Why Most Restaurants Fail in the First 5 Years... | Elcio Zanatta | DSH #1910

Can healthy food actually make you feel different? In this episode of Digital Social Hour, Sean Kelly sits down with Elcio, the founder of Aubergine Kitchen, to talk about how real food, energy, purpose, and business all connect. Elcio shares how one seminar changed his life, why he cut seed oils and refined sugar from the menu long before it became trendy, and how Aubergine Kitchen grew from one small cafe into a fast-growing brand with loyal customers. This conversation goes way beyond restaurants. It gets into why so many people feel tired after eating, why convenience is costing us our health, how to build a business with purpose, and what it really takes to scale without losing quality. Elcio also opens up about working with his wife, building culture inside a company, and why success means nothing without health, family, and contribution. If you care about nutrition, entrepreneurship, longevity, or building something meaningful, this is one of those episodes that sticks with you. Elcio’s story is proof that better food can change more than your body. It can change your life. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Why Healthy Food Should Feel Different 0:36 How Aubergine Kitchen Started 2:18 The Lifestyle Shift That Changed Everything 3:38 Opening the First Location With No Marketing 4:54 Why They Never Used Seed Oils or Refined Sugar 6:31 Why So Many People Feel Bad After Eating 11:24 Growing a Healthy Restaurant Brand 13:41 Why They Refused to Sell Soda 21:00 Using AI in Business the Right Way 32:32 Purpose, Failure, and Building a Meaningful Life What You’ll Learn 🍽️ Why the best test for food is how you feel after eating it 🥗 Why “fresh” food is not always truly healthy 🚫 Why Aubergine Kitchen never used seed oils or refined sugar 📈 How word-of-mouth helped grow the business without heavy marketing 🧠 Why asking better questions matters in business and in life 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How to work with family without letting roles get messy 💪 Why health and vitality are the foundation of real success 🏪 What it takes to scale a restaurant without losing quality 🤖 How Lio thinks about AI and why prompting matters 🌱 Why purpose matters more than money when building a business 🎙️ APPLY OR CONNECT 👉 Interested in being a guest? Apply here: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/apply 💼 SPONSORS: Gohighlevel: https://www.gohighlevel.com/digitalsocialhour 📩 Business Inquiries & Sponsorships [e-mail] 👤 GUEST Elcio Zanatta: https://www.instagram.com/elcio.aubergine/ https://x.com/Elcio_Zanatta 🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 📸 Follow the Host Sean Kelly on Instagram: @seanmikekelly ⚠️ DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed by guests on Digital Social Hour are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Sean Kelly, or the Digital Social Hour team. The host and producers are not responsible for statements, claims, or opinions shared by guests during the show. This content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, financial, or professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to do their own research and consult qualified professionals when appropriate. While we aim to share accurate and reliable information, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or accuracy. 🔥 Stay tuned for more conversations with creators, founders, and innovators shaping the digital world. Keywords Elcio Aubergine Kitchen, Aubergine Kitchen podcast, healthy restaurant, no seed oils, no refined sugar, healthy eating habits, clean ingredients, restaurant business advice, Sean Kelly podcast, Digital Social Hour, healthy lifestyle, food and energy, entrepreneurship, Vegas healthy food Visit Our Website at https://digital-social-hour.simplecast.com/ Presented by https://podgo.io/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.