3 Easy Ways to Earn Extra Money Through Selling Healthy Products and Services
From teaching senior fitness classes to selling healthy products such herbal coffee to services including making healthy meals, these women turned their passion for health into cash. Learn their secrets so you can too!
“I bring in up to $35,000 a year teaching senior fitness classes!”
“I used to work in sales and marketing for a luxury senior living community but resigned due to stress during the pandemic. In February 2021, I heard they were looking for a wellness coordinator, and since I had taught cycling and functional strength training classes on the side, I offered to help out until they hired someone. Within three weeks they offered me the job.
“Around the same time, I read about StrongerU Senior Fitness (StrongerUSeniorFitness.com), a senior fitness education company that offers an online, self-paced certification. I wanted to come up with new ideas for the residents, so I signed up for the $200 course, which covered cardio, strength, stretch and balance.
“I spend about 2 hours a week planning my classes and developing the choreography. I teach 10 classes a week, including functional movement, strength and circuit training, creative yoga dance, and aqua. I work around 30 hours a week.
“Teaching these classes is a heart job. I love to engage with the residents, share positivity and see the smiles on their faces! I make between $30,000 and $35,000 a year — money that pays the bills, goes toward my kids’ college tuitions and allows me to do fun things like take horseback riding lessons!” — Leslie James, 56, Wilsonville, OR
“I make $200,000 a year selling herbal coffee substitutes!”
“I have an autoimmune condition andI started a Paleo diet, but giving up coffee — and the wonderful aroma, taste and caffeine jolt — was tough. My business partner and I are foodies, and we have a passion for coffee, so we decided to create an herbal coffee substitute using organic herbs we sourced. We asked people to try it, and they all said it tasted just like coffee without the side effects of jitters, insomnia, and digestive issues. We raised money via Kickstarter, and in January 2021, Sip Herbals (SipHerbals.com) was born.
“We launched a website and did giveaways with social media influencers to spread the word. Our product is for people who don’t like the side effects of coffee or for those with autoimmune conditions, hormone issues like PCOS or those trying to conceive. We use herbs that have healing properties and are packed with nutrients like chicory (a prebiotic that feeds the gut), and dandelion root (it’s nourishing to the liver), plus dates, vanilla, and roasted carob powder in lieu of artificial colors or flavors. We started with the original flavor but have since added mocha, salted caramel, and dirty chai to the mix. Our products are sold on our website and at Amazon and a few small boutiques. We recommend brewing the herbs in a French press, which we also sell.
“I love this business because we get to help so many people! We make $200,000 a year — money that goes back into the business and is donated to charities like No Kid Hungry and the Wounded Warrior Project.” — Orleatha Smith, 44, Gardena, CA
“I earn up to $2,000 a week as a personal chef!”
“When my mom was sick with cancer, we explored ways for her to eat healthier, and I became really interested in teaching people about food. I learned about a holistic program that focuses on culinary and nutrition and how food heals, and started working in food manufacturing and for a culinary program for at-risk young adults. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, the program was put on hold. A friend of mine knew I enjoyed cooking and hired me to cook for her sick father.
I realized becoming a personal chef could be a great way to make money, so I opened Joyful Culinary Creations (JoyfulCulinaryCreations.com).
“To get the business off the ground, I set up my business license and purchased insurance. In the beginning, I found clients through Foodom, (MyFoodom.com), a company that hires personal chefs, but now I use social media and Yelp to market my business. I cook for people with food allergies, dietary restrictions and those who have chronic health conditions. I currently have at least six clients. I work from their homes, cooking three to four meals each time, which allows me to use their own ingredients and make it a personalized experience.
“I work four days a week and love being my own boss and having the flexibility to pick up my son from school. I make up to $2,000 a week — money that pays the bills and allows me to go rowing — rain or shine!” — Sarah Joy Davis-Mapumulo, 44, Richmond, CA
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First for Women.
