Fall is a time when families are getting into their routines that will likely keep them on the go and busy for the rest of the school year. The best well-meaning parents often struggle to ensure that their family is eating healthy and that they have the time to sit down to dinner together. The good news is that there is an option for families in the Washington, D.C., area that can help them achieve both goals simultaneously. 

"I know all too well how difficult getting healthy meals on the table can be for families, and how important it truly is," said Shana Greenbaum, founder of Healthy Fresh Meals, a home delivery meal prep service. "This is why I started the company. I want to help solve the problem for families and seniors alike, ensuring they have access to healthy meals without putting in all the effort to go get or make them.”

Greenbaum grew up being taught the importance of healthy eating, and when she became a mother herself, she saw that the struggle was real for other parents. They wanted to give their families nutritious meals and eat dinner together, but some barriers got in the way, leaving them feeling guilty and inadequate. Rather than constantly feeling like they are coming up short, many families and seniors are now taking advantage of the healthy meal prep service offered by Healthy Fresh Meals.  

According to research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, having healthy family meals together promotes healthy eating in children. They report that families have a significant influence on the health behaviors of their children, including their intake of fruits and vegetables. Despite the known benefits of families eating together and having healthy meals, many are unable to do so on a regular basis. The study identifies several barriers to regular family meals, including conflicting work schedules, after-school activities, stress, limited financial resources, and a lack of a suitable place to sit and eat together.

Time constraints are often the biggest roadblock for families when it comes to eating healthy meals together regularly. They have busy schedules and can't find the time to do all it takes to prepare nutritious meals, including shopping for the ingredients, preparing the meal, and doing the cleanup afterward. Seniors struggle to get healthy meals each day because they may find it challenging to do the shopping and prep work, or they may not want to go through all the hassle for only one or two people. This is why so many families and seniors are turning to healthy meal prep services like Healthy Fresh Meals.

While meal programs for seniors have been available for years, they are often criticized for offering low-quality options and are frequently outdated. They fulfill a need in a pinch, but the meals provided by such programs are not known for being particularly healthy, flavorful, or diverse. Modern-day meal prep programs help ensure healthy eating for every generation, without sacrificing the idea of hot, delicious meals that are also nutritious. 

Here are five reasons families and seniors are turning to meal prep services this fall:

Save time. The time savings that meal prep services provide are hard for families to beat. The meals are delivered to the door, ready to heat and eat, thus saving people the time that would go into shopping and preparing the food. That time can be spent doing the other things that need to be done.

Eat well. Meal prep services offer a variety of options, allowing people to enjoy a range of foods, even if they don’t know how to prepare them. The added variety that people will have helps to keep them interested and get a range of nutrients in their diet. People often eat healthier and have a better array when they opt for meal prep services, too.

Reduced stress. Most people find it stressful to come up with so many meals per week that they need to make. They stress over what to make, the shopping required to prepare the meals, and then the act of making them. Meal prep services reduce stress, helping families and seniors get more enjoyment out of mealtime.

Portion control. With meals portioned out, people will usually not overeat. This helps them to stick to a more ideal number of daily calories, as well as reduces food waste. This helps ensure everyone is eating a healthy amount each day, and without big pots of leftovers, they won’t be enticed to overeat.

Cost savings. While this may be surprising to some, it’s not difficult to see how meal prep services are more affordable when you consider the time spent shopping and preparing food, as well as accounting for any food waste. Additionally, helping kids develop a foundation for healthy eating is priceless for most.

"The feedback we get from our customers is wonderful," added Greenbaum. "By using our meal prep service, they are eating healthier, saving time and money, and have a variety of dishes to choose from. They are loving it!”

Healthy Fresh Meals was recently added to the list of 2025 Honorees in Culture Champions, an annual list of the 100 brightest small and mid-sized businesses in America. The list is put out by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce each year. The company, founded in 2016, has grown to employ over 20 staff members and is a leader in the industry in the Washington, D.C., area for providing healthy meal prep services. They currently offer a nutritious meal prep service to residents in counties such as Charles, Montgomery, Howard, Prince George's, and soon Alexandria.

Healthy Fresh Meals offers a home delivery meal prep service to residents in the Washington, D.C. area, including those in Virginia and Maryland, with expansion plans. They offer an extensive menu of items to choose from, which changes weekly. The meals are all prepared by a team of professionally trained chefs, offering well-balanced options for both adults and children. They offer a wide variety of choices each week, including meals specifically designed for athletes, as well as options that are high-protein, low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and more. The meals are nutritious, great for picky eaters, and there are no subscriptions. There are breakfasts, lunches on the go, dinner entrees, family meals, and healthy treats. To learn more about Healthy Fresh Meals and see a menu, visit the site at: https://www.healthyfreshmeals.com/