A Rio Grande Valley chain redefining fast food is making its San Antonio debut later this year.
Fork to Fit Kitchen has been reimagining fast food since it opened in 2018, offering a quick stop with healthy eats. Now, cofounders Alex Velasco and Jose M. Guerra are bringing their fitness-focused meals to the Culebra Commons shopping center.
The build-out of the 7010 W. Loop 1604 N. is expected to be completed by late July. Fork and Fit Kitchen began in Rio Grande Valley, an area of Texas with some of the highest rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
The duo saw the social determinants of health affecting their community, with limited access to fresh food and fast food on every corner, according to the restaurant’s website. They began offering a healthier grab-and-go options, focused on providing “real food for real people.”
“I started Fork to Fit Kitchen because I believe healthy food should be convenient and accessible,” Velasco said in a blog. “Coming from a background in fitness and nutrition, I saw how challenging it can be for busy people to find balanced meals that taste good.”
San Antonio shares similar struggles to the Rio Grande Valley, as the number of people with diabetes is 10% higher than the national average, according to University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center. A third of the population has prediabetes, while one in six people have Type 2 diabetes, according to 2022 figures.
While there are different philosophies to healthy eating, the Fork to Fit Kitchen approach focuses on macronutrients for meeting health goals. Macronutrients — protein, carbohydrates and fats — are what people need daily in large amounts. A calculator on its website can help people determine their fitness goals and stay on track.
The restaurant’s food options are anchored in a health-conscious approach, while pulling inspiration for every meal of the day from dishes from different parts of the globe. This ranges from shrimp scampi to beefy enchiladas, with breakfast options like overnight oats or a Tex-Mex steak & eggs also available.
“I wanted to create something better — a place where people could get real nutritious food without sacrificing time or flavor,” Velasco said.
The macro-friendly meals are made daily, and drink options include coffee, matcha and other refreshments. There are currently 10 Fork to Fit Kitchen locations, with them mostly concentrated in McAllen.