Name: Meet the Teen Health Advocate Trying to Combat Childhood Obesity
Uploaded: 2016-11-01
Duration: 17 min 5 s
Description: Haile Thomas launched her business when she was just 10 years old.

Hi Facebook. Welcome to Founder Friday. My name is Polina Marinova, and I am your host. I am here with Haley Thomas, who is the founder of the Happy Organization, and organization that promote healthy eating and physical activity to fight childhood obesity. Welcome Haley. Thank you for having me. Of course. So, you founded Happy when you were only twelve years old and that came from a very personal experience with your father, can you tell me a little bit about that? Sure, when I was around eight years old, my dad was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes and It stem from our family, just really eating good food [ LAUGH ] all the time. Both of my parents are from Jamaica. So I always had the best, most flavorful food in my life. But most times they were super rich or had lots of just Over the top carbs everywhere. White rice with potatoes and gravy, etc. And so all those things really built up over time for my dad and when he was diagnosed it kind of shook our family too. And how old were you at the time? I was eight. Okay. Yes. So when he was diagnosed, it really kind of set the tone for something a little different. Kind of looking at Exactly, what were we eating and then it affected not only him, but out family as a whole. And so when we found out, my mom found out about the medication, and the side effects. Which at some times sounded worse than the condition itself. [ LAUGH ] Like internal bleeding and things like that. Whoa. And we just weren't sure we wanted to take the risk. So we switched to healthy eating, and Exercising more and he was able to reverse his diabetes completely- He reversed it, wow. Without any medication at all. Okay, so then you had the idea of starting your own organization, is that right? Yes, yes. Okay, and who helped you with that? My mom, my mom is the co- founder of our organization. Great. But I'm CEO, so really I think it's amazing to have a support system. I like my mom and my parents as well, but she really has been just 100 % on board. She saw results that happened in our family and also realized along with me that kids were lacking this information and Resources to learn about healthy eating, and cooking and nutrition. And so she just kinda said, let's go, and we did. Yeah, and the organization has done so well that you recently actually made the move from Arizona to New York because you struck a partnership with, is it Harlem Grown? Tell me about that. Yes, we're really excited about starting up our partnership with Harlem Grown because they offer urban farming and gardening lessons and classes for kids in Harlem. And so they're able to not only show the kids where their food comes from and how it grows but Also benefit the community by giving this produce away to them. And so we're going to come in with our nutrition and cooking to kind of make a 360. So we're really excited about that. So you have your own cooking show on YouTube. You've done TEDx talks. You've met Michelle Obama. How have you done all of these things while balancing School. Well, for me it's really always been about keeping my passion alive. And I think that of course my education is important. And I still put in so much work into making sure that I. Because you're in high school, right? Yeah. Yes, yes. And so I'm homeschooled so that way it's kind of balanced out. I'm able to study the things I need to and also study the things that I want to learn like... I'm actually one of the youngest students at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition studying to become a certified health coach, so. By the end of this year, I will be certified and I am really excited about that but I have always wanted to be a balance because I am kind of perfectionist- ish so if my grades were slipping. Be upset, and if my passion didn't have that much attention, I would be upset as well. So, just had to compromise. And so, tell me about meeting Michelle Obama and Chelsea Clinton, and whoever else you've met, tell me more about that. Gosh, well, meeting Michelle Obama for the first time, I was. Ten, I was ten. You were ten years old! When I first met her. That was really when I first started my journey through health advocacy and activism. And so I really didn't expect any of that to happen at first. I gave a speech at the Partnership for a Healthier America summit and the First Lady was also there and, I had met the former White House chef Sam Kass. [ LAUGH ] And he had somehow made it work where I could have a solid 15 seconds to talk to the First Lady. And it was just the most inspiring Thing, but I try to piece it together in my head. Because half of it was just like- Just the dream. Yeah. [ LAUGH ] In slow motion. [ LAUGH ] Yeah. But she really just told me to keep on doing the work that I'm doing, because it's important and Really that message has just kind of stuck with me today. Good. And so, break down your day for me a little bit. Tell me how much time do you spend working. How much time do you spend on school? What's your day like? Well, my day really depends. I love working ahead, especially in school. So like- Okay The way that my schooling is set up, I can just do a whole week in one day. So usually I just take that one day to do it all, so then the rest of the time I can work on programming, or working on cooking videos, things like that. And so usually I just take a whole Monday or something just to get the school out of the way. And then the rest of the week, usually I'm collaborating with my mom, or Talking about our next upcoming projects, things like that. Working on the programs for home- grown , really its just a lot of getting things together for the new year. And Haley what do you do for fun? What do you do when you're not working, when you're not at school? I think what I do is fun, [ LAUGH ] and I don't consider it as work. Would you hang out with friends. Like do you go ice skating. Of course. I don't know how to ice skate, [ LAUGH ] unfortunately. I tried, it was bad but [ LAUGH ]. I really love playing tennis. I love Okay. Shopping, that's my thing. Girlfriend. [ LAUGH ] Of course. And I do that with friends of course. Okay so you make sure you have time. You don't feel like you don't have a childhood or you didn't. No, no not at all. Not at all. Not at all. Food is a huge thing in my life so anything related to food is so fun to me. Going to new restaurants is a whole thing for Me, and my mom, and my sister, we just hunt out different spots and then have a whole experience around it. Yeah. I love taking pictures of food so if you go on my Instagram it's basically all food. [ LAUGH ] Do you have a great Instagram? But Those are the fun things to me and just developing recipes, things like that. Yeah, and how do you learn how to cook? I learned- I'm still struggling with that. Yeah, I learned for my mom. Again, she's from Jamaica and so is my dad. Yeah. But he doesnt cook. [ LAUGH ] He doesnt cook. [ LAUGH ] He knows how to make porridge. But that's about it. But my mom, she Has always just been like so good at cooking. Even when I was little, like three years old, I'd be sitting on her lap watching Food Network with her. That's really all that was on TV, so I just absorbed it I guess. I think everybody watching is wondering this right now. What is it like running a business at 15 years old? It's really fulfilling, I would say it's fulfilling and it kinda feels awesome to be a couple steps ahead and knowing what I wanna do for my career and throughout my life. I think it just gives me a feeling of Not only accomplishment, but yes I know what it is, I don't have to go on aimlessly trying to figure out what it is. But really focus on this craft and perfecting it and I think it's just amazing that I can also help people at the same time. Is there another entrepreneur, CEO that you really admire? Gosh, there are so many, of course. Yeah. I really do admire Oprah, of course. Yeah. That's really one of the last people I just have to meet. You haven't met her yet? No, I have not. You've met everybody else, but not Oprah. [ LAUGH ] [ LAUGH ] Well, that's one of my dream people, of course. But I really admire her, because she. I mean, she's gone through so much and through all the adversity and struggles and challenges. She still fought through to do what she believed was her passion. And I mean, look what it became. So it just kind of helps me to think about no matter You know, how tired you may be, you have to remember this is what you are here for. ( interviewer ) And you touched on adversity, what is one of the hardest things you've had to go through? I think a lot of people doubt me for my age. Especially in the nutrition world, because it's very science- y and you have to be super specific about... Certain things, and you know I've had certain people say you know, this kid is fat shaming people! Or things like that, even though you know, none of those things exist. And so it's really important just to know that you know, the knowledge that I have is important because I'm able to speak to my peers. [ INAUDIBLE ] Not lecture them, but more have a conversation. That's what I found is successful for me. And I've also found a lot of allies throughout the past six years and organizations that believe in the power of youth and their voice. Yeah. And so for me I just kind of say, okay. [ LAUGH ] I'm just gonna Keep on going because I know that it's that important. When you walk into a meeting with people who are older than you, as a 15 year- old, how do you get them to take you seriously? Well, I take myself seriously first. I think if I go in there with doubts about, my gosh, am I saying the right words. Or am I doing the right thing? I don't have a degree so what am I supposed to do? That type of thing. It's gonna reflect, and so if I believe that what I'm saying is important it will project that way. Good. And so what advice would you give? Many busy entrepreneurs who say don't have the time to cook their own food. Or necessarily exercise three times or four times a week. What advice would you give them on leading a balanced lifestyle? I would say that you know the most important thing, and I always say it is you either pay for it now, or later. Whether that's time or money or whatever else. But, really you know, you can be putting in this time and effort to cook at home so that you're getting all these nutrients, you're feeling better. You will be able to work longer because you're running on Natural and real fuel from these foods, rather than spending the last five years of your life in a hospital bed and those, that's your exchange. You have to really see the value in taking care of yourself. And there's twenty- four hours in a day so you got to be able to fit in at least one, to either prep ahead for the week or to exercise for thirty minutes. It's It really doesn't have to be a big thing. Just as long as you're putting in the effort every day to further your lifespan and to be happy and healthy. Yeah, and you target children or young adults with your message, is that right? Yes. So how do you get through to them, and make sure that you're not lecturing them, but you're one of them? Well, I feel like I really am and will always be a kid at heart. I love kids, and working with kids younger than me, and my peers as well. And I think that's really what gets across. Most kids are used to hearing these messages from their teachers or their parents, and usually it doesn't have, That much meaning behind it. It's just like eat your vegetables. You're right. And that's okay and so for me the approach is telling the kids why it's important to eat your vegetables. What it does for you directly rather than saying, it has Vitamin C or things like that. But actually saying, this will help you Prevent getting colds and things like that. And so actually directly connecting it, and then of course reinforcing it with a delicious recipe and so i think with that strategy it's not so much as da da da da da. These are facts. Right. Right. And you're gonna be sick. But more focusing on You can incorporate all these things and it can also be fun too. That's great. So [ UNKNOWN ], what's the best business advice you've ever received? Gosh, the best business advice I've received. I would say the best advice that I've gotten, it's probably Well there's two things. I think the first thing is not necessarily about business, but it kinda ties in, because as a business owner or CEO I think you have to be strong within yourself. And so My mom and my dad when I was little they would always tell me before I went to kindergarten, be a leader not a follower. Always ask questions. And just don't let anybody shut you down. And if you want to express yourself or learn more about something. And so I think that's helped a lot. I see a lot of kids who have great ideas but they're scared to share them. Or Need to know more information, but they're not sure if they'll get the answers and so, for me, that's helped me kind of identify it's okay to be myself and not follow the path of everybody else or to do that, but to really discover what I want to do. And so that has been great advice. Another great tip that I got from a friend of ours was, especially with non- profits, it's kind of difficult not to focus on my gosh, we need to fundraise all the time and do things like that, But to really focus on the passion and the core of it and not to let that Go, so not let the money aspect ever kind of destroy the passion that you have for it and so. Yeah. That's really been important because sometimes it's just like my gosh how are we gonna do summer camp? Or how we're gonna do this class? And just with that passion and persistence really miracles can happen. All right and you certainly been a leader especially Among your peers you were going to school in Arizona, then you were homeschooled, and now you moved to New York for this business basically. So how do you see your future? What's next for you? What's gonna happen now that you're here? Well, I'm really excited, of course, to expand our programs and doing things like that. Reaching more kids. That's really the sole purpose of moving here. Mm- hm. We're working on a couple of things, like issuing a school challenge out. And then we're also working on a program called a happy kits. So, basically. A happy kit. Yes. So basically, what comes in it, is. All of the supplies for teachers to lead cooking classes. But also like a whole learning management system for the kids to go through all of these lessons through videos and games. And so it'll teach things from what's the health benefits of broccolini to this is all about seasonal eating and GMOs and things like that. But Taught in a fun and interactive way. And so we're really excited about offering these kids to attend schools coming out this new year and so that's one thing that's definitely going to expand while being here. But also I really just want to use being here to be a platform to share more about my message and It's a big market. Yes, exactly. Hopefully through health correspondence or something. So, my last question is what do you want to be in twenty years. My gosh, that's really far away. Okay, I'll be thirty- five, jeez. Thirty- five, I know, I know. It's like retirement age. Yeah. I think twenty years from now, I would hopefully like to have, you know, the state of kids being educated about food and nutrition to be. Very, very improved by then. Would you still wanna be an entrepreneur? Absolutely, absolutely. Honestly, it's hard for me to think about working for somebody else, like in a- Interesting. In a cubicle [ LAUGH ] type of thing. Yeah. So I would always want to do entrepreneurship I would also probably have a successful health coaching business by then working with people one on one, which is what I'm working on right now. And just have that going of course. Hopefully make my first million. [ LAUGH ] Something like that. I like this. Just shoot for the stars. This big ambition. And to have happy expanded all over the country and around the world as well. With facilities, kind of like YMCAs, things like that with like a full on kitchen for everybody to go, and a demo kitchen. And have it in schools everywhere. So, yeah. Okay, you have a plan, you have a plan. [ LAUGH ] Yeah. Well great, thank you so much Facebook, thank you Haley for joining us. Thank you for having me. And we'll see you next time on Founder Friday. [ BLANK_AUDIO ]

Meet the Teen Health Advocate Trying to Combat Childhood Obesity

Haile Thomas launched her business when she was just 10 years old.