News Summary
Kitchen Shift, a local smoothie bar and quick café in Lexington, is celebrating its first anniversary, promoting healthy eating within the community. With a gluten-free, organic menu, the café caters to health-conscious customers and has adapted its offerings based on community feedback. Owner Elizabeth Kronenberg, a certified nutritionist, emphasizes the importance of nutritious meal options for all ages, solidifying Kitchen Shift’s presence as a go-to spot for wholesome dining in Lexington.
Lexington, Kentucky – Kitchen Shift, a local smoothie bar and quick café, is celebrating its first anniversary, marking a successful year of promoting healthy eating habits within the community. Located at 3101 Clays Mill Road, Kitchen Shift has established itself as a grab-and-go spot offering a full gluten-free and organic menu designed to cater to various health-conscious customers.
Kitchen Shift’s menu features a range of rotating options, including protein shakes, four varieties of chicken salad, lemon pesto, veggie spring rolls, and chia pudding, with prices ranging from $8 to $24. Most ingredients are sourced from reputable suppliers such as Whole Foods and Costco, demonstrating Kitchen Shift’s commitment to using organic products.
The café has attracted a diverse clientele, from high school athletes seeking nutritious post-workout options to older adults focused on improving their health. Owner Elizabeth Kronenberg, who is a certified nutritionist and health coach, has centered the café’s mission around providing healthy alternatives comparable to homemade meals.
Menu Highlights and Nutrition Focus
All recipes at Kitchen Shift are crafted without seed oils, making them suitable for customers with specific dietary restrictions, including allergies and autoimmune conditions. The café promotes the idea of food as preventive medicine, incorporating ingredients like ginger and turmeric into various dishes to enhance overall well-being.
In terms of beverages, the café’s protein shakes are made with Thorne protein powder and include nutrient-rich superfoods. Beetroot powder is often utilized to enhance the color and taste of the shakes, appealing to health-conscious consumers. Additionally, the café features sought-after items such as matcha lattes and banana bread, contributing to an elevated dining experience in Lexington.
Supplement Offerings and Popularity
Kitchen Shift also has a dedicated shelf for dietary supplements that carries over five brands, all of which are rigorously tested for harmful substances. Among these products, Cymbiotika has gained attention, particularly through promotions on TikTok. The café’s top-selling item is Holi Mane collagen, a marine-based product that supports exercise recovery as well as benefits for hair and nails.
Business Evolution and Community Engagement
Elizabeth Kronenberg launched Kitchen Shift in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a temporary closure of the café. The initial concept focused on offering healthy cooking classes, but this quickly transitioned to providing prepared meals for sale as the community faced challenges due to the pandemic. The first employees included three college students, including Kronenberg’s daughter and nephew, highlighting the family-oriented nature of the business.
Throughout its first year, Kitchen Shift has continually adapted its menu and offerings based on community feedback and changing customer needs. This responsiveness is indicative of its commitment to serving the health and wellness objectives of the Lexington community.
As Kitchen Shift celebrates its anniversary, it underscores the significance of healthy eating and nutrition in modern lifestyles, aiming to provide convenient yet wholesome options that resonate with a growing audience looking to improve their eating habits.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Kentucky.com: Kitchen Shift Celebrates First Anniversary
- Wikipedia: Nutrition
- Fox56 News: Health Coach on New Year’s Resolutions
- Google Search: Healthy Eating
- Kentucky.com: Local Business News
- Google Scholar: Preventive Medicine
- LEX18: UK Students Fight Hunger
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Organic Food
- Kentucky.com: Fayette County News
- Google News: Lexington Kentucky

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LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexingtonKY.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.