When area children return to school, many will enjoy a healthy hot lunch prepared by Wholesome Tummies.
Jennifer and Mike Bychowsky opened Wholesome Tummies in January at 9471 Ackman Rd. (near Lakewood Road), in Lake in the Hills. The couple had been looking to start a business of their own and landed on Wholesome Tummies after reading about its mission to provide healthy food to students and families.
"Wholesome Tummies' main focus is to feed kids food made from fresh ingredients, with no MSG, no high fructose corn syrup and nut-free," Jennifer Bychowsky said.
Bychowsky said she herself struggled with controlling her weight years ago, and liked the idea of providing a healthy lunch in light of the country's obesity crisis. She also learned the lunchtime meal plays a critical role in children's overall health.
"Fifty percent of kids' daily core intake comes from school," Bychowsky said. "And studies show healthy meals for kids translates into higher test scores and higher attendance."
Wholesome Tummies, the only one of its kind in Illinois, is currently serving privately-run preschools and private schools. The company also offers pickup meals for families from its LITH location.
Students and families can select what they want to eat for lunch by visiting the company's website. Users can input information about any type of food allergies and sensitivities they have, and the webpage will alert users when they've selected their meals.
"We usually have two to four hot lunch offers," Bychowsky said. "The students pick out their entree, which is served with a choice of healthy side dishes, such as Smart Pop popcorn, Sun Chips and the like...nothing comes from a can."
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