Zone Fresh Philly and foodsource Team up to Offer Region's First Healthy Meal Service Delivered to Clients' Doorsteps

Business Wire, April 18, 2005

BRYN MAWR, Pa. -- foodsource

Based on Popular Zone Diet,
             Program is All the Rage in L.A. and New York

       Zone Fresh Addresses Major Challenge of Eating Healthy -
               It's Hard Unless It's Easy and Convenient

Zone Fresh Philly and foodsource(SM) have joined forces to deliver healthy meals and snacks to busy clients' doorsteps. Zone Fresh Philly officially launched mid-February and is modeled after similar Zone-based programs that have proven highly popular in Los Angeles and New York. It's the first service of its kind in the Philadelphia area.

Zone Fresh Philly is based on The Zone Diet by Dr. Barry Sears and is considered to be one of the healthiest eating approaches to follow. The Zone Diet recommends a moderate consumption of all foods, including proteins, healthy carbohydrates and fats in the right amounts. If clients decide weight loss is their goal, their portions are adjusted accordingly. They can expect to lose between 1-2 pounds of fat per week, the recommended amount by most physicians and dieticians.

"I'd like Zone Fresh Philly to completely eliminate Philadelphia's former label as being America's Fattest City," said Bill Abbott, President of Zone Fresh Philly and a former personal trainer. "Most busy people won't eat healthy meals on a regular basis unless it's convenient. This service is delivered daily to clients' doorsteps so they don't have to plan, shop, cook or clean. All of that is done already by the chefs at foodsource so there's no reason not to eat healthy food all day."

Many celebrities are known to follow The Zone Diet. Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Garner, Madonna, Carl Lewis, Rick Fox and Brian Leetch are just a handful of well-known Zone Diet devotees. The meals & snacks are allocated within the following nutritional guidelines:

--30 percent of calories come from lean proteins including chicken and fish

--40 percent from healthy carbohydrates like vegetables, fruits, legumes & whole grains

--30 percent from healthy fats such as nuts, seeds and olive oil.

"foodsource is a perfect choice to prepare the Zone-based meals and snacks for the Philly market," said Abbott. "They already have a great reputation for creating gourmet meals on-site at their kitchen. By teaming up with foodsource, Zone Fresh Philly can offer the freshest and healthiest foods while making them taste great. After all, no one wants to eat healthy foods unless they taste good."

Clients are able to "opt out" of the foods they are allergic to or just don't like to eat. Sample dishes include:

Breakfast -- Vegetable egg frittata filled with bell peppers and onions with a side of fruit, or a mixed berry crepe with light ricotta cheese.

Lunch -- Chicken satay with couscous & steamed vegetables, or a smoked turkey breast on a whole grain wrap with light havarti cheese & romaine and ligonberry preserves spread.

Dinner -- Asian-Glazed Salmon with steamed snow peas, or Morrocan chicken breast with apricot chutney and broccoli rabe.

Favorite snacks include protein-fortified double chocolate mousse pudding with roasted almonds, or cucumber and tomato salad with light cheese and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Unlike many meal programs based on eating processed foods, all Zone Fresh Philly menu items are prepared daily in foodsource kitchens, using only fresh ingredients and no preservatives.

How Zone Fresh Philly works

The chefs prepare a day's worth of meals and snacks, pack them in air-tight containers and place them in insulated cooler bags with ice packs to maintain freshness. They are delivered to clients' homes or offices immediately that evening to be eaten the following day.

Clients can purchase the service in 5, 15 or 30-day packages by calling 1-888-439-6899, or by visiting the Zone Fresh Philly website at: www.zonefreshphilly.com.

At a price of between $35-$40 a day, the service isn't cheap, but Abbott feels it's a worthwhile investment. "People generally spend about $20-$25 a day on food if they eat on the run anyway--and it's there's no guarantee what they are eating is fresh or healthy. For an extra $10-$15 a day, we spend the extra hours each week ordering food and planning the menus, portion sizes and recipe alterations that clients would have to do anyway. If the client's time is valuable, I'd say it's a great deal."

About foodsource(SM)

foodsource is a specialty food store that sells only the freshest products and groceries from outstanding vendors around the world. Its products include olive oil, caviar, dry-aged beef, hundreds of cheeses and home items.

The only store of its kind in the Delaware Valley, foodsource also features a wide range of prepared food items that are cooked fresh each day in its restaurant-quality kitchens, using no preservatives. Stores are located in Bryn Mawr and Glen Mills, PA, with a third store slated to open in Greenville, DE this spring.