An easy approach to nutrition

Pre-packaged meals can carry health benefits for Boomers

By Brandon LaChance

Although Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating is designed for everyone, the idea for the fresh pre-packaged meals came from a client of Seattle Sutton’s while she was employed as a nurse.

Her client’s health problems were correctable with a balanced diet, but he said he wouldn’t be able to maintain a healthy diet without someone else doing it for him. That was a light bulb moment.

Sutton opened her business in 1985 and has guided many elderly and Baby Boomers through the years to weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower sodium intake, and fewer diabetes complications.

Rene Ficek, who began working at Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating as a registered dietician and nutritionist in 2013, bought the company from Sutton in 2018 with her husband Michael Ficek. One of their many agendas was to keep the meals easy, delicious, and healthy for all age groups without having separate meals for different generations or health ailments.

“A person’s greatest asset is certainly their health. We are happy to help people accomplish that goal, and to not only add years to their life but to add good years to their life,” Rene said. “It is definitely the focus of why we do what we do.”

Long before Rene started working at Seattle Sutton, she was a fan of their program and the health benefits it carried.

“Before I even worked here, I knew of this company. My job prior to Seattle Sutton was to counsel people with diabetes and heart issues and share how nutrition could help them. As a dietitian/nutritionist, you always use the tools in your toolbox. This program isn’t for everyone, but it is definitely a good option and a good vehicle,” she said. “I recommended Seattle Sutton prior to actually working at Seattle Sutton.”

Time consumption, affordability, and difficulty have become the main issues of dieting. It’s much easier to go through a fast-food drive-thru than to go home and prepare meals. Seattle Sutton’s meals, created by an executive chef, save time and have an affordable price for a week’s or half a week’s worth of meals. They also take the stress away since healthy food options are prepared for you without having to take a trip to the grocery store, make a mess in the kitchen, or think of what the meals should be for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

“It’s just as easy to go through a drive-thru, but with Seattle Sutton, you’re not going backwards,” Michael said. “You’re eating a healthy, balanced diet, you’re not wasting time you could use for something else, and all the preparation you’d normally have to do for a meal is gone.”

Dan Rosier, director of marketing with Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating, has heard from many customers who appreciate the easiness and customer-friendly meals and packaging Seattle Sutton provides.

The meals are delivered and picked up (at the Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating headquarters in Ottawa, YMCAs in La Salle, Mendota, and Streator, and the Princeton Metro Center) on Mondays and Thursdays in environment-friendly bags and packages that can be recycled.

“There are people that have limited mobility. That’s something that we always keep in consider- ation. Some people use our meals to extend their ability to be independent,” Rosier said. “If you have someone who can take care of themselves by cleaning, clothing, and living alone, but for whatever reason, can’t get to a grocery store, can’t prepare meals, or cook, Seattle Sutton helps.”