Healthy eating has never been associated with takeout eating, at least it wasn’t for me growing up, or for any of my friends in college. They needed cheap and quick…easy to eat, easy to pay for. Those terms tend to mean processed or pizza, which are fine if you’re young, metabolically gifted, and unexacting. Growing slowly however, is a niche market of gourmet, healthy to-go in Tampa, filling the void where busy, conscientious people desire meticulous meals that are equal parts form and function.
One of those local trailblazers is FitLife Foods, a clean, nearly sterile storefront on South Dale Mabry (with other locations too). Meals are prepared daily in an industrial kitchen, separated from the retail area where breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals are stored in LED-lit refrigerators and arranged in small, medium, or large sizes. Prices vary but are competitive with other (non-healthy) takeout and comparatively lower than restaurants serving the same quality food.
My first experience was with the Ab Tight Tenderloin: perfectly cooked, tender, flavorful, accompanied by sweet potato mash and asparagus. In size M it was plenty of food for me, with nutritional values displayed proudly on the side of the container. Most recently I tried the Greek Meatballs, which were equally enjoyable, and low in fat and unnecessary carbohydrates.
If you are a young professional with a kitchen but no one to cook for, or you are a busy yoga mom with yuppie children to feed…or you just enjoy a more refined to-go experience, I cannot implore you enough to give FitLife a try. The cheery, Lululemon-esque staff are more than happy to suggest dishes and discuss allergies or ingredients with you.
I will be back there again soon!
