Let’s face it, we live in a pretty fast-paced world. We are constantly on-the-go, whether it’s for work, school, parental responsibilities, and so on. One of the first things to fall by the wayside is cooking, let alone healthy cooking. Of course we want to be healthy, fit, and fueled by good nutrition, but what are we to do when we don’t have the time to meal prep?
The answer? My Fit Foods.
The My Fit Foods Store in Studio City, California
Disclosure: A My Fit Foods PR representative contacted me to visit a MFF store, and share my experience on my blog. I received one day’s worth of food for free so I could offer my honest opinion. No other compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
What is My Fit Foods?
Created by personal trainer and former Marine Mario Mendias, MFF is “a revolutionary new way to enjoy fresh, great tasting, and healthy food on your schedule.” Mendias started cooking meals in his home for his clients in 2006. His concept then grew into what My Fit Foods is today. There are various stores throughout Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, and Illinois (Chicago). I visited the store in Studio City (Los Angeles), California. Each store is stocked full of healthy, pre-portioned meals. There are several options, such as gluten-free (note: the kitchen is not certified gluten-free), sodium sensitive and calorie controlled, low glycemic grains, fresh produce, and antioxidant rich spices.
How Does It Work?
You walk into a MFF store and tell them what you’re looking for (quick meals, dinners only, etc). There’s an entire wall of refrigerated food: snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and desserts. You can either look at the meals and choose what you would like to purchase, or ask for the on-site nutrition coach (Studio City’s coach is Natalie). The customized nutrition coaching is complimentary, meaning FREE! Each coach is highly-trained and certified.
Here’s A Walk Through Of How I Started:
I met with Natalie (and MFF PR representative Whitney) to talk about what MFF offers. I shared my struggles and my goals with Natalie. For example, I’m always on-the-go, 7 days a week. I know how to eat healthy (I used to be a health coach), but I don’t know what my body specifically needs. Should I be gluten-free? Is red meat really going to give me a heart attack? There are so many fad diets out there (especially in LA), that I feel like our perception of good health gets skewed. Also, I really dislike cooking.
Natalie told me about their 21 Day Challenge. Basically with this challenge, Natalie (or that store’s nutrition coach) puts together a customized 21 day meal plan based on your health goals, lifestyle, occupation/schedule, and what your body needs. She tailors it to your likes; for example, I don’t like seafood. So she was able to put together a plan that didn’t contain seafood, but still offered enough calories, vitamins, and so on for what my body needs. Natalie printed out a form that has your meals/snacks laid out for 21 days. It’s awesome, because you won’t really have to think about what to eat and when to eat it. I’m sure some people want to have the freedom to eat what and when they want, but for people like me, I want whatever is the simplest option! I would then pick up my food in the store twice a week.
Photos courtesy of MFF’s website
When doing the challenge, Natalie recommends a multivitamin (there’s one for men and one for women) and a liver cleanse to clear the toxins out of your liver. I’m not doing the 21 day challenge at the moment, so I did not purchase either of these. However, I did purchase their raspberry B12 liquid supplement (my body is severely lacking in B vitamins). It comes in a dropper bottle, so I mix it with my Drip Drop hydration drink. It’s delicious! I also purchased a bottle of probiotics, which my body desperately needs as well.
Does The Food Taste Good?
Yes! So good. I am a very picky eater, so I was happy to see how many options there were! I took home a one day supply of fresh meals (never frozen and cooked/delivered every morning) and tried each of them three hours apart (Natalie’s recommendation). My boyfriend, Tim, also tried the meals/snacks. Tim tends to be skeptical of things that cost money when he can just do it at home. He tried the meals thinking he wasn’t going to like any of it; he LOVED all of it! And I agree. Everything was super delicious! The meals range between $5 and $12 (each). The snacks range from $1 to $4.
My First Day Consisted Of:
- Breakfast: Oat Bake (my favorite meal)
- Snack: Protein Bar (their brand)
- Lunch: Gimme More Chicken Wrap
- Snack: Veggies In The Raw
- Dinner: Asian Flat Iron
I purchased these absolutely DELISH raw cacao truffles (60 calories for one) because I like to have a piece of chocolate after dinner. I definitely need some more! 😉
I’m excited to begin my 21 day challenge with My Fit Foods! Like I said before, my schedule makes it hard to eat healthy consistently. Since the meals can be microwaved (or cooked on stove top for a bit more flavor), I can definitely take them with me. The snacks can either travel in an insulated tote or simply in your bag if they don’t need refrigerated. If you don’t have a tote, they have ones in the store! And they’re big enough to hold a day’s worth of meals/snacks. I will definitely be going back to pick up food for myself and Tim, and probably this week!
To find a My Fit Foods store near you, visit their website –> locations (or click here).
To check out their entire menu, visit their website –> menu (or click here).
There’s also a list of 101 reasons why MFF helps you lose weight and live healthier that’s pretty awesome!
Follow My Fit Foods on social media to keep up-to-date with the company:
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – YouTube – LinkedIn
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What is the hardest challenge you face while maintaining your healthy lifestyle?
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Would you be interested in a store like MFF? What do you like/dislike about it?
Thank you for reading my blog! I love chatting with people, so please leave a comment below. 🙂 Thank you to My Fit Foods for the opportunity!
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Dyane Harwood
These stores look awesome! I want some of those truffles! Unfortunately there are no stores near me, but maybe they’ll open one up in the future, as Santa Cruz County is very health-conscious. 🙂
Dyane Harwood recently posted…Do YOU think bipolar disorder is a gift?
thebalancedbrunette
Oh I’m sure! They’re planning on expanding. That would be the perfect place!!
Jody - Fit at 57
I kinda like doing my own thing plus I am broke… 🙂 For me – age – so hard cause we have to eat less & still do as mush as before to maintain our current weight. 🙂
Jody – Fit at 57 recently posted…Thanks Beyond Words!
thebalancedbrunette
I am broke too! Haha! I would only be able to get a few dinners a week. Re your age: is that because of a slower metabolism? My mom is 56 and works out and eats really healthy, but tends to maintain her weight. It’s related to her hormonal imbalances!
Crystal
Great post! Just now getting to it after Instagram. I have an appointment for the 21 day challenge week 🙂 If there PR people are reading or would like any feedback I would def suggest calling it anything other than “21 day challenge” it reminds me of Beachbody and Beachbody is SO gimicky!! Even if I don’t follow through with the 21 days I feel like this is a great way to learn portion control and get a free meal plan 🙂
thebalancedbrunette
Let me know how the appointment goes if you don’t mind! And yes, I definitely agree about the 21 Day Challenge name. I saw it on the sign before I walked in and was hesitant about it. It reminds me of BeachBody and I totally agree, so gimicky! And yes, you get a full meal plan! How awesome is that?!? Thanks for stopping by and commenting Crystal 🙂
thebalancedbrunette recently posted…Are You Too Busy To Cook, But Still Want Healthy Meals? My Fit Foods Has A Solution For That
Bernice
This is a good read. Thanks for this.
lyndsinreallife
Thank you and you’re welcome!