For anyone conscious about eating healthy but can’t find the time to plan out meals, staying healthy on-the-go is made simple by two Baton Rouge moms.
Modern Meals held its soft opening on Feb. 18.
The inspiration for the restaurant came from Ashley Munnerlyn, co-owner of Modern Meals. Munnerlyn started the company accidentally after a friend called and asked if she would cook a healthy meal for her. Word of mouth spread about her meals from there, and after nearly four weeks, she had 27 clients.
“I’ve always tried to cook healthy for myself and my children, but I’m also a foodie at the same time,” Munnerlyn said. “So I’m not going to eat cardboard — it has to taste good.” 
It wasn’t long before she began cooking and delivering 200 to 300 meals a week while also balancing single motherhood. When she realized the workload was becoming too large for her home kitchen, she contacted her close friend, Mike Anderson Jr. 
“I think I accidentally have a business, and I don’t know what to do,” Munnerlyn told him.
Anderson Jr. is the son of Mike Anderson, who owns the Baton Rouge restaurant of the same name, and has been managing the restaurant for the past few years.
 Soon after, a few of her clients approached her about investments. Munnerlyn realized this was going to turn into a business, and it was not something she could manage on her own.
Munnerlyn and co-owner Marcy David reconnected last November. They met several years ago through their children, who were enrolled in St. Thomas More Catholic School together.  However, they lost contact after David’s children changed schools.
Not long after Munnerlyn began cooking these meals, David was at a mutual friend’s house and tasted one of the meals she’d prepared.
After finding out it was Munnerlyn who’d prepared the meal, she immediately contacted her.
The two met and discussed Munnerlyn’s company, and David offered to be a partner. 
Their next step was to decide on a space to buy. Originally, the two women wanted to locate a different venue, but after meeting Danny McGlynn, a local lawyer responsible for the “model block” project on Government St., they decided to become part of the revitalization.
Modern Meals’ menu is sensitive to a variety of diets, including gluten-free, low-carb, paleo, vegetarian and vegan. Customers are able to build their own weekly or monthly plans, as well as purchase single meals.
The meal plans are separated by body type in order to fit individual dietary needs.
“Our main goal is to have people who normally wouldn’t eat healthy to come eat healthy,” Munnerlyn said.
Munnerlyn and David only use fresh, local ingredients to prepare the meals, and any unsold food is donated to local charities.
Items on the menu range from $2.75 to $13.40, according to Modern Meals’ website. While the website is not fully operational yet, it provides further information for customers interested in changing their
lifestyles.
The website will soon feature local nutritionist and University alumnus Ricky Pampo, who customers can contact with questions.
Customers can look forward to alternate locations to purchase their meals from, as well as catering by the restaurant.
In addition to becoming part of McGlynn’s reconstruction project, Munnerlyn and David are looking to partner with other businesses in the surrounding community.
One of their current partners is Triumph Kitchen, a nonprofit organization led by Chris Wadsworth and his wife, Sommer. The company’s goal is to provide life skills and culinary education for at-risk youth.
Triumph Kitchen will utilize its kitchen to assist with its mission, and Wadsworth will also work with Munnerlyn and David daily as part of their culinary team.
Modern Meals will also feature occasional specials to allow the children in Triumph Kitchen to showcase its recipes and skills. It’s also planning to launch a YouTube channel where it will record and post videos about the creations.
A few partnerships exist with local schools who understand the value in healthy eating for school children. The restaurant will begin providing meals to these schools in upcoming weeks.
The interior of the shop will features art from local graffiti artist Marc Fresh, who decorated each table top with an original design. The tables will be auctioned off twice a year and the proceeds donated to charity.
Marc Fresh is involved with The Walls Project, and Munnerlyn said eventually, Modern Meals will work with the organization to design a mural on the side of the building.
As far as a grand opening goes, Munnerlyn said, right now, she and David are focused on establishing the shop before they plan anything.
“We’ve gotten amazing feedback from everyone who has purchased so far,” Munnerlyn said. “The taste is totally there for being healthy.”
You can reach Ashlyn Rollins on Twitter @ash_r96.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Javier Fernández

Modern Meals owners Ashley Munnerlyn and Marcy David sit in the dining bar during the soft oppening of the store on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. The store offers pre-packaged meals for purchase and it is also a restuarant.