Off Menu: Healthy, to go

Microwaved dining: For the frenzied, busy bee with no time to cook—or maybe just no willpower—Fit Eats has been a life-changing local business. At least according to the Yelp reviews.

Fit Eats is a two-year-old meal delivery service, focusing on high nutritional value and appropriately sized portions. Folks go online, place an order and find ready-to-heat meals magically on their doorstep the next morning.

Now, CEO Don Arnold is getting ready for his first brick-and-mortar spot, set to open at the end of February. It’ll live in the same development as University of Beer and soon-to-open chains Togo’s and Noodles & Company at 16th and O streets.

Arnold described the shop as a “grab-and-go, grocery-like concept,” with about 25 to 30 prepackaged meal options to choose from. The menu will change every week and boast gluten-free, vegan and paleo offerings. Lengthy labels include ingredients, nutritional information and instructions for optimal re-heating.

Think three-bean chili with ground turkey for dinner, a tempeh burrito for lunch and gluten-free blueberry pancakes packed with whey protein for breakfast—all priced at $8 to $10.

“A lot of people order a lot of food at once for deliveries,” Arnold said. “This way, people can just come in and buy one or two meals.”

Microwaves and tables will be available to those who want to eat on-the-spot. As far as beverages go, don’t expect much beyond water, bottled cold-pressed juice and maybe coffee.

Asian-American flair: When Josh Gold and Kevin Lee were friends in high school, they’d often talk dream careers. The No. 1 common one? To own a food truck.

After some time cooking in the Broderick kitchen, the pair is ready to unveil Dojo Burger, a truck boasting “classic American food with an Asian twist,” Gold said.

Dojo Burger draws from different regional cuisines—there’s already an eclectic mix with a kimchi burger, Thai chicken curry sandwich and pulled pork sammie with “Vietnamese BBQ sauce.” And in the future, Gold hopes to add a beverage program—think upscale sodas—and desserts, such as lemongrass-coconut cookies and burnt caramel-ginger cheesecake.

The signature Dojo Burger—loaded with bacon, pickled ginger, radishes, fried onion strings and ginger aioli—is the priciest item at $11. The cheapest, a side of fries, goes for $2.

Dojo Burger plans to stay close to home, a.k.a. Elk Grove and South Sacramento. Head to its grand opening party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, at Handcraft Brewing (9183 Survey Road, Suite 104 in Elk Grove).