If your hectic work schedule has left you with your local take-out restaurants as the most frequently dialed phone numbers from your list of contacts, you’re in luck. Linda Ogbeide, the President and Co-Founder of Mealspirations, launched her unique weekly service this past January which delivers nutritious, chef-developed recipes and the high-quality ingredients for you to prepare them at home right to your door. Available across Ontario, all Mealspirations Classic Boxes include three home-cooked meals that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less and all fall under 800 calories a dish. Intrigued? We caught up with Ogbeide to find out more…
Tell us a bit about yourself. What should people know?
I am a hard working 31-year-old entrepreneur with a corporate marketing background and a great love of food! I grew up in a family with three sisters and dinnertime was very important. I suppose all this led me to create Mealspirations.
You’re the President and Co-Founder of Mealspirations, a weekly service that delivers nutritious, chef-developed recipes and the high-quality ingredients needed to prepare them at home. How does the concept work?
When you sign up with us, we take care of all the meal planning and grocery shopping for you. We deliver fresh ingredients and chef-developed recipes right to your doorstep to make dinner healthy, easy, and delicious. All you need to do is the fun part… cook!
What’s an example of a Mealspirations Classic Box? What’s inside it?
All of our fresh ingredients – the produce, the meat, and the fish – along with easy-to-follow recipes that will make you cook like a master chef! Everything comes portioned so it’s quick to whip up a weeknight dinner. Recipe examples include: Moroccan beef tagine with couscous; goat cheese tartlets with roasted beets and orange salad; and fish tacos with pineapple-habanero salsa.
What made you come up with the idea?
I had a very hectic job, which made it difficult to find time to eat home-cooked meals. I often came home late and was too exhausted to go grocery shopping or to come up with a plan for what to cook. My partner said he had the same dilemma and from there the concept for Mealspirations was born.
What types of customers do you currently have?
We have a wide variety of customers, but generally they are people who have an active lifestyle and want to eat healthy food, rather than takeout. Our customers are busy young professionals, couples, and families that value the convenience of getting the meal planning and the shopping done for them at an affordable price.
All the meals come in at under 800 calories. Do you have a particular tasty favourite?
The Moroccan beef tagine with couscous is my go-to dish. It’s easy to make and delicious. I throw all the ingredients in a pot and leave it to focus on other work. The flavours are sweet and sour, with a kick of spice. The aroma is also amazing!
When you’re treating yourself to a night out, where do you go for dinner?
Table 17 in Leslieville is my new neighbourhood spot. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate; the food is simple and delicious.
What are some of your top tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle all day long?
• Make your own lunch and dinner
• Walk everywhere
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Keep a water bottle handy to stay hydrated
• Have a positive attitude and outlook
Let’s get social for a moment. How do we stay up-to-date with you?
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.