America has an obesity problem, and it is not getting any better. Nearly 3 out of 4 adults in the country are considered obese or overweight, according to a study in 2024 published by the respected medical journal, The Lancet. Enter Fit Foundation in Crest Hill, northwest of Joliet in the south Chicago suburbs. Founder and owner Angie Aegerter takes great pride in this carry-out restaurant concept, where customers find inspiration and healthy meals.

“I believe my restaurant is filling a void, because a lot of people are on the go,” said Angie. “They have busy lives and their choices are prepared, unhealthy foods in the freezer section of the grocery store or a drive thru. Here, it’s just as convenient, but it’s healthy and homemade.”

Fit Foundation was born from Angie’s professional journey as a personal trainer, during which she said she realized her clients wanted better nutrition in their lives.

“I came up with this idea, because as a second job, I became a personal trainer. As a personal trainer, diet is really important and my clients didn’t want to prepare the food,” explained Angie. “So, they asked me to do it. I was asked so many times, that I decided to give it a try.”

The name Fit Foundation reflects a holistic approach to wellness, according to Angie.

“I didn’t want it to be just about working out,” explained Angie. “The foundation to be fit isn’t just working out. It’s also eating right and being mentally happy.”

A decade later, Angie’s dedication has paid off with customer loyalty. Fit Foundation is now so popular in the south Chicago suburbs, that it has been voted Best Lunch Restaurant in Will County by readers of The Herald News for four consecutive years.

On the day of our visit, inviting aromas greeted us as soon as we walked in the door. In her prep kitchen, Angie quickly pivoted from one side of the room to the other, creating turkey burgers one minute and then putting the finishing touches on a bright and crisp broccoli slaw salad. Much of the work at the business is carried out without the help of employees.

“I have my bonus mom, Linda, who works for me part-time,” noted Angie. “Otherwise, I do all the shopping. I do all the prepping, I do all the cooking, I do all the books. I do all the front end (work) and greet the customers.

“I’ve been doing this for ten years now. It has been a passion of mine, not only to provide a home and a lifestyle for me and my three children, but also because it has been a dream of mine. I never thought in a million years I would own a restaurant, being a single mom. And here I am.”

A healthy dream

Angie said her interest in cooking started when she was 14-years old and that she got into health and fitness at the age of 18.

“I got married at 18 years old and moved to Texas (Arlington), and I had no friends nor family down there,” recalled Angie. “Cooking became a hobby, and also, kind of switching states, I became a little depressed and gained some weight, and so did my husband at the time. That’s when I started cooking healthy.”

Though she has no formal culinary training, Angie’s determination led to a journey of self-education in the kitchen and some doubt.

“I was so nervous for people to buy my food, because I was not trained classically in the culinary world,” admitted Angie. “Were people going to like my food? I mean, everyone from my friends and my family told me they liked my food. But, I was nervous to ask perfect strangers. That was really scary.”

Even a decade later as a retailer, that vulnerability remains.

“I still get nervous when people come in sometimes,” Angie confessed. “This is something that’s personal from my heart that I’m giving you. And so, to think that I’m just selling something like this, still feels a little weird, even ten years later.”

A healthier community

A key ingredient to the winning recipe at Fit Foundation is how Angie educates and empowers customers about how to achieve a healthy life.

“I feel that we’re making the community healthier, because there are no other options in the area as far as healthy food,” observed Angie.

Angie explained to us that many people assume eating healthy means bland, restrictive diets along with boring meals.

“A lot of people think that it’s hard, that they have to only eat fruits and vegetables and chicken breasts,” continued Angie. “I try to change people’s minds (to let them know) that this is a lifestyle that’s easy.”

Her approach to meal prep ensures balanced nutrition without guesswork.

“You have to weigh the food and portion it out so that way you know what the macros are and include your calories, fat, carbohydrates, and protein.

“I do have some customer favorites. Stuffed pepper soup. I actually have to do that one by preorder only because there’s such a high demand for it,” said Angie with a satisfying smile. “I have a cornbread chili skillet, a sausage penne. A lot of it is the home cooking that people are familiar with, and I’m making it healthy and easy and to-go for them.

“We do all different types of meals,” explained Angie. “We do breakfast like breakfast burritos, yogurt parfaits, gluten-free waffles. We have entrees such as pastas and homestyle low-carb meatloaf, plus vegetarian, and some vegan. We do homemade soups. We do desserts. Everything’s made from scratch.

“A typical day is, I will wake up and go to the gym first. That gives me a lot of energy to be here in the first place,” added Angie. “When I get here, I write down orders. I shop online. And then I start prepping, and I continue to cook until the orders are filled. So, there are many times I’m here after closing.”

She is also mindful of portion sizes often served to diners in a world of oversized restaurant meals.

“The plates are ginormous – probably two, three, maybe even four portion sizes,” Angie explained about typical meals served these days in restaurants. “People think that we have to have these large portions for a great deal. But it’s really negatively affecting their health, because they could split it up and take some home. They’re going to try to eat all of it.”

Saving money (and food waste)

Many customers find that relying on Fit Foundation is cheaper than grocery shopping, according to Angie.

“A lot of people don’t want to do the work. All the cooking, prepping, thinking of recipes,” Angie said. “They tell me they buy my food, live off my meals, and it saves them money, because when they grocery shop, half of it (food they buy) goes unused and ends up in the garbage.”

Angie also uses her strong social media presence to teach and motivate.

“I post the meals I prepare, why certain things are healthy, and motivational posts,” shared Angie. Her philosophy? Angie tells us about the “Triangle Effect”. A philosophy she embraces that balances physical, mental, and emotional health.

“You need to move, eat right, and find your happiness,” said Angie. “When you’re in sync with all three, your body is happy, your mind is happy, and you’re emotionally happy.”

No subscriptions, no pressure

Unlike many meal-prep services, Fit Foundation does not lock customers into subscriptions.

“Everyone has different needs,” Angie explained. “If they want to buy one meal or fifty, (I do not want customers) committed to something they don’t need. I don’t want them to feel obligated or waste food.

“I have customers who’ve been using my services for years and have gotten off medications, reduced their high blood pressure, diabetes, and their numbers improved from eating my food,” Angie explained with pride.

About building a business

As Angie grew her own brick-and-mortar from scratch to prosperity, she advocates for small businesses across Illinois.

“What I’d like the politicians of Illinois to know about retail is to please support small businesses,” urged Angie. “I’m a huge proponent for small businesses. I always try to encourage people to shop small businesses instead of the big box stores, because we truly are families that are trying to put food on the table for our own family, literally.”

And for anyone wanting to open their own retail store, Angie stressed that passion should be at the core of the journey.

“If you’re starting a career in retail, I would advise that you love what you do and believe in what you do, because then you can sell what you do,” said Angie with palpable energy.

Why Fit Foundation matters

In a world of fad diets and quick fixes, Angie believes her mission is crystal clear.

“I think Fit Foundation matters, because there are no educational resources as far as the schools, even the government right now, as far as nutrition and health, said Angie. “Everything is pushing magic pills and dieting. I’m here to teach people on how to eat the basics, clean eating.

“I love providing healthy meals to the community. I love meeting new people. I love making friends,” exclaimed Angie with a warm laugh. “I have people that have come to my events. They’ve gotten to know me, and I’ve gotten to know them. I love the community that I have. I’m a part of this community because of the retail.

“It’s a labor of love, because cooking and food are my passion. Food brings people together. Food brings health and it brings happiness.”