FORTVILLE — Knowing diabetes and high blood pressure run in her family, Pendleton resident Donna Scott set out to work on her health and nutrition.
But there was a problem.
“Every time I wanted something healthy, I had to drive all the way to Indy,” she said. “I wanted to create a healthy fast food option for the community.”
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She did just that by opening The Ultimate Nutrition in downtown Fortville, where she shares what’s helped her lose weight and be healthier — a menu of energy-providing teas and meal-replacing shakes.
Along with her personal well-being, Scott was motivated to pursue the business venture by her 25-year background in health care.
Both of her late parents had diabetes and high blood pressure, and she was borderline diabetic.
“I needed to work on my nutrition,” she said. “I wanted to do it for my family.”
Scott started experimenting with protein powder and different ingredients to make shakes, combining flavors from skills she developed through her love of baking.
“Just like a cook in a kitchen, you add different seasonings; add different this, that; and things just begin to come together,” she said.
Eventually she thought the shakes tasted so good that they’d be worth sharing, which her husband also encouraged her to do.
“Everyone needs healthy nutrition, and everyone wants nutrition that tastes good,” Scott said.
Most customers follow the steps that The Ultimate Nutrition’s menu is divided into, although it isn’t required. The first step is to choose a classic tea and aloe sweetener; or a lifted tea — an energy-providing beverage without a tea taste. Step two is to choose a meal shake, which include flavors like cookies ‘n cream, coffee toffee explosion and chocolate chip peanut butter cup. As a final step, customers can choose add-ons for their shake like fiber, probiotic and an immune boost.
“Most of our customers walk out with two drinks,” Scott said.
None of the shakes are more than 300 calories, she said, and nothing has more than 10 grams of sugar.
“We have something for everyone,” she said. “And we customize. We can make something work for you.”
Another reason Scott wanted to start her smoothie and juice bar was that she was looking for something to do in retirement that fulfilled her love of people.
“In this time, I just felt like we need some love,” she said. “We need something positive and I felt like this was positive. This is universal; this is for everyone.”
Aside from building the bar, not a lot had to be done to get The Ultimate Nutrition’s space ready in downtown Fortville. Scott said there was some painting, floor polishing and picture hanging.
“I love the character,” she said, motioning toward the exposed brick interior wall.
Scott is fond of the town as well.
“The community is amazing,” she said. “Everybody’s just been so welcoming.”
The Ultimate Nutrition employs a couple workers, including Scott’s daughter, Donica.
Fortville resident Milda Sterrett has visited the establishment and had the cafe latte shake.
“It was fantastic,” she said.
She and her husband, Bob, don’t like going out often during the COVID-19 pandemic, but have found some places conscientious of safety measures and was glad to see The Ultimate Nutrition included in that category. Employees not only wore masks, Sterrett said, but customers too, who pulled them down to take drinks before raising them back up to resume their conversations.
Sterrett praised the service as well.
“The people in there were so, so nice,” she said. “I will go back, absolutely. I think it’s a great addition for the town, I really do.”
