FAST, HEALTHY FARE
Nutrition meets convenience
North America’s options for fast food have traditionally come with a side of fast, often queasy, consequences.
Perhaps as a result of the slow food or locavore movements, or maybe just the growing awareness around the concept of “you are what you eat,” over the past few years consumers have demanded healthier choices for their convenience foods. And, no, a pile of iceberg lettuce topped with fried chicken and enough cheese to sink a ship wasn’t going to cut it.
It seems Calgary’s restaurateurs and entrepreneurs alike have been listening and now the city’s growing health-conscious crowd are rejoicing and refuelling at the fresh crop of nutrition-focused fast food options that have appeared in recent months. First came the juiceries, offering cold-pressed vegetable-packed elixirs and multi-day cleanses. Hot on their heels, the grab-and-go, pre-portioned meal services are starting to take root.
Billed as a “healthy meal store,” McKenzie Towne’s Fit Kitchen, the latest concept from Jason Zaran, the force behind successful food business The Main Dish, opened its doors in early February. Featuring pre-portioned meals and complete meal plans with an equal emphasis on nutrition and taste, Fit Kitchen is bringing something new — and desirable — to the city’s culinary landscape.
“Meals prepared like this used to only be the territory of personal chefs, but now we are making them available to everyone,” Zaran says. “More and more people are understanding the connection between how they perform in their daily lives and how they eat. Eat poorly and your performance suffers. It is all about vitality and we are taking it to a new level compared to anything that has ever been offered previously in this marketplace.”
The concept for Fit Kitchen came directly out of The Main Dish’s clientele consistently asking for meal plans and detailed nutrition info. “Athletes and everyday Calgarians have expressed a high demand for eating better in increasingly demanding time challenged, yet very active lifestyles,” says Zaran. “Fit Kitchen is our way of meeting this demand.”
Fit Kitchen offers a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu for those wanting to dine in, but the majority of the store is based on freshly pre- pared “nutritionally responsible” meals such Zucchini Noodle Primavera, Yam Shepherd’s Pie and Blackened Salmon, that busy shoppers can stock their fridge with for the week.
Fit Kitchen’s meals all fall into two categories: Performance, which are designed to maximize everyday well-being and generally include a protein, complex carb and vegetable side dish; and Lean, consisting of protein and vegetables, for those looking to lose weight.
“Over 80 per cent of an individual’s success in any workout regimen can be traced back to what they eat,” says Zaran, a for- mer elite-level athlete himself. “Our sponsored athletes and numerous fitness trainers we work with have been asking for this kind of convenience over the past nine years and are all big believers in the concept.”
Brett McDermott, chef-owner of The Daily Brett, is also a believer. McDermott started as a healthconscious catering service, but decided to open his modern kitchen concept, featuring catering, dinein and many grab-and-go options all sourced from local, whole, ingredients when he recognized the growing demand for “clean eating” convenience foods.
More and more people are understanding the connection between how they perform in their daily lives and how they eat.
“I think Calgarians have always been interested in wellness — we like to be outdoors and active when we can. It’s pretty common for people to pop into the shop still in their workout gear for a healthy lunch or cold-pressed juice,” McDermott says of the clientele he regularly sees at his Beltline location. “I also think Calgarians are well travelled and come across interesting business concepts while abroad. When they come back they are hungry to see those types of things in their own city.”
Based on the philosophy of “good, honest food,” made from high quality, locally sourced ingredients, The Daily Brett is set to launch a meal delivery service this spring. Targeting health-minded Calgarians with busy lifestyles, the online ordering system will feature three or four entrees each week and a selection of nutrientdense snacks ranging from housemade power bars to veggie-based dishes. “The program will utilize whole food ingredients including gluten-free grains and naturally raised meats,” says McDermott. “And it stays away from refined