Bright orange, green, and yellow packages greet me on all sides. An employee comes up and asks if I have experienced Snap Kitchen before. She goes on to explain the locally sourced, non-GMO ingredients used by their chefs, and I am given a small tour of the facility.

In a city where hot dogs, pizza, burgers, and other unhealthy grub are magnets for tourists, here comes a new, healthy eating concept.

       Recently, a number of Chicago neighborhoods have been implementing healthy food options that cater to a wide variety of consumers. Chicago, a growing fitness-oriented city, was the first city outside of Texas chosen for new locations of Snap Kitchen. The restaurant has four locations throughout Chicago. The one at Diversey and Clark is the closest to Parker.

       Originally opening in Austin, Texas in 2010, Snap Kitchen is a chain that boasts prepared meals for any time of the day. Three locations were opened in the Chicago neighborhoods of Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and the Loop in spring 2015, and one more in Old Town was opened mid-summer.

       Snap is not your ordinary cafe or restaurant mainly because of its pre-portioned meals, which are designed for healthy eating and for those with dietary restrictions. The setup mimics that of a grocery store, with an array of foods and drinks displayed in aisles.

       My eyes continued to glaze along the lime green and orange interior with clearly labeled sections for each meal of the day. The upbeat music cheered me as I looked around. Impressed by the precise nutritional breakdown, I discovered that almost every dish is either gluten free, carb-conscious, or paleo-friendly. Whether you are looking for peach oatmeal as a low-calorie breakfast, or curried chicken salad for a snack, Snap Kitchen caters to a medley of healthy eaters.

       I decided on the crunchy coconut shrimp and the housemade strawberry applesauce, each under $10. The store has numerous breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, including peanut butter pancakes, gluten free fettucine, and vegetable alfredo. It was surprising how creamy and crisp the alfredo dish was. If you want to give your taste buds a treat, the pancakes are worth it, and they’re low calorie. For something on the sweet side, I chose one of the four desserts on the menu: the chocolate “mousse,” made with tofu.

       In dishes containing an abundance of gluten, sodium, or calories, Snap substitutes healthier ingredients. Entrees like spaghetti, turkey bolognese, and spinach and mushroom enchiladas are gluten free and under 250 calories. Some foods come in up to three different portion sizes and each state the number of calories.

       There is also a juice bar featuring flavors such as Carrot Ginger Elixir and Chai Cashew. I would recommend the Energy Boost Juice, which mixes flavors such as mint and papaya. The lack of artificial sugars and boosters is to be noted.

      As other customers trickled in and were greeted by the enthusiastic staff, I walked around and checked out the prices (most entrees range from $8 to $14, while snacks are in the one to five dollar range). For locally sourced cuisine of this quality, the prices are generally fair, though the small portion of vegetable lasagna should be less expensive.

Although the meals were packaged, the freshness of the produce and surprisingly delicious blend of coconut and shrimp made me want to go back for more. The customer service was very pleasant and helpful, and everything was displayed clearly. Snap Kitchen should be given a try to anyone making efforts to be healthier or to experiment a bit.