There are several grab-and-go meal options around the Woodlands. Many focus not only on convenience, but on providing a healthy meal that doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare. Very convenient for an active lifestyle.
The problem: The flavor. If you’re used to eating at the great restaurants we have around the Woodlands, the food you pick up can taste bland and disappointing, to put things kindly. It’s as if they’re not actually tasting what they’re selling.
Enter Eat This. It’s a grab-and-go concept with a difference: Chef created recipes with a seriously healthy approach. We know, we know… food that’s healthy often leaves you feeling like you’re sitting in the penalty box when you eat. Can this chef-driven approach create meals that will satisfy foodies?
Partners Nezi Whiteman and Jason Viada have been working on this concept for several years, refining the recipes while completely overhauling the retail space on Sawdust road. The space turned out beautifully; it’s bright, inviting, and has plenty of room to accommodate a large selection.
Thoughtful touches are apparent throughout the store. Freshly prepared items are nicely organized, and ready to be taken home and prepared that night. Frozen versions of several items are also available, to tuck in your freezer for later consumption. Large LCD panels display the entire menu, and a selection of beverages and desserts are also presented.
The look of the establishment is sleek and professional; you’d never guess that this is the first location from a small dedicated team. Kudos to the talented graphic designer who created this polished look.
But what about the food?
We attended a media event during the soft opening. Instead of having food flow directly out of the spacious commercial kitchen, Jason and Nezi took retail packages right out of the display cases, and popped them into a microwave, just as you’d do at home. We were impressed with their confidence; the experience here would duplicate what a customer would encounter when they took their items home.
Portions were very generous. You’re not going to go hungry eating meals from Eat This. The packaging continues the thoughtful approach that is the hallmark of the establishment: Everything is recyclable, and the lower tub is sturdy enough to stand up to both microwave and oven reheating.
We sampled a variety of dishes, and frankly we were blown away by the flavors. Standouts included their Shepherd’s Pie, which was easily one of the best shepherd’s pies we’ve ever tasted, with a nuanced, savory flavor that had us wanting more. Their Meat Loaf was another winner, a large slab of well seasoned meat was glazed with a gently tangy sauce, and the result was outstanding. Even their Lasagna impressed; it’s a healthy, veggie-packed version that brings wonderful flavor along with the health benefits of their recipe.
This isn’t typical health food; it’s beautifully seasoned, bursting with flavor, and incorporates some very clever ingredients. For example, the entire establishment is gluten free. They substitute avocado oil for less healthy oils and butter. Yet the flavor doesn’t suffer. I’m not sure how Nezi and Jason pulled this off, but I’m glad that they did. This is the first grab-and-go establishment that I’m looking forward to returning to; we plan to be regulars here.
At Eat This, you can eat a convenient, healthy meal at home without sacrificing flavor. I can’t think of a stronger recommendation than that. Kudos to Nezi, Jason, and their talented team for pulling this off.
Eat this is located at 442 Sawdust Road next to Papa Amadeos. We can’t wait to return.
