#eatwithmune
Balanced meal leads to healthy lifestyle. Mohamad Mughniy and Idris Khan shares with MALIK RIDHWAN the inspiration behind #eatwithmune
THE demand for balanced meals practiced by Mohamad Mughniy Mohamed inspired him to open a café with a different concept.
#eatwithmune allows customers to enjoy a meal without having to worry about ingredients that can affect health.
It all started when Mughniy was advised by doctors to be concerned about his lifestyle and food consumption during his pilot training course late last year. At that time, he weighs 135kg.
“The doctor told me that I need to do something about my weight because it’s not about passing this medical test but it’s about my lifestyle. I was shocked and I told myself I need to make a change,” said Mughniy.
Spending 5 hours a day at the gym for 2 years, Mughniy lost 40kgs to-date. However, the doctor described his starvation approach he took as unhealthy causing him to be underweight.
Mughniy substitutes ingredients and the condiments of his recipes with alternative sources, and calls his method as ‘meal hacking’.
"Instead of using salt, I use existing amino liquid extracted from vegetables which is very high in protein, and it gives you more benefit, such as vitamins.”
“For example, when preparing Nasi Lemak, I don’t use coconut milk. Instead, I replace it with coconut oil which is high in vitamin A and good for your immune system.”
His attempt on meal hacking proved to be a success and attracted many of his friends and followers after sharing its outcome on his Instagram with the hashtag #eatwithmune.
"People start to like and words spread around. My friends and neighbours started placing orders. From 10 boxes became 20 boxes until at one point, I had to prepare up to 100 boxes per day.”
When Mughniy saw the potential in it, that’s when the idea of opening up a concept café came.
Taking up to 6 months identifying a suitable concept, Mughniy received an offer to expand his business in October 2014 and invited his best friend, Idris Khan to be in charge of marketing.
With an investment of RM500 million, they both grace the two-storey café with private collection of collectable items.
Operational since January this year, the first-floor of the café features an unorthodox set-up. At first glance, it’s an elegant space with warm, exposed-brick hues & soulful paintings that would fit into an up market Italian restaurant. But the shelves made it look like a quirky eatery, lined with Radiohead CD sleeves alongside men’s health magazines, sport shoes & protein powder tubs.
With 12 employees including 5 chefs, Idris shares his plan to open another branch by end of this year and in 2 years time, the amount will double up including a possibility of operating one in Singapore.
In addition to local delicacies, western food like pasta and pancakes are served at the café located in Solaris Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
These two friends are merely not into profits but also aim to educate and help the society with nutritional and balanced eating lifestyles due to rising concerns of obesity in the country.
Mughniy and Idris both agree that effort and passion in doing something is sure to become a success with patience and persistence.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get healthy and head to #eatwithmune!