
I started this company immediately after I Beat Multiple Sclerosis in 2014. I was blind and paralyzed from M.S. My husband and my two healing sisters, and my parents got together and we did a 30-day detox program. No chewing just juice drinks made on a daily basis. I coupled this with prayer/faith and most importantly, I did a spiritual fasting detox of forgiveness and let-go! I had to choose to let go and forgive and started thanking God for my future (and I had no idea what my future held).
We specialize in gourmet vegan. Some of our top sellers are our Stuffed Pineapple Bowls, Black Bean Burger Nachos, Our Ultimate Vegan Burger, and of course our Cold Pressed Juice Drinks. One of the most popular juice drinks we serve is our Exotic Detox Drink made with Charcoal.
I am most proud of everything. My mistakes, my efforts, my disappointments. But the most Important thing in proud of is not giving up. When my body was so tired and I could barely move, but I did not give up. When we would come home from working 17 hours and working three locations and having to pay out expenses that totaled more than what we made, but I did not give up.
This is what I am most proud of. The fact that I beat multiple sclerosis without medical assistance and no modern medicine at all sets me apart. The fact that I can admit my faults and move forward sets me apart. The fact that I will never give up, sets me apart.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our plans for the future are moving forward with the expansion of our gourmet food truck as a food kiosk inside of Minute Maid Park. Our everyday high traffic locations for our multiple food trucks. Have a dedicated food truck for our meal plans.
Julia cooks organic food truck is the official gourmet healthy food for the World Series Championship Houston Astros 2018 Season.
We are looking forward to hiring some of the Worlds Best Employees. Employees with special needs, veterans, senior citizens and of course that eager high school student.
Pricing:
- Three Day Juice Detox 79.99
- Weekly Meal Plan 5 Days 99.99
- Juice Detox Boot Camp 199.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.julia-cooks.com
- Phone: 2819608249
- Email: info@julia-cooks.com
- Instagram: @juliacooksorganicfoodtruck
- Facebook: Julia Cooks Organic Food Truck
- Twitter: Julia Cooks Organic Food Truck
- Yelp: Julia Cooks Organic Food Truck & More Featuring 7Star Juice Bar
- Other: Julia Cooks Organic & More Featuring 7Star Juice Bar on Pinterest
Image Credit:
Michelle Media Branding @promosbyMichelle
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