Optimize U offers broad range of options in Slidell
By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Chuck Walker isn’t just opening his latest business in a string of many other ventures as a successful Slidell entrepreneur.
“I will be a walking, talking example of why the prepped meals we have are the best you can find anywhere,” the lifelong Slidellian said, already owner of over 10 parish businesses.
Walker, along with co-owners Fritz Walker (his son) and Stacy Bordelon, are up-and-running with Optimize U, located at 2975 Gause Blvd. East. It is joining the growing world of meal prep businesses, but there are a number of reasons he said this one is different.
“We do something the other meal prep services don’t do,” he said. “We have specific meal preps for the Optavia program and the Ideal Protein program, as well as many other meals for special diets. You will be hard pressed to find that much variety anywhere else.”
The meal prep business is exploding in the United States, and Walker believes that one reason is the way the COVID virus hit everyone in the past two years. That’s where he found himself an unexpected believer in eating healthier.
Walker suddenly caught the virus late last year, but went through a very hard time getting past it all even though he is only 51 years of age, something he admits was due to being out of shape and not as healthy as his younger days when he was a college athlete.
“I was obese, a diabetic and had gotten up to 296 pounds,” he said. “When COVID hit me I wondered if I was going to survive since it was so bad. I was having seizures too, but I think that was a combination of the virus and the fact I had let myself get so unhealthy.”
He remembers waking up at 3 a.m. one morning and finally realizing things had to change.
“I have always had a beard, but I looked in the mirror, decided it was a new day, shaved the beard and have been focused ever since on getting healthy,” he said.
Thanks to the help from the Optimize U meals, he has already lost 40 pounds and said his goal is to lose 100 pounds total, and get back in the shape he was in from his baseball playing days.
“Getting overweight is so easy for many people, and I was one of them. I realized I have been working so hard for the past 25 years, all to have something, but am I going to get old and not enjoy it because I’m so unhealthy?” he asked. “Well, I’ve made a decision that is changing and the meal preps are a big reason I’m doing so well already.”
Optimize U has a full-service kitchen right in the Slidell location where they cook and prepare all of their meals to exact nutrition, seasoning and weight standards.
Unlike many other meal prep offers that have a general variety of meals, Optimize U has over 300 different meals they prepare with several different options. Along with the meals made specifically for the Optavia diet, which has over 20,000 coaches in the country, they have the Ideal Protein meals, Keto meals, Gluten free meals, Vegan Bowls, Lean & Green meals, and breakfast meals. All the meals are in the 350 to 450 calorie range.
“The Ideal4U protein diet is a medically supervised plan that requires doctor supervision, but we even have those meals to the exact standards,” he explained. “It makes it so much easier to get on a plan to get healthy, and stick with it.”
Walker has found that out from a personal perspective with the success he is having.
“We all remember when we were at that perfect shape and weight,” he said. “But it’s hard to maintain, and as I got older, I was like a lot of people who slowly watched it slip away, and then accepted I would never get it back.
“But since I got involved in the prepared meals, it has helped me really do this,” he added. “I have more energy, I feel better every morning and realize how much better I can feel now that I’m getting healthy again. And the best part is that these meals really taste great.”
Optimize U is fully operational through the Slidell store or online at: optimizeumeals.com, while you can also make meal pickups at locations in Slidell, as well as both sides of the parish. Call them for more information at 985-214-9350.