Meet Shakia Urquhart | Registered Nurse. Saladtician. Parfista.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shakia Urquhart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shakia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Sultry Salads was birthed throughout the course of my nursing school journey. I initially started creating aesthetic salads as a way to decompress, practice mindfulness, and most importantly maintain a balanced, healthy relationship with food. Heart disease has cursed my family for many generations. My maternal grandmother passed away of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) when I was 11 years old, followed by my mother being diagnosed with Post-partum Cardiomyopathy at age 32 after delivering my younger sister. My lowest point came during my second semester of nursing school in the pandemic when my mother became extremely ill and suffered an exacerbation of CHF; her ejection fraction was only 5%,compared to a normal functioning heart that can pump between 55-70%. I’ll never forget the fear I experienced discussing heart transplants to save my mom. That fear fueled me.

Along with my mother’s condition, my husband had suffered intermittent gastrointestinal issues for years until we discovered his sensitivity to gluten-containing foods. We also determined through observation and prior experience that our youngest son had the same gluten intolerance.

Food has always been comfort for me, however I knew that I could no longer regularly prepare and consume meals that would be to myself and my family’s detriment. I was determined to break this generational curse by taking charge of any and all modifiable lifestyle factors, food being at the top of that list. I had to become the change I so desperately wanted to see for myself, my family, and our legacy.

As a Registered Nurse, mother, and wife constantly on the go, I had to meal prep throughout the week to stay on track with my health goals. I decided to put my salads and parfaits in a jar for convenience and to benefit the environment as opposed to using plastic. The glass jars allow for full visualization of every single ingredient. The vibrant colors, precision, and placement complete the aesthetic because let’s be honest, who wants a boring salad ?

More than anything, it’s the impact that I am after. Salads are more than just a few vegetables thrown together for me. Pairing the proper fruits, veggies, herbs, grains and textures changes everything. My goal is to provide a sultry experience on your palette.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Becoming an RN was no easy feat, especially while living in SoCal. The programs are extremely competitive and the process can become overwhelming and discouraging at times. There were MANY occasions when I wanted to throw the towel in, however this was a personal goal I needed to accomplish for myself. I had been a Licensed Vocational Nurse for 10 years and it took me 10 years to finish my degree while becoming a wife and mother of 2, moving cross country, and just dealing with life’s daily occurrences. Despite being rejected from 2 nursing programs and having another program suddenly lose accreditation, I had a point to prove. I did not come this far to only come this far.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned and this stays with me daily: “Proper planning prevents poor performance.”

I always move with grit and grace and I now understand that whatever the universe has for me will always make its way into my hands.

What I’d like the world to know about my brand is that it is derived by passion and necessity. African American women have the highest rate of heart disease in the nation. This is something I hope to change, one salad and one dairy-free/gluten-free parfait at a time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hash House a Gogo Great Maple
Ike’s Sandwiches
Nashiki Ramen
Swagyu
Maverick’s Beach Club
Anime
Rei de Gado
Karina’s Seafood
Tacos El Gordo
Royal Mandarin
Kebab Shop
Cannonball
Cruce

Places to visit:
La Jolla Cove
Coronado Beach
Mission Beach/Belmont Park
Solana Beach
Eastlake
Sunset Cliffs
Carlsbad Flower Fields
Balboa Park
Gaslamp Quarter

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give the biggest shout out to my other half, my very best friend, my husband Dewey. You’re my biggest cheerleader, supporter, and sous chef. Mommy, literally none of this would be possible without you. Thank you for your unconditional love.

My beautiful sons, Mommy does this for you; my prayer is to be here and healthy for you always; I hope to lead you by example with healthy and happy habits.

Instagram: sultrysalads

Image Credits
CC: Dewey Ransom CC: Cynthia Avalos