Audrea Johnson and Michelle Kline, are both Crossfit participants and recently decided they needed something to eat after a workout that wouldn’t undo the work they put in.
So, after months of prayer and careful consideration, they opened Eden, Clean Eating in Picayune, in partnership with their husbands, in December.
“There’s no other clean eating in Picayune,” Johnson said.
As a trainer and former gym owner, 80 percent of being healthy is nutrition, she said.
Everything at Eden is fresh, healthy and tastes delicious, Johnson said.
The restaurant offers dine-in and to-go options and meal preparations for eating at home throughout the week.
In just a couple months of operation, regular customers have already reported losing weight, she said, creating a rewarding environment where customers have the resources they need to change their lifestyle.
“Everybody has to eat healthy,” Johnson said.
The meal preps have been incredibly successful because of how easy and versatile they are, she said.
Now, meal preps also include macro counts like calories, protein, fat and carbohydrates.
The restaurant features a color-coded system that helps customers eat in moderation, she said. Just like a traffic signal, green, yellow and red dots tell customers when it’s good to load up their plate and when they should slow down and think about portion control, Johnson said.
Healthier options are coded green, while foods that should be eaten in moderation are coded yellow or red.
“We give you the tools,” she said; it’s up to the consumer what they build with them.
Eden also offers fresh juices and smoothies, without the tempting option of soft drinks.
The smoothies and juices do not contain added sugar, just fresh fruit and vegetables with an optional protein powder, Johnson said.
Just like any healthy diet, it’s acceptable to have cheat meals, but in moderation.
“It’s okay to splurge sometimes so you don’t go insane,” Johnson said. “Even our cheats are kind of healthy, like the paleo chili with cornbread or our popular peanut butter balls.”
Another unique aspect of Eden is the use of biodegradable and recycled containers. Sustainability, reduced waste and conservation are three factors that play into business decisions, Johnson said. For example, even though plastic utensils may not be the best possible option, their use is more feasible than recycled or metal utensils.
“People are really trying to change their lives a little bit,” Johnson said, adding that it’s good to see the warm response from the community.
Eden is open Monday through Friday starting at 8 a.m. for juice and smoothies until the mega bar opens from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eden, Clean Eating is located at 1824 Highway 11 North in Picayune. For more information, call 601-347-1562.