As someone that’s always on the go, food is something that’s always been a priority. Up through college I had the luxury of meals being made for me (more or less – hello dining halls, mom & dad, chefs for roommates – I love you). I wasn’t picky and if there was food around it was in my stomach. Post college, I picked up a 9am-5pm job and realized that I needed to be more intentional with my diet. I experimented with meal prepping but always found myself discouraged after a couple weeks because of how time consuming the process was. This all changed after I moved to Charlotte five years ago and I’ve never looked back.

Moving to Charlotte, there were and are so many options when it comes to ready made meal prepped foods. This concept blew my mind. Apparently I had been living under a rock in Chicago because I only knew how to navigate meal prep on my own. Between wandering around the grocery store without a list and hungry, to getting everything home and not having the ingredients for a complete meal, I was lost…for probably way too long. Seeing how many companies were in Charlotte that solved all of these problems with a storefront was a magical solution and I got to work on trying all of them. The list below are some of my absolute favorites in Charlotte but just like fitness you have to find what works for you. So in alphabetical order, because I can’t actually rank them….drumroll please.

Chop & Chisel Concord & Uptown

Brian & Jamie Baird started this meal prep company out of a need that they saw. Life is crazy and eating healthy is one of the first things to fall to the wayside when you’re working late hours, or running the kids between activities, or you just haven’t had time to get to the store. They have created tasty, healthy and easily accessible meals on the go for you and your family. From individual meals to buying proteins and carbs in bulk they offer you can choose specifically what works for your lifestyle. I like to think of them of the fusion between home cooking and healthy eating because my husband will eat pretty much every meal on their menu – from someone that swears by Wonder Bread and diet coke, this place is a win!

Clean Eatz LKN & South End

Owned by Sarah Conrad, this firecracker keeps meals F-R-E-S-H and fun. Her staff gets to know you by name and they do a great job recommending meals that you’ll love. Clean Eatz offers a weekly rotating fresh menu and are constantly creating new recipes to serve up hot, fresh and/or frozen that it’s hard to get tired of this spot. My personal favorites that got me through pregnancy are their sweet potato nachos (“Good For You” Nachos) and their pepperoni cauliflower pizza. The ability to provide hot meals like a traditional restaurant, fresh meals that can be reheated throughout the week and frozen meals that can be popped in the microwave at home and on the go make it a no brainer to stop in.  Their meals are also diet friendly and clearly labeled so whether you’re paleo, gluten free, vegan or something else, you’re bound to find something to love.

Get Fit Foods SouthPark, South End, Plaza Midwood & Ballantyne

Get Fit Foods makes the list because these guys have locations from Uptown to South Charlotte which makes it easy to find one near you. Slinging meals that are “always fresh and never frozen” David Yermanos has come up with delicious options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even the snacks inbetween. All meals are ready to heat and go making them a fast and easy option to stop in and pick up what you need. Get Fit Foods also offers meal plans that you can order in advance and be set for the week. My personal favorites here are the Huevos Rancheros and the Protein muffins…I’m a sucker for mini sized snacks anywhere. Last but not least, if you’re a macro counter, all of their meals have the macros clearly labeled making it easy to keep counting on the go.

 
Project Lean Nation South End
Jeremy Batt and his wife Lauren introduced Charlotte to these amazing meals. They make ordering a weeks worth of meals with delivery to your doorstep a breeze or if you just need to pick up a quick lunch in the area, you can stop by and select something amazing from their grab & go fridges. They also have a smoothie bar, which everyone raves about the PB&Jacked but my personal favorite is the Muscle Mochachino. They also write you sweet notes on these treats that even on your worst day will at least make you smile. From breakfast (hellooo Paleo Power Cakes) to dinner and shakes, these guys have an extensive menu to choose from and a small dedicated team that makes stopping in feel like home. Best news yet? Their general manager Morgan (@morgainz10 on IG) has just locked in a new location in Plaza Midwood to keep spreading this delicious brand!

While these are my favorite traditional meal prep companies in Charlotte, I do have to give an honorable mention to Green Brothers Juice Co. and I Love Juice Bar Plaza Midwood. I’m not one to last on a liquid only diet BUT these two juice companies can definitely hit the spot for a quick snack or lunch fix on the go. Check out my favorites, the Mr. Joe or AB+J from Green Brothers or if you’re in the Plaza Midwood area, the Mint To Be is light and refreshing!

Happy eating Charlotte! Stop in, use your member discounts and support local at any of these businesses and tell me what your faves are!

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