Restauranteur wants people to Eat to Live

Carmella Coq’mard, owner of Let’s Eat to Live, during the opening of the restaurant, which is located at 621 E. 67th St. PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAMES MUHAMMAD.
Carmella Coq’mard, owner of Let’s Eat to Live, during the opening of the restaurant, which is located at 621 E. 67th St. PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAMES MUHAMMAD.

 Restauranteur wants people to Eat to Live

By Tia Carol Jones

A new restaurant has opened in the Woodlawn community and its mission is to bring healthier eating options to the people on the South side.

Let’s Eat to Live opened on Saturday, Sept. 3rd, at 621 E. 67th St. Carmella Coq’mard-Muhammad is the restaurant’s owner. This is the second restaurant for Coq’mard. The first is Let’s Eat to Live @ The Foodie’s Spot, located at 7350 S. Stony Island Ave., which she opened four years ago.

Coq’mard wanted to open a second restaurant because her first location is doing so well.

“The people actually love the transition of not eating fried food to eating a lot of vegetables and clean chicken, Halal, and wild caught fish,” she said.
Once Coq’mard got people hooked on eating healthy, she knew it was time to open a second location.

Coq’mard was taught to eat better, as part of her religion. She has been a member of the Nation of Islam since she was 19-years-old and has been following the practice, which was outlined in The Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s books, “How to Eat to Live” Book No. 1 and Book No. 2. For Coq’mard, eating healthy is a way of life.

“Because in our community we eat a lot of fried food and restaurants in our community don’t concentrate on good health, I thought this would be a good opportunity to educate, more so than just providing food to people for profit,” she said.

Coq’mard hopes to be able to educate people who come into her restaurants about the best foods to eat. The menu items are based on what foods are the best for people’s health. In the smoked greens she serves, smoked salmon is used instead of turkey or pork. One of the most popular items is the beet juice, Coq’mard can’t keep it on the shelves because it sells out.

“Why not help change the condition of our people, especially in the Urban areas, with food,” she said.

Coq’mard admits that she herself has not always been the best eater. While certain foods might taste good, those foods are not good for people. When she decided to cut those unhealthy foods out of her diet and focus more on her health, she saw a difference in her health. Now, she is providing education and good food to people in South side communities.

“I’m not saying we have to become vegans or vegetarians, but more conscious eaters. Be conscious about what you’re putting in your body. Know the type of meat you’re eating. Does that meat have growth hormones in it? Does that meat have antibiotics in it? These are the consciousness I would like to bring to the West Woodlawn area,” she said.

Let’s Eat to Live in Woodlawn also has farm-to-table, with fresh vegetables that come from the garden next to the restaurant. Those vegetables are not genetically modified. Her entire objective is to provide those healthy foods and also teach how to prepare those healthy foods.

The entire block of East 67th Street in Woodlawn is being transformed for Black-owned businesses. Salaam Community Wellness Center, located at 613 E. 67th St., is a primary care and holistic healing space. Coq’mard has plans to open more restaurants, one is set to open in 2024 in the Bronzeville community.

For more information about Let’s Eat to Live, call 773-966-6549.

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