Words from Frequent Foragers: Healthy, Nutritious, Fast, and Delicious!
“I am confident that whenever I choose Forage, I’m fueling my body and I’m giving it what it needs to be healthy”
We started Forge Kitchen with the goal of bringing healthy, socially responsible food to the Madison area and recently we had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with some local Madisonian’s to gather their thoughts and experiences with Forage Kitchen.
This is what we found:
First we heard from Sydney, a business student at UW Madison. She was originally introduced to Forage by her mom, who values healthy food options in the local area. They went together and split a Power Bowl and instantly fell in love with the restaurant and food. Since then, Sydney has been a regular at Forage Kitchen!
Sydney talked to us about how important living a healthy lifestyle is to her. From group fitness classes, lifting weights, and running around the lakes, she knows the importance that food and nutrition play into an all-encompassing healthy life. Sydney told us that Forage Kitchen fits perfectly into her healthy lifestyle because it literally fuels and nurtures her body. Whether she’s just getting back from a run or walking out of the gym after lifting weights, the nutrient dense ingredients, healthy fats, and ample protein ensures that her body is getting what it deserves after any type of workout.
The bottom line – When Sydney eats Forage Kitchen, she’s confident that she’s treating her body the way it’s supposed to be treated.
Go to bowl: Thai Cashew with Tempeh
Next, we chatted with Connor, who is a student in his last year at UW Madison. Last month, he was the most visited customer at Forage Kitchen…visiting 35 times. Yes, 35. That’s more than once a day!
“I am confident that whenever I choose Forage, I’m fueling my body right and I’m giving it what it needs to be healthy.”
Right off the bat, Connor told us that he takes his fitness very seriously and that Forage is, in his opinion, by far the healthiest food option on campus. Throughout his time eating at Forage Kitchen, Connor has had various fitness goals – bulking (putting on weight and muscle), cutting (losing weight), and maintaining his current physical condition. He told us that regardless of his fitness goals, Forage has provided him with everything he’s needed to stay healthy and meet his goals. He said:
“It’s a place you can go to build your body”
Perfect for a pre or post workout meal, Connor told us that the protein options (chicken, tempeh, lentils, etc.) are ideal for fueling your body and you can get whatever type of meal you’re looking for – a light salad or a filling grain bowl.
What makes Forage Kitchen Connor’s go to food option? Simple. The locally sourced and nutrient rich ingredients, the wide variety of healthy options and flavors, and the friendly, welcoming staff.
“Forage is the perfect compliment to your physical and mental health”
Jay and Kim also shared their thoughts and experiences with Forage Kitchen and talked about similar reasons they frequently choose to eat at Forage.
Besides offering Jay convenient healthy options in his neighborhood, he values eating at Forage Kitchen because he knows that a majority of the ingredients are locally sourced. When he orders a bowl, he knows that he’s supporting local farmers that grow their produce sustainably and responsibly. He also loves that Forage offers plant based proteins that compliment any of the salads or grain bowls. From tempeh, meatless meatballs, and lentils, Forage offers him an alternative to meat centric protein sources.
Kim has lived in Madison for over 20 years and Forage Kitchen has become one of her go to restaurants. Besides being a place that offers healthy options, Kim loves going to Forage because she doesn’t eat dairy and almost all of the dressings at Forage are dairy-free, meaning she can eat just about everything…which is rare for most dressings used on salads and other grain bowls. On top of that, many of her friends are gluten-free and Forage offers a lot of gluten-free options as well.
Sitting down with some “Foragers” (as we like to call our customers) was such a meaningful experience for us. We couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who comes in to Forage Kitchen – YOU are the reason we do what we do. So to all of you, here’s a big thank you.