The food and fitness link

It's not only the rich who can have a personal chef take away the worry about making meals. A new Edmonton-area business hopes to play that role for busy men and women, with a line of healthy fresh-prepared entrees and snacks that are designed to grab and go.

Seeing nothing else like it in the city, Fresh Fit Foods brought chef Seamus Blue on board to create nutritious meals for those with little time or know-how.

“Real food for real people,” is Blue's mantra.

The chef said everything in his kitchen is made from scratch, using only top-quality meats and homemade seasonings and dressings, which he uses to create meals that are low fat, low salt and have a low glycemic index.

“It's about getting three squares a day plus snacks, so the body feels less stress and doesn't go into starvation mode,” said Blue. “There are many fads out there, and we're not trying to dazzle with bull. This is a way to pick up a healthy meal. It can become a habit, and that can lead to weight loss.”

Those who have tried the fresh-made fare give it top marks.

“I find healthy foods to be bland, but this chili and chicken and broccoli are delicious,” said World Health club member Tony Loi, who has sampled a few lunch and dinner entrees.

Fresh Fit Foods operations director Brian Hopkins said the company aims to increase production volume to offer even better value to customers. “Our goal is to set the bar high, become the gold standard in the industry,” he said.

UBC professor and nutrition myth-buster James McCormack agreed that diets don't work. He pointed to anecdotal evidence that moderation is key in health and weight maintenance.

“The evidence is clear that being active contributes to good health, so do something you enjoy,” McCormack said. “And there’s some evidence to show that the Mediterranean-style diet (plenty of fish, fresh vegetables and healthy oils) is effective in moderation – a Mediterranean/moderation, or M and M diet.”