Keeping in step with major cities like New York and San Francisco, the Greater Gainesville area has flourished with companies looking to provide fresh, healthy meals directly to customers. To make your choice easier, we’ve rounded up the details on four excellent options — Eat the 80, Vegan2Go, Chef Ami and UFit Meals.
Vegan2Go
Vegan2Go is spearheaded by avid and passionate vegan of 25 years, Michael Garrett. Consisting of a small restaurant as well as a weekly meal service, Vegan2Go seeks to bring animal cruelty free meals to the Greater Gainesville area for health-conscious people who do simply do not have the time to cook or who have recently become vegan and are looking for reliable options.
Open since: November 2012
Areas of service & pick up/delivery options: Delivery offered through Gainesville2Go and 352 Delivery. Pick up available in-store at Vegan2Go, 7625 W. Newberry Rd. in Gainesville.
How it works: Weekly meals usually consist of four entrees, four sides, two desserts and three soups and have a starting price of $95.00 without any additional items. Meals are delivered (or available for pick-up) every Monday.
Meal examples: 1. Roasted cauliflower with Swiss chard and chickpeas. 2. Lemon grass seitan fried rice. 3. Mock tuna chef salad.
Ingredient sources: Food sourced from Ward’s Supermarket in Gainesville, as well as produce suppliers from Tampa and Jacksonville.
Meal customization: Customization available upon request.
Dietary restrictions covered:
Dairy-free Yes
Gluten-free No
Meat-heavy No
Non-GMO Yes
Organic Yes
Pescatarians No
Paleo No
Soy-free Yes
Sugar-free No
Vegans Yes
Vegetarians Yes
Eat The 80
Eat The 80 strives to make their members the happiest and healthiest versions of themselves possible. Placing a major emphasis on healthy eating, Eat The 80 draws inspiration from the 80/20 lifestyle principle that states 80 percent of your time should be spent eating clean foods while the other 20 percent of your time can be used to indulge less healthy fare.
Open since: April 2014
Areas of service & pick up/delivery options: Monday delivery available in the Gainesville area. Ten pickup locations are also offered — visit eatthe80.com/pick-up-locations for the full list.
How it works: Eat The 80 offers four meal packages – a 5, 10, 15, or 20 meal plan — in regular or XL portions, along with lunch and dinner options. The five-meal plan begins at $68.85 per week, with price ranges varying depending on size and number of meals ordered. The meals are delivered every Monday.
Meal examples: 1. Slow-cooked pulled pork with cabbage and roasted plantains. 2. Braised grass-fed beef with field mushrooms, celery, tomato
and wilted kale in bone broth. 3. Sesame black bean burger with sweet potato wedges.
Ingredient sources: Produce is sourced from the Crones Cradle Conservatory in Gainesville and meats are from Adena Springs Ranch in Ocala.
Meal customization: Members are able to pick and choose what meals they want. Food allergies are also catered to by offering customers a choice of 15 meals per week, so all needs can be met.
Dietary restrictions covered:
Dairy-free Yes
Gluten-free No
Meat-heavy Yes
Non-GMO Yes
Organic No
Pescatarians No
Paleo Yes
Soy-free No
Sugar-free Yes
Vegans No
Vegetarians Yes
Chef Ami (352-363-1108)
Gainesville-based Chef Ami is targeted for the busy individual looking for a convenient and healthy solution to the question of “What’s for Dinner?” Their mission is to make cooking delicious meals at home both convenient and fun while using locally grown, seasonal ingredients.
Open since: February 2014
Areas of service & delivery/pick-up options: Delivery available in Gainesville, Alachua, Archer, High Springs, Newberry and Jonesville.
How it works: Each week customers are delivered everything they need to cook three seasonally inspired meals, including the simple step-by-step recipes. Three meals for two people is $65, three meals for four people is $123, and three meals for six people is $179. Deliveries are made every Tuesday. Customers can easily customize deliveries to arrive weekly, bi-weekly or at the interval of their choice.
Meal examples: 1. Blackened mahi with pineapple mango salsa and cilantro lime rice. 2. Bruschetta turkey burger sliders with avocado, mayo and cucumber salad. 3. Chicken Manchego with herb and feta couscous.
Ingredient sources: Produce sourced from Frog Song Organics in Hawthorne and Rainbow Star Farm in Gainesville. Adena Springs Ranch in Ocala provides 100 percent all-natural grass-fed beef.
Meal customization: Customers can omit or substitute any of the provided ingredients to accommodate their preferences or dietary restrictions.
Dietary restrictions covered: Contact Chef Ami.
UFit Meals (813-906-UFIT)
Based in Tampa, UFit Meals seeks to deliver truly healthy meals that are backed by consistent dietary and nutritional research. In addition to meals, UFit also provides nutritional and dietary advice to customers. Their team consists of licensed dietitians, personal trainers and culinary artists who operate in various parts of Florida.
Open since: November 2015
Areas of service & pick up/delivery options: Delivery offered in Gainesville and Ocala. Pick-up available at Wolf Den Strength and Conditioning in Gainesville.
How it works: Customers can choose between the two meal plans offered, the “Taste of Health” and “The Olympian.” Averaging about $10.00 per meal, prices may vary depending on how many meals a customer orders per week and the portion size. Meals are delivered on a weekly basis. Customers confirm their orders by Friday and the meals arrive at their doorstep on Sunday.
Meal examples: 1. Cajun-roasted salmon with roasted Dijon butternut squash and Brussels sprouts. 2. Hearty beef chili with garlic cilantro yucca. 3. Shredded chicken and vegetable curry over spaghetti squash.
Ingredient sources: Produce sourced from farms in the Tampa area.
Meal customization: UFit Meals offers personalized meal plans curated by their registered dietitian upon consultation.
Dietary restrictions covered:
Dairy-free No
Gluten-free Yes
Meat-heavy Yes
Non-GMO No
Organic No
Pescatarians Yes
Paleo Yes
Soy-free Yes
Sugar-free No
Vegans No
Vegetarians No
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More info: 813-906-UFIT