‘We are a comfort food place’

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This article was published 22/04/2024 (886 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Finding the time and energy to prepare a healthy home-cooked meal every day can be a challenge. Yet, we know eating well is necessary for good physical and mental health and well-being.

Melanie Rushton started Food for Thought 24 years ago, after the death of her grandmother.

Concerned about what her grandfather would be eating, Rushton decided to take her love of food and cooking and create something that would help him and others. Over the years, her grandfather enjoyed Food for Thought meals. He lived to the age of 96; Rushton took comfort in knowing his nutritional needs were being met until the end.

Rushton’s passion fuelled the expansion of her business. Initially started as a small café and catering company on Main Street, Food for Thought quickly became a popular spot to pick up frozen meals to go. Since 2000, the menu has continued to grow, along with the variety of customers and their needs.

Food for Thought (now at 840 Erin St.) makes it easy to get a home-cooked meal on the table without needing to think about grocery shopping, menu planning or food preparation.

“It feels really good,” said Rushton, about her well-loved Winnipeg business that’s stronger than ever. “I’ve always loved cooking. We are all foodies and into making great food here.

“It’s been really well-received… in our café, our catering, now with the frozen meals. It’s evolved into being able to provide people with healthy meals. It brings us joy and satisfaction. People are too busy, people are on the go — this is really niche.”

Rushton currently oversees a staff of eight and continues to pay close attention to food trends and preferences. “The gluten-free meals: we’ve seen an increase in that. More clients want more healthful meals, not too much sodium or sugar. We’ve always cooked our meals in a way that is homestyle and healthy.”

The extensive menu has something for every taste and all meals are served in disposable/recyclable packaging and include heating instructions.

“Customers include people of all ages,” said the business owner. “We do have a lot of seniors, more and more people just want to age in place, and want healthy meals at home.

“We have all types of customers: families, veterans, single people — we even have truck drivers that take food on the road,” she said, adding meal packages are popular as gifts for care packages.

“We have a lot of standard menu items, 42 different meals, soups, desserts, pot pies and quiches, a good range of menu items. The roast turkey — that’s a huge favourite — an excellent beef pot roast, shepherd’s pie, roast chicken lasagna, these are all customer favourites. We are a comfort food place.”

Rushton says the company gets a lot of calls from people just finding out about Food for Thought.

“People who have been making meals for themselves — it does get really challenging, having to shop for groceries. It’s a real time-saver, it can help a lot of people out. They just find it to be such a relief. We have a special every month, we have sales and packages, for someone who wants to try out the meals,” she said.

“We are delivering a complete meal, just heat it up in the microwave or oven. Most of our clients don’t want to do any prep. It’s an alternative to takeout, it’s convenient, and most meals are from $9 to $11.”

Linda Robeson, a retired Red River College Polytechnic communications instructor, is 95 and enthusiastic about the meals she enjoys from Food for Thought.

“That was such magic,” Robeson recalled of the day she first learned about the local products.

“I was in a club for retirees and was leaving a meeting. My friend was driving the car. She came to the stop and said, ‘I have to go and get some food, I’ve got three guests coming over tonight.’ She came back with a big bag of food. She handed me a menu… I don’t like to cook, I didn’t know a place like this existed,” said the widow and mother of five (who live outside the province).

“I just had the hearty beef chili, it’s so good… I buy once a month. I order the meals for the whole month. It’s a life-saver,” she said. “The thing is the variety… There’s more than main courses. There’s a dozen delicious soups, 20 kinds of delicious desserts. (Food for Thought) makes the packages flat, except for the soups, and they sit so nicely in the freezer.

“This is my second year… It’s a balanced diet. It’s a great service. All the meals are different and lovely. The shepherd’s pie she does is a really nice one,” Robeson said, adding she always keeps a number of extras in her freezer.

Food for Thought carries vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-friendly options. In addition to complete meals, there’s a wide selection of other items including desserts, juices and family-size trays.

Items can be pre-ordered and paid for through the website and there’s also an order desk for those who prefer telephone orders. City-wide delivery is available; arrangements for delivery outside Winnipeg can also be made.

fpbusiness@freepress.mb.ca