Heat It Up, a new takeout eatery in Downtown Texarkana, is providing healthy, delicious, microwavable meals for its customers.
Entrees include such cuisine as blackened whitefish with Jasmine rice and broccoli or chicken quinoa stir-fry with grilled asparagus, a favorite. Meals come in microwavable, reusable containers and options are rotated weekly.
"We want this to be as easy as possible," said Whitni Allen who started Heat It Up with her husband Bryant Allen. "Everyone has an excuse why they don't eat healthier and we really want to take those excuses away. These meals come completely ready."
Breakfasts are from $5 to $7 and main meals are $7 to $9, an affordable option considering they can be picked up or delivered. They even have dessert options for $4 including treats like Almond Joy bites which come in at 214 calories or peanut butter bites which have 104 calories.
Portion control is key when embracing a healthier lifestyle.
"We feel like anything in moderation is okay," Whitni said. "We live in a world where we're always surrounded by different foods, sweets and treats. If you say no completely, you'll drive yourself crazy. If you have a little bit of carbs and treats, you'll be able to manage your diet more. It's more of a lifestyle than a diet."
All nutrition information is provided for items on the menu and meals are good for five to seven days after purchase.
Heat It Up opened a couple of weeks ago at 115 Main St., Texarkana, Texas. The Allens first started making these healthy options for themselves and a few friends but it soon evolved into a business for them.
"We just completely took a chance," said Whitni, who was working as an LVN at a local health care provider. "We took two weeks vacation from work and here we are."
Bryant, who's worked in the restaurant industry since he was a teenager, said this combines two of his passions-food and fitness.
"It's something I've been passionate about for a long time. It's like a dream come true for us," Bryant said.
Heat It Up is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. People can pre-order meals or come by the store and pick something up. For more information or to place an order, call 903-949-6422.