BiteRite basically does what it says on the tin. It’s a healthy eating community which runs a café (the BiteRite Resto Café), delivers meals to five hospitals across the capital and works to raise awareness about healthy eating through events, activities and monthly cooking classes. What it also does is run the BiteRite Healthy Meal Package programme. The same programme which helped Rory Fidler lose 5kg in two weeks. ‘I saw results within the first week’, said the 43-year-old who hails from the UK. ‘And I fully intend to continue for the full month. I would strongly recommend them if you are looking for a controlled way to manage your diet and lose weight.’
Rory signed up for the BiteRite programme because he wanted to control his weight. ‘I had been putting on weight gradually and wanted something that meant I could keep eating “real food” that was controlled nutritionally,’ he said. And when we asked if it was challenging, he was quite honest. ‘For the first two days it was difficult to get used to the size of the portions but this soon goes and there are no cravings during the day so you are not tempted to look for other food outside the diet.’
Our curiosity got the better of us and we asked to speak to a specialist. Archana Baju, the resident nutritionist at BiteRite, is just that. Her job is to plan the diets based on the individual needs and requirements of the client, educate clients on healthy eating habits and food facts and work with the resident chef on calorie calculation when preparing meals.
How does the Meal Package programme work?
Basically the Meal Package is a customized plan where I sit with the clients, check their anthropometric measurements, BMI, disease pattern, medications, lifestyle, dietary habits, food-allergies, dislikes, preferences, exercise level and then make a recommendation for the required calories.
So it’s tailor-made?
That’s right. BiteRite Meal Package is not like a very low calorie diet or a crash diet. We promote healthy eating and actually we work on portion control. Our clients are flexible to choose their own plan with us or the nutritionist plans the menu, which is a complete course, but the portion control is maintained.
And I understand the clients can even choose what they eat, as long as it’s off the menu that you’ve tailored.
Yes, weekly menus are sent to the clients and weekly follow-ups and feedback is collected and the coming weeks are planned accordingly. I counsel the clients on healthy eating and give them tips to follow when dining out.
What does it cost?
The price for full Meal Package for four weeks is Dhs2,999 which includes the nutrition consultation and three personalized physical training routines.
Do most clients who sign up want to lose weight?
We have clients who sign up not only for weight reduction, but also for weight maintenance through healthy eating, diabetes, hypertension management, lactose intolerance and celiac disease (gluten sensitivity). Also, some women take part to ensure a healthy pregnancy, and we have lactating mothers.
These healthy eating meal packages have become rather popular lately, why do you think that is?
Most of us are busy and lead a very sedentary lifestyle, sticking to fast foods which are easily available. Also stress leads to many lifestyle-related diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardio vascular disease and obesity. Now there is some awareness among the population about healthy eating, but people find it difficult to manage. What to do? How to start? What to eat and what not to eat? It’s from here that the popularity of the healthy meal packages comes, where healthy food is there at their doorsteps, without any pain.
For more information about the BiteRite Healthy Meal Package programme contact BiteRite, Muroor Road, info@biterite.ae (02 641 1660).
