By Sally Tippett Rains
Many have noticed, but in the year 2021, “fast food” isn’t fast. The drive-through lines are long and when you get through the long waits, the food is still “fast food” which often means unhealthy on a regular basis. We have discovered a locally-owned chain of restaurants where you can get your food fast and it is plays right into a healthy lifestyle—which is what STLSportsPage.com likes to advocate. Though fit-flavors has been in business for a while; we just found out about it after they opened their most recent location–and wanted to spread the word.
According to the owner, Jillian Tedesco, fit-flavors (and she says “lowercased” is correct) is a lifestyle brand, not a diet.
This website has always advocated a healthy lifestyle rather than a “diet.” Editor-in-Chief, Rob Rains (shown left) lost 60 pounds about eight years ago by changing his lifestyle to more low-carb and he has kept it off by continuing with that lifestyle.
The first thing he did when he finally made a decision to change his life was cut out soda for a few months. Though he does drink soda now, he has drastically cut back and he also tries to keep his carbs, sugar, and fried foods to a minimum. Though he definitely eats what he wants on occasion- on a daily basis he regularly makes more healthy choices and that includes healthy smoothies and more whole foods. He never pushes his lifestyle on others, but does advocate finding out what is healthy for you.
Whatever is healthy for you is what you should do. Some have adapted a gluten-free diet, some go with low calorie, some low carb—and some are just looking for a delicious meal. Fit-flavors has something for everyone.
“We meet customers wherever they are on their nutrition journey,” said Tedesco who does a podcast called Owning the Wait, which will be the title of a book she is writing. “Whether they are trying to lose weight and have questions, following a low sodium diet, on a fad diet, or have food allergies, we can be a resource to them. We pride ourselves on having something on the menu for everyone. We love to educate customers about how nutrition works and why a lifestyle approach is a more sustainable approach than any fad diet.”
The new restaurant, fit-flavors recently opened in Sunset Hills and they plan to celebrate their Grand Opening on Sunday, September 26th from 11am to 2pm.
The concept started when Tedesco was a personal trainer and she started producing healthy, all natural, pre-cooked/packaged meals that are portion controlled and ready to heat and eat. It started with cooking for a handful of clients and has grown into a group of five successful restaurants.
“I feel like I am living out my purpose,” said Tedesco, who was spotlighted in 2020 by the St. Louis Business Journal for her success with the 40 Under 40 list of rising stars in the business community. “I believe God has His hand in the business and has guided us through the years. I believe it is my personal purpose to serve others through the fit-flavors platform. Whether that is through food, nutrition, or education, All the experiences in my life have led me to where I am now.
“I love that I get to combine my passion for food and culinary with my experience and knowledge around nutrition science and coaching people to make a lifestyle change. Our product and business are a result of my passion and experience.”
In these times it seems like customer service has become a lost art. A visit to fit-flavors will revive your faith in people who are proud of their business and want to be helpful.
“My favorite thing about fit-flavors (besides the flavorful meals) would be our nutritional resources,” said Katie Ehlen, (shown left in front of the cooler) one of the managers at the Sunset Hills location who was very helpful as new customers wandered into the shop. “We offer a nutritional counseling program called FitU run by our licensed and registered dietitian Allison Lesko. Our company is always trying to educate clients on the importance of nutrition as a whole.”
Four times a year they change their menu to go with the seasons. They cycle about 30 of their products to seasonal items in order to keep the menu fresh and interesting.
“I lead menu development for fit-flavors,” said Tedesco. “The menu development team consists of our Nutrition Analyst, Executive Chef, Sous Chefs, Baker, and Registered Dietician.”
“As someone who has always struggled with balancing nutrition, this program has been a beneficial experience for me,” said Ehlen. “I can honestly say the knowledge I have gained from fit-flavors and FitU will serve me for life. Having a menu that changes with the seasons is also awesome. I look forward to the new menus and seeing what new flavors that we create.”
The Sunset Hills Location has been in the works for a while.
“We have wanted to come to that area since 2017,” Tedesco said. “But it wasn’t the right timing for our business. After coming out of the pandemic, we found that people now more than ever are looking for convenient, healthy pre-made meals. Three things that we are experts in. The opportunity and timing were right, so we jumped on it.”
Some customers from the other stores who live in South County have come in, glad to have their favorite food stop nearby. Fit-flavors is located in the shopping center at the southwest corner of Watson and Lindbergh — near Home Depot–at 10756 Sunset Hills Plz. St. Louis, MO 63127. The newest location features microwaves, tables and even couches for the busy worker taking a minimum time to grab lunch. They can choose a meal, microwave it and then sit on the comfy couches and scroll their social media– or catch up on all the Cardinals action with the latest articles on STLSportsPag.com. They also have carry-out and delivery.
For the Sunset Hills Grand Opening they plan to give out free smoothies as well as have a tasting of select items on their new Fall Menu. There will be a live DJ, photo booth, and giveaways (including a $500 and two $250 fit-flavors gift cards).
The first 200 customers will get a free t-shirt.
fit-flavors locations:
14842 Clayton Rd. Chesterfield, MO 63017
(636) 220 9390, [email protected]
- Monday – Friday: 10am-7pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10am-6pm
meals only
11615 Olive Blvd. Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314) 736 6700, [email protected]
- Monday – Friday: 10am-7pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10am-6pm
meals and smoothies
6219 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. St. Peters, MO 63304
(636) 244 5689, [email protected]
- Monday – Friday: 10am-7pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10am-6pm
meals only
8566 Eager Rd. Brentwood, MO 63144
(314) 549 8230, [email protected]
- Monday – Friday: 10am-7pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10am-6pm
meals only
10756 Sunset Hills Plz. St. Louis, MO 63127
(314) 833 5180, [email protected]
- Monday – Friday: 10am-7pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10am-6pm
meals and smoothies
Related
https://stlsportspage.com/2021/09/16/fit-flavors-restaurant-celebrates-new-location-as-owner-lives-out-her-purpose/
