EATS Customer Healthy Helpings went live as of November 17th. Their grand opening was held at their Langley, BC location and featured free meals and entertainment. Healthy Helpings makes their name on healthy, fresh, nutritious meals for families. If you're in the Lower Mainland, check out Healthy Helpings in Langley.

USA Today reported recently that buying a good, almost-home-cooked Thanksgiving meal is becoming more popular year after year. 2005 saw 5% of US households purchasing their pre-made or pre-prepped Thanksgiving meal from an assortment of sources, and market research suggests that this year it will top 6%.

The most popular sources for the Thanksgiving meal are upscale eateries, natural grocers, online food services, fast food, and of course, Easy Meal Assembly stores. More and more Easy Meal Prep businesses are providing a Thanksgiving menu this year, whether for regular assembly sessions, for pre-made pickup, or both. Customers are increasingly looking for a healthier, more organic and better-tasting "homemade" meal, but nobody has the time.

USA Today makes reference to the Google Generation - short on time but looking for tasty, healthy, nutritious food just like Grandma used to make.

Special seasonal items are more popular than ever this year in Easy Meal Prep stores, with Christmas cookies, Thanksgiving sides, New Years Eve appetizer platters and other holiday favourites getting top sales for many businesses and franchises.

The Easy Meal Assembly business hit nationwide airwaves when this segment was broadcasted on Business Week. The segment profiles two of the largest Easy Meal Prep franchises out there - Super Suppers and Dream Dinners - and discusses the concept with entrepreneurship opportunities in mind.


With Easy Meal Assembly hitting the headlines and business booming, it won't be long until the industry is a household idea.

Frances Largeman wrote a great article over on Health.Com about Easy Meal Prep places - she visited a large franchise location and shared her experiences. While she, like many of us, was a huge fan of the concept, she was critical of some of the nutritionals and ingredients associated with the dishes.

Many of the larger franchises use canned and frozen ingredients and things like liquid eggs and liquid butter, white rice and white bread, which are nutritionally devoid and high in fat. This saves money and time for the company, but sacrifices customers' health. While these meals are still healthier than a lot of take-out and almost all fast food, Largeman feels that customers should be careful while shopping for Easy Meal Prep meals.

One of our favourite things about many of our clients is that they offer healthier alternatives. Sensational Suppers offers vegetarian options of many of their most popular meals each month. Soon-to-be-opened Healthy Helpings makes their name on providing healthy, quick meals for busy families.

Largeman's points are good. Be careful what you're buying - one of the best things about choosing Easy Meal Prep over take-out is the health and wellness benefits for your family.