local flavor
Story By Shaila Creekmore, Photos By Dero Sanford

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Typically, Occasions focuses on one of the city’s many great restaurants in our Local Flavor section each month. This month, we introduce you to a new business that is helping families eat better at home.)

Billye White is helping families return to the art of cooking at home, sitting down to eat meals together and developing healthier eating styles. As a registered nurse for 30 years and a mother for 24, White has made it her personal mission to help today’s families get out of the car and around the dinner table thereby developing a healthier lifestyle. She is attempting to meet this challenge through her new business, Meals Matter, located at 911 E. Parker Rd.

Numerous studies conducted over the past decade have shown a constant rise in childhood obesity leading to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes in children. An important factor in this increase is the eating style of today’s family. Among many families, children are more likely to eat a meal in the car on any given night than at the dinner table and the number one vegetable eaten by children is French fries. Studies further show that children who eat dinner at the family table are less likely to develop eating disorders and behavioral problems.

“The dinner table is a safe haven for children and adults alike to share with each other the good, the bad and everything in between. It is a safe place where no one feels afraid to offer an opinion or to ask for advice,” said White. “In the same way that time is made for soccer practice and piano lessons, I believe that families can plan and schedule meals at home at least a few nights each week.”

Initially, White looked at franchises such as Super Suppers that allow customers to come in to their location, preassemble meals and take them home to be reheated as needed. She chose however to develop her own concept.

“I didn’t want it to be another trendy thing. I want it to be a habit, a lifestyle that people form,” said White.

“That’s where I offer a new idea for consideration – a common-sense approach to family meals that are both nutritious and nurturing. Each plan incorporates pantry organization and restocking, menu planning, grocery shopping and pre-assembled nutritious meals designed to be eaten at home as a family.”

White’s business is unique because it combines the roles of a professional organizer, personal chef and personal shopper. The process begins with setting up a completely stocked pantry and refrigerator customized to the family’s needs. These items allow the family to have all of the ingredients needed on hand to cook at home even on limited time. She will then do all of the shopping and stock the items. To keep the staples stocked, White will provide a pantry shopping list to replace items when they are used.

“You have to have a well-stocked pantry to cook efficiently, inexpensively and to not get frustrated with it,” said White.

For the second step in the process, White provides weekly menus that include three meals per week, ideally to be used on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These menus can be provided for breakfast and dinner. White said the recipes are designed to be simple and quick, but still providing a healthy meal.

“If you can read, you really can’t mess them up,” said White. “I do provide my cell phone number to all of my clients so that if there is anything they are not sure about or get to a step in the recipe they don’t understand, they can call me. I guess I’m sort of on call for cooking disasters. I haven’t had a call yet though, so that’s pretty good.”

Along with the recipes, White provides a detailed shopping list for the ingredients needed for those meals. White can also tailor the shopping list to include lunch items and other items the family generally buys. With White’s comprehensive package, she will do the weekly shopping for the week’s meals and restocking of the pantry and refrigerator.

“I have one customer who’s excited because she said she’s just happy that she hasn’t had to go to the grocery store in four weeks now,” said White. “Some of my customers though like to do their own shopping, they just need a plan. My shopping list provides all of the ingredients for the recipes and any other items they need for the week and it includes the aisle number the item is on.” White said this list can be customized for the grocery store where her clients shop most often.

For Tuesday and Thursday’s dinners, preassembled meals can be picked up at Meals Matter between 4-6 p.m. The meals are prepared fresh that day and require simple reheating at home. White’s comprehensive package includes both of these meals with the basic package including one of your choice for the week. The meals can also be purchased on an as needed basis by reservation regardless of whether you participate in the meals program or not.

“Even if I can help a family sit down to dinner just one night a week, that’s at least something – a place to start,” said White.

During the next few months, White said she will likely begin offering cooking classes. The classes will showcase certain techniques to broaden the skills for both experienced and beginning cooks. She is also considering classes for children.

“The current generation was not raised cooking at home so they are intimidated by it,” said White. “Somehow if we could put the fun back in it and take away the dread in it, I think more people would enjoy cooking more.”

Meals Matter will host a Back to School Open House on August 13. The day will feature information on brown bagging lunches, healthy lunch options and after-school snacks. White will have samples of many of her ideas available for guests. For more information, call 932-4166.