Alex Levario, junior business management major, and Freddy Garibay, junior accounting major, recently opened Phit Phuel, a new and booming healthy food prep business, Meal prepping has become very popular among its customers, which has resulted Phit Phuel preparing close to 400 meals per week after just two months.

“We cook for 35 people weekly and each person gets about 15 meals,” Levario said.

Levario and Garibay came up with the idea and started to gather at Levario’s mom’s restaurant, where they would prepare meals.

Phit Phuel’s menu includes a variety of meal combinations with vegetables, fruit, eggs, chicken, meat, seafood and turkey. Their menu also includes pancakes made from organic wheat, protein and fruit.

“I always like to help people, I know cooking is a hassle, so I just try to make it easier for them,” Levario said. “We have regular customers who come on the daily basis. They really enjoy the dishes and keep coming back.”

Vince Maldonado, a UTEP alumnus, first started following Phit Phuel’s Instagram page, where he saw a vast array of meal combinations.

“I have tried several meal preps in the past, but I find Phit Phuel’s to be one of the best as far as food and price,” said Maldonado.

Due to Maldonado’s busy work schedule, he finds Phit Phuel to be extremely convenient when it comes to saving time and getting healthy meals.

“I find it easier to pack and heat up a meal to be time efficient, and much more nutritious than buying fast food,” said Maldonado.

Meal prepping has become a very popular technique mostly used by athletes and fitness competitors, but this healthy eating idea has expanded to families, college students and anyone trying to save money and eat healthier.

The Texas Kids Count project at the Center for Public Policy Priorities stated that obesity rates have dropped from 33.6 percent to 25 percent in El Paso, and according to Dayna Finet, project director, this is due to residents who are making healthier lifestyle choices for their family.

“Over 50 percent of our health is determined by our behaviors,” said Finet. “The percentage for El Pasoans getting their five-a-day share of fruits and vegetables rose from 7 percent to 22.7 percent.”

Amy Licerio, junior multimedia journalism major, said that Phit Phuel meal prepping is tasty and a good way to save money in the long run.

“Its cost efficient so I save money. I use to spend over $70 weekly on lunch alone,” Licero said. “The food is tasty, if you were to prepare the food it would almost cost the same as if you were buying from Phit phuel and you save yourself the hours of cooking time. The quality of food is great since they use the right ingredients.”

For more information about their menu or to place an order, log onto their website at phitphuel.tk or follow their Instagram page by searching for their tag phitphuel.

Kimberly Valle may be reached at [email protected].