Nutritional meals made to order - ideal for a new year health kick

A takeaway that sells healthy food is preparing for a busy January as customers look to shed those Christmas pounds.

Kitchen 52, on Martindale Lane, Newark, sells healthy food that customers can eat in, take away, pre-order or have delivered.

It is the brainchild of health-conscious Luke O’Reilly, of Newark, who was inspired to open the business after struggling to find healthy meals to take away.

Luke named the shop Kitchen 52 after his late mother, Diane Howell, who was born in 1952.

Customers can mix and match their meals, choosing a protein, such as chicken breast or tofu, with a side, such as mixed salad, freshly-blanched mixed greens or zesty quinoa.

The nutritional value of every option is displayed on the menu so customers know exactly how much protein, carbohydrates, fat, sugar and calories they are eating.

Luke, who owns the business, said: “I am into my gym and healthy eating and I used to work in Newark town centre, but I was always going into town looking for something low in calories to eat for lunch and couldn’t find anything.

“It’s an idea I have had for a couple of years but without the knowledge of the food industry I couldn’t do it.”

Fortunately for Luke, his fiancée’s brother, George McMillan, was a chef with experience of working at some of Newark’s top restaurants.

Luke’s fiancée, Talia McMillan, is the takeaway’s manager and, together with George and employee Freya Bennison, they have overseen a successful first three months in business.

Luke said: “With my partner’s brother being a chef we put our heads together to do this and now we offer low-calorie, low-carb, high-protein fast food.

“When you walk in the shop you can see the calorific value of everything you can order.

“If someone says they need a certain amount of carbs or protein, for example, you can look at the board to see what you want.”

The takeaway has a range of breakfast options, such as omelettes, burritos, and a healthy full English made up of sausages, low-sugar baked beans, mushrooms, tomato, toast and eggs.

It also offers a Fit Friday breakfast roll — a wholemeal wrap or roll with a choice of lean bacon, sausages and eggs.

A range of protein shakes, each containing 30g of whey protein, are also on offer, from chocolate to iced coffee coolers.

'We want to make it easier for people who want to eat healthily'

Talia, 25, of Newark, said: “The first few months have been really busy.

“We got a lot of people from Slimming World and a lot of people who are really into their fitness and the gym.

“We also get a lot of single mothers who don’t have time to cook for themselves.”

Kitchen 52 is expecting an increase in customers in January as people make new year’s resolutions to get fit.

The takeaway is introducing an indoor seating area so more people can eat at the premises.

It is also teaming up with Active4Today, which operates Newark Sports and Fitness Centre and other leisure centres in the district, to promote healthy food options.

Head chef George, 20, has previously worked at Farndon Boathouse, Café Bleu and The Vaults, and was a finalist in the Midlands Young Chef of the Year awards in 2015.

He said: “I enjoy working here because it is a family business.

“It also gives me a bit more freedom to cook what I want to cook.”

Kitchen 52 offers a meal preparation service where customers can order in bulk for up to seven days.

Luke said: “We have a lot of people who work away from Newark who will collect their food on a Monday morning for the whole week.

“We want to make it easier for people who want to eat healthily.”

Luke said he was providing an alternative for people who would otherwise go to fast-food chains for meals on the go.

Kitchen 52 is open from 7.30am to 4.30pm weekdays, and from 7.30am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Customers can place an order online at www.kitchen52.co.uk