Let’s Eat: Fresh and Easy service caters to seniors and the ill

Little did Sarah Tabele know that the meal planning and food preparation she did for her elderly grandparents two years ago would evolve into a business that would help feed so many residents in Greater Sudbury. 

Tabele was the primary caregiver to her grandparents while on maternity leave caring for her own kids.

That spurred a client base of people recovering at home from injuries, surgeries and for seniors struggling to meal plan on their own under the name Fresh and Easy.  

“When my grandparents needed help with food, support staff could only come and push microwave buttons for them,” she said. “I wanted a service that offered healthy meals and choice. They lost a lot of independence when they needed daily help and they just wanted choice in what they put in their mouths.”

Tabele works with social workers at rehabilitation centers for Alzheimer, Parkinson and arthritis patients to educate them about her nutritious meal-making and delivery service.  

She says seniors love the meals like Salisbury steak, lasagna, cobb salads and fish dinners.

The intent was always to service seniors, but now much of her week is spent supporting breast cancer patients going through treatment, in her collaboration with the Breast Cancer Support Fund.  

The organization is dedicated to supporting women with the financial burgers of a breast cancer diagnosis.

A social worker visits the patient and determines the quality, quantity and length of support needed for each patient.  

She says the service provides meals to the women and their families as they are focusing on their treatment and battling a changing palate and dietary restrictions.

“These women need to eat what they can with the little energy they have and their families get a chance to eat too so it is a win-win situation,” Tabele said. “And for those travelling to Sudbury for treatment from other northern communities, the meals are delivered right to the hotel room.”

The meals for cancer patients vary in choice and selection with what Sarah calls free range options. The families can choose the protein, carbohydrate and vegetables as well as spices and sauces, depending on what the patient feels up to and what the doctor has recommended.

All the Fresh and Easy meals are prepared in a certified kitchen in the South End of the city and then delivered by a team of compassionate delivery personnel.

As for cost, Tabele recognizes that her customers are on a fixed budget…