Healthy Habits Kitchen

Lots of blog changes going on so my apologies if you’ve received this twice!

A few weeks ago I was invited to check out Healthy Habits Kitchen in a nearby town. I was excited to meet Sue, the owner of HHK, to learn about her healthy meal assembly kitchen, how it works, the foods she prepares, and more!

Sue started HHK in 2007 when she saw the trend of meal assembly kitchens growing. Consumers were looking for fast ways to get homemade meals on the table. However, she noticed that many of the country’s assembly kitchens weren’t focused on healthy food, something she’s passionate about. So Sue set out to come up with a convenient way to heat healthy and even teamed up with a Registered Dietitian!

Sue uses the best hormone and antibiotic free meat she can find, and works closely with local farmer’s markets to purchase local, in-season produce. All meals made in HHK can be purchased fresh or frozen, but they’re all freezer-friendly, which is nice if you want to pick up a collection of meals to last you a few weeks at home. HHK also has side dishes and desserts available (ready to bake cookie dough – yum!).

Sue’s delicious looking menu changes monthly, with some staple favorites staying put. There are meals available to serve 2-3 or 4-6 people. Each meal comes nicely packaged in a box with cooking instructions and basic nutrition information. For more in depth info, you can check out her website. All meal servings are 400 calories or less, with no more than 800mg of sodium and 30% fat. I asked Sue if she ever had guests who used her meals as a sort of weight management program, since the food is of such high nutritional quality with the nutrition information and ingredients nicely spelled out. And although this isn’t a weight loss program, she has seen guests who have had success. The food takes the guessing game out of calories, serving sizes, and ingredients.

Guests are invited to either 1) pick up pre-assembled meals 2) self-assemble in the Healthy Habits Kitchen or 3) come for a private party where you get to socialize, assemble meals, enjoy a meal, and leave with healthy food to make at home. Honestly, that’s my idea of a very good time! Sue’s kitchen even has a cute lounge area where guests can gather, but it’s also where she’ll host events and workshops, like the upcoming one on stress, and a fun wine & chocolate seminar. These events are all open to the public.

Before I arrived at HHK I wondered if I’d like the meal assembly concept for myself. I find cooking therapeutic and it is a great creative outlet for me. I love nothing more than coming up with an amazing meal to share with others, and I was worried this “art” would be lost if I were to follow a meal template (you all know I don’t follow recipes well). As it happened, the week I went to HHK was a mega-stressful and hectic one for me and I was beyond thrilled to be sent home with two HHK meal-kits. Getting dinner together that night was effortless, thanks to HHK. So I can imagine Sue’s clients, who are likely busy, stressed, and have families to feed, feel at ease knowing they’re bringing home healthy meals that don’t take a lot of prep work. Once you bring the meals home, you still have cooking to do – like boiling the pasta water, or baking the chicken, so there is some kitchen work involved. I loved this because I see it as empowering people in the kitchen. You give them the exact tools and ingredients they need to put a great meal on the table, and they’re more likely to feel confident enough to do it on their own sometimes too. For people who are intimidated by cooking, exact measurements (me!), or following a recipe, HHK is a great way to break down those kitchen barriers.

Sue was so kind to assemble two meals for me to take home. Funk and I shared the Orzo, Garbanzo Beans, Lemon and Dill dish and loved it. Fresh dill? Chickpeas? You got me there. I’d love to see more whole wheat options on the menu (like with the orzo and spaghetti) and of course more vegetarian and vegan options, since I think many people are starting to test the waters with a plant-based diet, and have no idea where to begin or what to cook in a meatless meal.

Overall, I loved HHK, the concept, Sue’s enthusiasm about her company, and the guidance it gives people in the kitchen. If you’re in the Boston/Wellesley MA area, I highly recommend HHK to help you get a quick healthy meal on the table once, or every night. Healthy cooking and eating CAN be easy.